10 holidays, looking at which you understand that the world is insane

Real travelers traveling around the world pay attention not only to local attractions, but try to immerse themselves in foreign culture as deep as possible, to observe the customs and life of the local people. For example, it will be an undoubted success to visit a country at the same time when an annual holiday or festival takes place there. You just have to be prepared for the fact that, due to the difference in cultures, the event may seem strange or even crazy to you. Well, for those tourists who are not afraid of anything and who loves to have fun, we offer a selection of the most terrible and crazy holidays in the world. To visit any of them will be an event that will be remembered for a long time.

Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night

Guy Fawkes was an anarchist who, together with other Catholic conspirators, attempted to blow up the English parliament in 1605. It was he who was supposed to set fire to the wick, but he was arrested and the whole plan failed. Since then, every year on the night of November 5th, in Great Britain, the failure of the Gunpowder plot is noted. Residents burn many bonfires, launch fireworks and firecrackers, and, of course, burn the scarecrow of Guy Fawkes in the fire. And at one of the processions, they even somehow burned a scarecrow of the Pope.

Feast of St. Marta de Ribarteme

On July 29, in the small town of As Neves (Spain), people who were ever fortunate enough to escape death come together to thank the patroness of the resurrected Saint Martha for another chance. Participants of the holiday do this in a very specific form: they go to bed in coffins, after which their friends carry them along the streets to the church. There the priest reads the mass, and then they are already carried to the cemetery, where they supposedly rise from the dead.

Walpurgis Night

On the night of May 1, residents of Central and Western Europe celebrate one of the most important pagan holidays dedicated to fertility. On this night, the main coven of witches takes place, which means the revelry of all evil spirits. Anyone who considers himself to be a witch or a sorcerer is obliged to honor this holiday.

Festival of Hungry Spirits

This is a traditional Chinese holiday, which is celebrated on the fifteenth night of the seventh lunar month, somewhere in the interval from August to September. It is believed that on this day, spirits can leave the lower world and visit the living, who in turn prepare offerings for them: they burn money and other wealth.

Tinku

In Bolivia, twice a year, an ancient ritual is performed in honor of the goddess of the land Pahamame, which was performed by the Incas themselves. To appease her, people sacrifice blood and tears to her, and they do it in a very crazy way. In the Indian village of Akatsio, located at an altitude of about 4 thousand meters above sea level, those gathered simply begin to beat each other. The fact that at the same time everyone remains joyful and cheerful adds even more madness to what is happening.

Ivan Kupala

The pagan festival of the Eastern Slavs is dedicated to the summer solstice and is celebrated on the night of June 24 or July 7. Participants take round dances, jump over fires and weave wreaths, which are then released into the water with candles. It is believed that on this night a fern blooms and evil awakens.

Thaipusam

The territory of this religious festival is diverse and affects southern India, Malaysia, Singapore and Mauritius. The Hindu holiday is celebrated at the beginning of the year, January-February, and it is dedicated to the god of war Murugan. People make wishes and pray him to fulfill them, promising subsequently to repay the debt. Believers come up with obligations for themselves: someone promises to punish themselves with pain and torture if they fulfill a request, and someone simply carries a jug on his head. However, for the most part, the Thaipus is not a sight for the faint of heart. Many Europeans consider it the most disgusting and masochistic festival.

Halloween

The most famous scary holiday, which everyone probably knows about. Initially, it was celebrated on October 31 in the UK and Northern Ireland, but gradually fell in love with the whole world. According to Celtic beliefs, evil spirits visit the earth on this day, and in order to scare them off, you need to dress up in scary costumes yourself.

The day of the Dead

On November 1 and 2, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador are filled with crowds of tourists who want to see the charming Day of the Dead holiday. During the festival, people remember the dead: they go to cemeteries, devote whole carnivals to the dead, dress up as skeletons, decorate themselves with bright colors, make-up and have fun all night.

Setsubun

After the Day of the Dead, you should look at the equally bewitching Setsubun festival, which is celebrated on February 3 by residents of Japan. On this day, the farewell of winter begins. To drive away demons and to call for luck, people throw beans, dress up as scary horned demons and walk along the streets with batons, jokingly scaring passers-by.