Four of the strangest public holidays celebrated
While the holiday season is over, there are still many public holidays to look forward to. Here are four of the strangest that people from different countries will be celebrating.
With the new year under-way, various communities across the globe are gearing up for new adventures.
While the holiday season is over, there are still many public holidays to look forward to. Here are four of the strangest that people from different countries will be celebrating:
Tinku “Punch Your Neighbour” Festival
This festival has got to be a recipe for trouble.
Every May in Bolivia, specifically in Macha and Potosi, people swarm to the tiny town of Macha in order to celebrate this festival.
The word “Tinku” means a meeting or an encounter between people, but if you have the chance to get a glimpse the events at this festival, you’d conclude that that translation should really be changed to “beat someone to death.”
However, the festival isn’t held for the purpose of hurting people, but for ensuring a good harvest. This is based on the belief that the Goddess Pachamama will grant the people a great harvest as long as there’s a lot of blood.
Thankfully, the festival today isn’t as great a bloodbath as in past times.
La Tomatina
Visiting Spain during August is sure to be a fun trip for anyone who enjoys a good old fashioned food fight, especially if you feel that tomatoes are the ideal projectiles.
La Tomatina is an annual event where people will be tossing, smacking, or throwing ripe tomatoes at each other during the week-long holiday.
Bolas de Fuego
If you thought Tinku “Punch Your Neighbour” Festival was a bit too soft for your liking, Bolas de Fuego might be up your alley.
This festival involves throwing fuel-soaked flaming rags at other people, and takes place in the town of Nejapa in El Salvado. This is an age-old tradition which is held every August 21 and can be traced to as far as 1685.
The authorities prefer to turn a blind eye.
Straw Bear Day
This involves a grown man attired in a costume created from straw, who dances for beer and food.
After completing his dancing routine, the burning of the bear commences.
The man is fortunately taken out of the costume before setting it alight.
This holiday is held every first Monday after Twelfth Night in a British town called Whittlesea.
