Unusual Festivals Around the World: 10 Must-See Facts
Here are 10 surprising facts about festivals that you might not know:
1. The World’s Largest Festival is in India
- The Kumbh Mela attracts over 100 million people, making it the largest religious gathering in the world. It’s so massive that it can be seen from space!
2. Burning Man Was Inspired by a Personal Breakup
- The first Burning Man in 1986 was a small gathering on a beach in San Francisco, started by Larry Harvey and Jerry James after a heartbreak. It later moved to the Nevada desert and became a globally renowned event.
3. Oktoberfest Started as a Wedding Celebration
- The famous Oktoberfest in Germany began in 1810 as a wedding festival for Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. The beer-drinking tradition came later!
4. Japan Has a Naked Festival
- The Hadaka Matsuri is a bizarre festival where thousands of men wearing only loincloths battle to grab a sacred stick for good luck. It’s held annually in Okayama, Japan.
5. The Tomatina Festival Started as a Food Fight for Fun
- Spain’s famous La Tomatina festival, where people throw tomatoes at each other, started in 1945 after a group of friends randomly began throwing tomatoes during a parade.
6. The World’s Biggest Snow Festival is in China
- The Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in China is the largest ice festival in the world, featuring massive ice sculptures, some as tall as buildings!
7. The Running of the Bulls is More Dangerous Than You Think
- Spain’s Running of the Bulls in Pamplona has resulted in over 15 deaths since 1910 and hundreds of injuries each year. Yet, it remains a popular tradition.
8. Diwali is Celebrated by More Than Just Hindus
- While Diwali is a Hindu festival, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists also celebrate it for different reasons, making it one of the most widely observed festivals in the world.
9. There’s a Festival Where People Lie in Graves
- In Szeged, Hungary, the Bizarre Festival allows people to lie in open graves as part of a ritual to appreciate life and overcome the fear of death.
10. Monkey Festival in Thailand is a Feast for Monkeys
- The Lopburi Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand provides a grand feast of fruits and vegetables to thousands of monkeys, attracting tourists from around the world.
