Spain's Tomato Wars (La Tomatina)
• When: Every year on the last Wednesday of August
• Location: Buñol, Spain
• Description: This is a tradition that dates back to 1945, when a group of young people started a food fight at a local festival. Today, tens of thousands of people gather in Bunior to use more than 100 tons of tomatoes for this grand tomato war. The festival has no clear purpose, just for pure fun.
Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand
• When: Every year on the last Sunday of November
• Location: Loburi, Thailand
• Description: To celebrate the local monkey community and attract tourists, local residents provide a grand buffet for thousands of monkeys. The table is filled with a variety of fruits, sweets and cakes for the monkeys to enjoy.
Naked Sacrifice in Japan (Hadaka Matsuri)
• When: Every year on the third Saturday of February
• Location: Okayama, Japan
• Description: Thousands of men wearing only a thin gauze gather on cold winter nights to compete for a sacred wooden stick believed to bring good luck for the year. This tradition originated more than 500 years ago to pray for good luck and prosperity for the new year.
Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling in the UK
• When: Every year on the last Monday of May
• Location: Gloucestershire, UK
• Description: Participants chase a 9-pound double yellow cheese wheel from a steep hillside. The first to reach the finish line receives this piece of cheese as a prize. The festival originated in the 19th century and, although dangerous, still attracts a large number of participants and spectators.
Holi in India
• Time: The first full moon day after the equinox each year
• Location: All over India
• Description: Also known as the Festival of Colors, people throw colored powder and water at each other to celebrate the arrival of spring and the victory of evil. This ancient festival has its origins in a Hindu tradition and is now celebrated around the globe.
Turkey Thanksgiving in the United States
• When: Every year on the fourth Thursday of November
• Location: White House, Washington, D.C
• Synopsis: Every year on the eve of Thanksgiving, the President of the United States "forgives" a turkey from being the main course of a holiday feast. The tradition began in 1947 and is now an interesting part of American culture.
Single Valentine's Day in South Korea
• When: April 14 every year
• Location: All over Korea
• Synopsis: Singles who did not receive gifts on Valentine's Day and White Day gathered on April 14 to "celebrate" their singleness by dressing in black and eating black noodles.
Spain's El Colacho
• When: Every year on the second Sunday in June
• Location: Castello de Mula, Spain
• Description: Adult men dressed as demons and jump over babies placed on the street to cast out demons and bring good luck to babies. This ancient tradition originated in 1620 to celebrate the Eucharist of the church.
Australia's Tunarama Festival
• When: Australian National Day weekend in January every year
• Location: Porter Lincoln, South Australia
• Synopsis: Participants scramble to throw dead toads to see who can throw the farthest. The festival began in 1979 to raise funds for the local community.
The Day of the Dead in Mexico (Dia de los Muertos)
• When: November 1 and 2 each year
• Location: All over Mexico
• Description: People commemorate and celebrate their deceased loved ones, reuniting them with them by making altars, burning incense and playing music. The festival has its roots in ancient Aztec traditions to celebrate death and honor deceased loved ones.
These festivals showcase cultural diversity around the globe and testify to humanity's insatiable creativity for celebration and remembrance.