{"id":101323,"date":"2018-09-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelstartblg.wpenginepowered.com\/amazing-cultural-traditions-around-world\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T13:54:21","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T13:54:21","slug":"amazing-cultural-traditions-around-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelstart.co.za\/blog\/amazing-cultural-traditions-around-world\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Amazing Cultural Traditions from Around the World You’ve Probably Never Heard Of"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Updated: 26 September 2018]<\/p>\n

Ever heard of the popular Swedish drinking game pen-in-bottle? Do you know what Jarping is? Or the reason why a bunch of people choose to hurl themselves down a steep hill in pursuit of a large wheel of cheese each year? In no particular order, Travelstart brings you 15 weird and wonderful traditions from around the world.<\/p>\n

15. Make your way to the city of Oulu in Northern Finland for the annual Air Guitar World Championships<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photo credit: @_ykpii<\/a>\u00a0via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rate your air guitar skills? There’s only one place to test them internationally and that’s at the annual Air Guitar World Championships each August in Finland.\u00a0Each participant has to play air guitar on stage in two rounds, each lasting 1 minute. Their motto is, “Make air, not war”.<\/p>\n

Find cheap flights to Finland<\/a> and see the Northern Lights plus attend the Oulu Music Video Festival which hosts the Air Guitar World Championships!<\/p>\n

Need a Schengen visa? Find out how to apply for a Schengen Visa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

14. Take along your umbrella if you’re in Poland on \u015amigus Dyngus<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photo credit: @savchuk.sergey<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Aka wet Monday, \u015amigus-dyngus is an opportunity to stage the ultimate water fight. Held each year on Easter Monday in Poland and Ukraine, participants blast each other with water to celebrate Easter.<\/p>\n

Find cheap flights to Poland<\/a>!<\/h3>\n

Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Poland’s Capital Gets a Thumbs up for Family Travel<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    13. Bali’s Day of Silence<\/h2>\n
    \"bali
    Photo credit: @tinaowyeah<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    New Year is celebrated in Bali with a 24 hour period of silence and meditation known as “Nyepi”. No fires may be lit, minimal talking is allowed and no travel, work or leisure activities are permitted. The only people you’ll find outside the home are the Pecalang, the traditional security men checking to see the prohibitions are being followed. On this day the usually bustling island comes to a standstill with no flights in or out of Denpasar airport. The day following Nyepi is known as New Year’s day and is filled with socialising and celebrations.<\/p>\n

    Find cheap flights to Bali<\/a>!<\/h3>\n

    Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Your Guide to the Best Time to Visit Bali<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      12. Professional finger-pulling competitions in the Alps<\/h2>\n
      \"\"
      Image courtesy of @ad_nl<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Finger-pulling is no laughing matter in the Alps. Finger wrestling was once used to settle disputes but is now a competition that is taken quite seriously by the contenders. The winner is the person who manages to pull the other contestant across the table, using only his or her finger! Contenders pick their digit carefully and subject it to rigorous training regimes involving crushing tennis balls and doing one finger pull-ups!<\/p>\n

      You Might Also Like:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      • The 10 Favourite European Cities for South Africans<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        11. Lanna’s Lantern festival, Yi Peng<\/h2>\n
        \"\"
        Image courtesy of @venxsu<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        Watch thousands upon thousands of rice-paper lanterns take to the night sky on Yi Peng. One of the best places to watch this beautiful festival is in Chiang Mai. The festival takes place on the full moon of the 12th Thai month (usually November).<\/p>\n

        Find cheap flights to Chiang Mai<\/a>!<\/h3>\n

        Also Check Out:<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        • 5 Ingredients for an Unforgettable Thailand Holiday<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          10. Join in the Cheese-chasing near Gloucester, England!<\/h2>\n
          \"\"
          Photo credit: @spoonme<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

          Every Spring Bank Holiday near Gloucester sees the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake take place. Participants line up in groups of about twenty to chase after a substantial wheel of cheese as it descends perilously down a steep incline. This “world-famous event” often results in injuries to onlookers, a great lump of cheese is quite a hazard when rolled down a hill at speed!<\/p>\n

          Find cheap flights to London<\/a>!<\/h3>\n

          Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Cheap and Cheerful London<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            9. Play Ruzzola in Tuscany and Umbria<\/h2>\n
            \"\"
            Photo credit: @carolronca<\/a> via Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

            This popular game consists of throwing a wooden cylinder, roughly resembling a wheel of pecorino cheese, as far as one possibly can!<\/p>\n

            Find cheap flights to Italy<\/a>!<\/h3>\n

            Also see:<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • When is the Best Time to Visit Italy?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              8. Jarping is a serious sport!<\/h2>\n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              The egg jarping final #Northumberland #pubs #easter #jarping<\/a><\/p>\n

              A post shared by The Feathers Inn<\/a> (@thefeathersinn) on