World's Weirdest Festivals

Oddball traditions say plenty about a culture
By Michael Foreman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 11, 2008 1:39 PM CDT
World's Weirdest Festivals
Balinese boys carry giant effigies of "Ogoh-ogoh" to ward off evil spirits on the eve of Nyepi or Hindu Day of Silence.    (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)

Forget museums and street markets. To truly understand a culture, travelers should take in its bizarre traditions. From fire walking to tomato hurling, Travel and Leisure looks at the world's most off-the-wall celebrations.

  • Lopburi Monkey Buffet in Thailand: Each November, Lopburi's residents lay out a feast to appease the city's greedy monkeys.

  • Inti Raymi in Cuzco, Peru: Locals in colorful costumes make offerings to the Sun God in this ancient Incan ceremony. This year, it's June 24.
  • La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain: Food fight! About 30,000 will gather in the town square in late August to chuck tomatoes at each other.
  • Hadaka Matsuri in Konomiya, Japan: Men don loincloths and chase a naked fellow for luck on the (brrr) third Saturday in February.
For the full list, click on the link below. (More lists stories.)

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