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Bizarre Cultures

by Lee Young-gyoung, International Reporter, dudrud8704@mju.ac.kr

The current era is known as the era of globalization, which means that borders have gradually disappeared and the global village has somewhat united. Nevertheless, there are still various indigenous cultures in the world. Culture is a product of the physical and mental processes by which individuals or a group of people have changed naturally. Cultures are often shared by their respective groups, and they are not easily acceptable to outsiders. You will likely be really surprised to read about these bizarre cultures, which still exist in the modern era.

1. Red evelope in Thaiwan

In Taiwan, you are not supposed to pick up a red envelope on the street. Picking it up does not mean committing a crime, but it can lead to a very uncomfortable situation. There would probably be cash inside the envelope. The reason people think such envelopes are creepy is that they contain a deceased person’s hair, nails, and pictures in addition to the money. Putting the envelopes on the street is a custom that is left in some parts of Taiwan to commemorate family members who died at a young age. In other words, it has the form of soul wedding. Bereaved families who put red envelopes out on the street might hide nearby to see who picks them up later in order to recognize them as their family. Some say that if one does not want a marriage, then one’s bad luck will never end.

1. Baby toss in India

In Maharashtra, India, during religious ceremonies it is a common cultural custom to drop a newborn baby from a rooftop while praying for the baby’s good health and longevity. According to the tradition, it is meant to promote the child's energy and intelligence. Parents believe that their children will grow up healthy and wealthy after they go through this ritual, although there are also criticisms that it infringes on their children's human rights.

1. Gadhi festival in Nepal

Nepal, where 80 percent of the population is Hindu, hosts a traditional Hindu Gadhi festival every five years. It is huge, 200-year-old tradition, but to outsiders, it is considered a rather terrible festival. This is because more than 200,000 animals are slaughtered during the festival. People with big knives slice at the heads of scared animals indiscriminately. It has been said that the animals are not given any water or food while they are being taken to the festival. The festival is widely considered to be a form of animal abuse, and it is difficult to understand as a cultural practice. Nepal, however, insists that it is only offering sacrifices in order to prevent catastrophe and bring good luck.

1.  Monkey Buffet Festival in Thailand

The Monkey Buffet Festival is held every year in November in the area of Lopburi , Thailand. It is a festivalin which a huge amount of food is given to about 2,000 monkeys. In this area, the loss of cameras, watches, wallets, and food to monkeys is common. But no one gets angry, since they thinks it is a cute form of theft. Indeed, the monkeys and humans live together in relative harmony. This festival seems to be a festival for monkeys, but in fact, it contributes greatly to the village. This is because tourists flock to see the monkeys and the villagers earn profits from their tours.

1. Baby Jumping Festival in Spain 

In Castrillo de Murcia, northern Spain, a Baby Jumping Festival known as “El Colazzo” is held every June. Since 1620, this festival has been held to wish the baby good health. A man dressed up as a devil wears a traditional red and yellow outfit and then beats a person who chases him with a stick and whip. A man stands in front of the babies and jumps over them on the mattress. After jumping over the babies, he sprinkles petals over them and offers blessings. Local residents believe that if an adult man is dressed up as a devil and jumps over a 12-month-old baby, it will protect the baby from evil. It is also said that the body and blood received from Jesus are meaningful for this festival. Although the origin of this cultural practice can be found in the Catholic religion, the Pope does not participate.

1. Funeral of the Yanomami in the Amazon Region 

When a person dies, it is common in most countries to construct a tomb after holding the funeral. Of course, there are some differences depending on the country, region, and religion of the deceased. However, the funeral practices of the Yanomami in the Amazon region are a little special. There, the family eats the deadbody of the recently deceased. After the body is cremated, the remains are ground up and mixed with the traditional plantain soup. The Yanomami people believe that this helps the spirits of the dead.

1. Honor killing in Islamic Cultures

In some Islamic cultures, murder is justified in the name of “Honor Killing.” It is a cultural practice that people think can protect their family honor. Most victims are women who have been sexually assaulted. It is considered that they were raped or sexually assaulted due to wearing revealing clothings. What is even more shocking is the fact that if a murder is committed and the family agrees to it, they are not punished and can actually admitted to be innocent. Today, the number of countries that have banned honor killings is increasing, although 5000 people still die each year in honor killings.

We have to recognize the diversity of global cultures and understand that each culture has its own unique environment, as well as its own historical and social situations. We have to judge cultures in light of the circumstances and context of the society rather than judging them recklessly. Every culture exists for its own specific reasons. However, there are many cultures that seem beyond comprehension. It is also important to determine whether a cultural practice breaches the ethics of human beings regardless of being an element of culture. It is up to the individual to  respect or criticize a given culture.