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- Living with the Dead. Living with the dead is one of the most strange and weirdest cultures noticed around the world. Indonesian people (Toraja people) or some ethnic groups of Indonesia are practicing this ritual from thousands of years.
- Bride Kidnapping, Kyrgyzstan. The kidnapping of a girl is legal! Yes, you read it right; this disturbing custom is followed by Roman gypsies. Bride kidnapping or marriage by abduction has been practiced across the world throughout history.
- Blackening the Bride and Groom. Having fun before the wedding sounds great, but this pre-wedding tradition in Scotland is not much enjoyed by the bride.
- Cutting Off Fingers When Someone Dies. The death of a family member in Indonesia not only gives emotional pain to women but it also gives physical pain.
- Unique and Interesting Cultures Around The World
- Interesting Culture Around The World – Asia
- Interesting Cultures Around The World – Europe
- Interesting Cultures Around The World – Africa
- Interesting Cultures Around The World – South America
Head Hunters of Nagaland, IndiaNyishi Tribe from Arunachal Pradesh, IndiaKalash People, PakistanThe Khasi community of Meghalaya, India1. The Head Hunters of Nagaland, India
Contributed by Amrita from Experience Northeast Northeast India is the home to many fascinating tribes and interesting cultures around the world, but the Konyak tribeor the fierce headhunters of Nagaland seems to be the most intriguing to us. One of the largest tribes in the remotely located Nagaland, Konyaks are known for their valour who took pride in severing the heads of their opponent warriors as trophies to be hung at their Morungs (a traditional community house). The Konyaks are seen i...
2. Nyishi Tribe from Arunachal Pradesh, India
Contributed by Anjali from Travel Melodies Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India has 26 indigenous tribal groups, and the Nyishi tribeis one of the largest of them. The cultural practices and beliefs of Nysihis resemble those of Mongoloid tribal groups from Myanmar. Nyishis call themselves the descendants of Abo-Tani, a mythical forefather. They speak Tibeto-Burman and yet to develop a script. As they don’t have anything in writing, it’s interesting to know that they pass their culture, ri...
3. Kalash People
Contributed by Alex Reynolds from Lost With Purpose The Kalash, one of the most interesting cultures around the world, is a unique people hailing from three small valleys in the mountains of western Pakistan: Bumburet, Rumboor, and Birir make up the Kalash Valleys. Located in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the valleys lead to mountains bordering Afghanistan. The Kalash people are unique in multiple ways. Some researchers believe they are descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great...
14. Khinaluq, people of Xinaliq in Azerbaijan
Contributed by Ellis from Backpack Adventures The Caucasus is one of the most multicultural areas in this world with a high diversity in languages and cultures. Already before I went to Azerbaijan I read an article about Xinaliqand its people that believe they are the direct descendants from Noah. Xinaliq is one of the highest villages in Europe. It lies in the northeastern corner of the country close to the border with Dagestan in Russia and is so remote that the unique Khinaluq people have...
15. Scottish Culture
Contributed by Kat from Wandering Bird Ask anyone to describe Scotland, and they’ll probably mention things like ‘tartan’, ‘music’, ‘kilts’ and ‘haggis’. And they’d be right. Along with the incredible scenery (some of the world’s most scenic drives are in Scotland), it’s the people which really make the place. Their history, traditions and hospitality are woven into the fabric of the entire country- it’s impossible to separate the two. Some of the most interesting traditions include: 1. Each...
16. Sami, Lapland
Sami culture is one of the oldest cultures coming from the region of Sápmi that includes northern parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The Samis are descendants of nomadic people who had inhabited northern Scandinavia for thousands of years. Reindeers are quite important for the Sami way of life. The economy of the Sami people mainly depended on reindeer herding. They were once nomadic in nature and migrated from place to place with their reindeer herds. However,...
17. Nubians, Egypt
Contributed by Nadine from Curls en Route One of the most interesting cultures around the world that I find truly fascinating is the Nubian culture. Nubians are one of the most ancient ethnicities still living to this day, who live in Nubia, a region that stretches from Aswan in Upper Egypt to Khartoum in Sudan. I haven’t been to Sudan so I’ll be talking about the Egyptian part of Nubia, a place that I’ve always loved going back to. Nubian villages in Egypt are best known for their folkloric...
18. Berber, Morocco
Contributed by Daniela from Grumpy Camel My encounter with Morocco’s Berber communities has been quite fascinating and the Berbers are one of the most interesting cultures around the world. In 2014, my husband and I went on a hiking trip to Morocco, where we spent a couple of days in the High Atlas Mountains. There, we got to stay with a Berber family and learn more about rural life in Morocco. The Berbers, or Imazighen as they are known in their native language, are an ethnic group native to...
19. Masaai Tribe, Africa
Contributed by Joanna from The World in my Pocket The Maasai Tribe is an ethnic group of people who live a semi-nomadic life, in Kenya and the north of Tanzania. They are known for their colourful attire and their traditional dance, in which the warriors of the tribe jump as high as they can. The Maasai live a simple life, in villages with houses made out of cow manure. Men mostly take care of the cattle, whilst women stay at home to cook and take care of the children. Maasai take a lot of pr...
22. Zapotec people, Mexico
Contributed by Rose from Where Goes Rose? While most people think of Mexico as a predominantly Spanish speaking country, there are in fact 68 national languages. This is because of the number of indigenous groups around the country, many of whom have spoken their native dialects, which bear no resemblance to Spanish for centuries, for centuries. One such group are the Zapotec people who are mainly found in Oaxaca state, as well as the neighbouring states. By visiting Zapotec villages such as...
23. Wayuu Tribe, Colombia
Contributed by Daniel from Layer Culture When looking for unique and interesting cultures around the world you sure don’t want to miss out on a chance to see, or even visit, the Wayuu people. Located in the most northern point of the South American continent, you can find the Wayuu tribe who make up one of the many indigenous American ethnic groups in Colombia. After spending many weeks backpacking Colombia I have been fascinated by the work of the ingenious Wayuu tribe as their handmade bags...
24. Quechua People of Perú
Contributed by Heather Trimm from Trimm Travels Learning about the indigenous people of any destination I visit is quite interesting to me. However, none have fascinated me and captured my attention quite like the Quechua people of Perú. While Perú is the country of origin, other Quechua speaking indigenous people also live in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. Because of this, you may hear them referred to as the indigenous people of South America. Adopted as Perú’s second off...
- Baby Throwing In India. While this tradition has mostly died out, possibly because it was officially banned, there are still some parts of India that practice it.
- The Thaipusam Festival. This is a Hindu festival organized at the beginning of every year by the members of the Tamil community. It is dedicated to the god of war Lord Murugan and is celebrated on the nights of the full moon.
- The Monkey Buffet Festival. This festival supposedly brings good luck and is organized yearly in Thailand, the city of Lopburi, to be exact. On the last Sunday of November, enormous amounts of food are displayed all over the city and left for monkeys to feast upon.
- Mourning Of Muharram. This celebration is a set of rituals observed by Shia Muslims. It is supposed to commemorate the death of Hussain, the grandson of Muhammad, who died in the Battle of Karbala.
- There’s An International Hair Freezing Contest In Yukon, Canada. While others despise the winter season and drive it away, people from Yukon, Canada, celebrate this season in a freezing way: dunking their heads into hot springs and waiting for their hair to freeze over, and icicles to form.
- In Gloucestershire, England, People Gather To Roll Cheese Down A Hill. With Spring being the season of rebirth, when nature begins to show itself once more, it’s normal for people to celebrate.
- Castrillo De Murcia In Spain Has A Baby Jumping Festival. Some cultures view a child's birth as a gift not only to the nation but also to the culture overall, a new member to celebrate.
- In Lopburi, Thailand, The Residents Prepare An Annual Feast For The Local Monkeys. Humans are part of nature so it is important to include a bit of the natural aspect into your tradition.
- Oaxaca, Mexico, Has A Massive Radish-Carving Festival During The Holiday Season. The annual Noche de Los Rábanos, or Night of the Radishes, is a tradition that dates back more than 120 years.
- Every Year, The Czechs Have A Witch-Burning Festival To Ward Off The Evils Of Winter. On April 30 every year, people across the Czech Republic come together for Čarodějnice.
- If You’re Not Married On Your 25th Birthday, In Denmark You Might Be Doused In Cinnamon. This unusual tradition is said to have emerged hundreds of years ago when Danish spice merchants spent so much time travelling they didn’t have time to get married!
- Buñol, Spain, Hosts A Massive Food Fight Where Overripe Tomatoes Are Used. You might already know about this unusual tradition, but each August, thousands of people gather in Buñol for the Tomatina Festival.
Around the world, people have some really surprising customs. Today, we’ll explore these unusual traditions that might leave you amazed and curious. Discover how different cultures celebrate and practice their unique rituals!
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What is polite? What is traditional? Well, that depends on what society you're living in. We all abide by many unwritten rules and adhere to customs that might seem unusual or counterintuitive to outsiders. Of course, some are more unusual or counterintuitive than others.
