By Anne Brugts, content manager Story Terrace
Top 5 Most Bizarre Festivals
When you think of festivals, names such as Woodstock, Lowlands or Glastonbury might come to mind. But did you ever hear of El Colacho, Tunarama or Argungu? We take a step away from music festivals and plunge into the range of other festivals the world has to offer. Here’s a list of the top 5 most bizarre festivals, which takes you on a journey through cultures all around the globe.
5. Monkey buffet festival – Thailand – November 
What the cow means to India, the monkey means to the Lopburi district in Thailand. The local population of macaque monkeys almost outnumbers the human inhabitants and is treated with the greatest of respect. Because the monkeys are supposed to bring the district good fortune, they are granted their own annual festival. As a special thank-you to the luck-bringers, a grand buffet is laid out for them, featuring over 2,000 kilograms of vegetables, fruits and other treats. The tradition is still an important element of Lopburi culture, although it has evolved into a mainly touristy event over the decades.
4. Tunarama – Australia – 23-26 January
When Australia’s tuna industry went into decline in the 
1970s, the leading players in the industry thought they could do with a publicity stunt to rescue their sales figures. Promoted as ‘free entertainment for the whole family’, a festival was organised by the Australian capital of tuna fishing, Port Lincoln. This three-day event, which features fireworks and tuna buffets, culminates in the highlight of the festival: the tuna toss competition. Entry is open to anyone interested in throwing a fish weighing 20 pounds as far away as possible, and at stake is the title of World Champion. If you want to know what you’re up against, the 1998 record of 21.25 metres is still there to beat. Oh and for the kids’ entertainment, there’s prawn tossing.
3. Argungu – Nigeria – mid-February
Yet another festival involving fish, Argungu is a yearly four-day event taking place in the north-west of Nigeria. The festival originated as a token of peace when hostilities between two rival tribes ended in 1934. On the last day of the festival, the main attraction takes place. Thousands of men line up around a pool, and when a gunshot fires they dive in to catch a fish. The winner is the competitor who catches the biggest fish. Women have a stake in the contest as well: the winner is supposed to be really good husband-material.
2. Cheese rolling – England – last Monday in May
This festival, which takes place on Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester,
is centred around one whole, round cheese. The cheese is pushed off the top of the hill, then chased a couple of hundred yards downhill by the competitors. The one who gets to the bottom first wins the contest. Accidents happen regularly, and the official website keeps visitors updated on competitors’ injuries and recovery. Traditionally only local men from the village of Brockworth were allowed to compete, but nowadays the event attracts competitors and spectators from all over the world.
1. El Colacho – Spain – June 7
Spain has a seriously dubious reputation for organising some of the weirdest festivals. Well-known ones include the Pamplona bull run and the tomato-throwing festival Tomatina in the town of Bunol. A far less well-known one is El Colacho, also known as the ‘baby-jumping’ festival. The festivity takes place in Castrillo de Murcia, in the province of Burgos. The tradition dates from the 17th century and involves men dressed as the devil (Colacho) jumping over babies. The infants, whose only criterion for selection is that they must have been born in the previous 12 months, lie on mattresses in the streets. Supposedly, this act of exorcism releases the babies from their sins. If they don’t get injured, that is.
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This month we celebrate festival memories. Also see our article Festival Life and other stories. What’s your most treasured festival memory?
