The Weirdest Odd Cultural Traditions You Never Knew Existed: A Fascinating Tour Through the Unseen Side of Human Culture

The Weirdest Odd Cultural Traditions You Never Knew Existed: A Fascinating Tour Through the Unseen Side of Human Culture

When thinking about cultural traditions, most people think of things like festivals, holidays, and religious practices. But did you know that there are plenty of odd, bizarre, and downright strange cultural traditions around the world that you may have never heard of?

Let’s take a fascinating tour through some of the weirdest cultural traditions you never knew existed – from dancing with the dead to a tooth filing ceremony and everything in between.

1. Dancing with the Dead

In Madagascar, the Malagasy people have a tradition where they dig up the bones of their loved ones from their tombs, rewrap them in fresh cloth, and dance with them in a grand festival called “Famadihana.” The idea behind the celebration is that the dead remain with the living and, by giving them a chance to dance, they’re expressing the ongoing bond that exists.

2. Living with the Dead

In the Philippines, if there’s a family member who has passed away, some Filipinos believe that they should still be included in the daily lives of the family. They keep the remains of their loved ones in their homes, in a casket that they often decorate with flowers, pictures, and other items.

Some families go so far as to involve their deceased relatives in daily activities – from eating meals with them to dressing them up for holidays.

3. Carrying a Bride Across a River

In some areas of China, the Tujia people have a custom where the groom must carry his bride across a river before going to the wedding ceremony. The reason behind this tradition is said to show the strength and commitment of the groom to his bride.

4. Tooth Filing Ceremony

In Bali, when a person achieves puberty, there’s a traditional rite of passage called “Mapandes” that involves a tooth-filing ceremony. This ceremony, also known as “Mepandes,” is said to remove the six negative traits or behaviors: lust, anger, greed, jealousy, drunkenness, and confusion.

The ceremony involves grinding down the teeth to try to remove the bad from the person and to keep the good. Most importantly, it’s believed that the filing of the teeth leads to the creation of a new identity for the young adult.

5. Dedication of a Child

In Kenya, the Maasai people have a unique way of concerning their children. They believe that their god, Enkai, blesses each child born into their tribe, so to recognize this, they have a tradition where the child is laid down on the ground in front of the village elder.

The elder will hold twigs over the child and whisper the name chosen by the child’s parents. This ceremony is meant to give the child its special identity and bless it.

Conclusion

From carrying a bride across a river to filing teeth or dancing with the dead, the cultural traditions we’ve explored here are truly some of the strangest. While it may be challenging to understand the reasoning behind these practices, it’s essential to note that they’re an integral part of different societies and should be respected.

These cultural traditions demonstrate the diversity of human cultures and their uniqueness, but also their richness. They are undoubtedly fascinating glimpses into the unseen side of human culture, an essential reminder that our world is a complex and evolving tapestry that deserves to be celebrated and explored.

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