Weird Traditions From Around The World

.
JAPAN: Warning to anyone that has friends or family living here. Never send red Christmas cards to anyone in Japan. Sending red Christmas cards constitutes bad etiquette since, in Japan, funeral notices are customarily printed in red. This is one mix up you do not want to get yourself into.
.
.

.
.

.
.
SPAIN: La Tomatina takes place in Valencia. It is a peculiar tradition that takes place annually on the last Wednesday in August. At the peak of the tomato season a wild battle develops as thousands of people pelt each other with ripe tomatoes. Rivers of tomato sauce run down the streets. After the tomato war is over, everyone gathers at the town square for food and wine festivities.
.
.
.


.
.
SPAIN: Yes, Spain again. It seems they really like their weird traditions. Goose Day, as the locals know it, takes place in Lekeitio. A goose is hanged from a rope over a harbour while men pass by on a boat and try to grab the poor animal. They are lifted up and repeatively plunged into the water until they successful pull off the neck of the goose. This is absolutely horrible and so cruel.
.
.
.
.

.

.
POLAND: According to beliefs in Poland, at Easter if you swallow a willow catkin from a branch that has been consecrated by a priest, it would bestow good health upon you. Hmmm… sounds enticing and tasty?
..
.
.

.
.

.
.
UKRAINE: In the Ukraine, it is customary to decorate a Christmas tree with an artificial spider and webs. It is believed that a spider web found on Christmas morning brings good luck. If they were mistaken as real, they may also bring heart attacks
.
.
.
.
.

.
.
SPAIN: Boy, Spain really is a crazy country! July 7-14th is the annual Running of the Bulls festival in the city of Pamplona. A herd of fighting bulls are let loose onto the streets after a crowd of young men. The aim of the runners is to try and feel the breath of the bull on their backs. Unfortunately, lots of young men get injured doing so. This is not my idea of fun!
.
.

..

RUSSIA: The men get together and prepare a bottle of vodka for every three men. They then start to drink until one of the men falls. If you refuse to drink, this is an insult to the rest of the men. I recommend Smirnoff
.
.

.
.
.

..

.
GREECE: This is not so much a tradition, but it is a weird and interesting thing to note. While traveling through Greece last year, we were informed not to give the thumbs up to anyone as it was rude and not accepted in this country. We just tucked our thumbs in and gave the fist… Wow, sounds… odd.