In a world where culinary creativity thrives and food enthusiasts yearn to recreate their favorite restaurant dishes at home, one question remains tantalizingly unanswered: How do restaurants keep their recipes secret? Behind…
When you go on vacation abroad and visit some countries in the world, there is a chance that you will see some strangest festivals that are not usually done in other places.
There may be a certain event that is so respected and special for the local community in a city that it is celebrated by holding a festival. As a tourist, seeing the festival can make us surprised, smile, and amazed because of the strangeness of the festival being held. And every country certainly has a festival that is different from one another.
With that, here are the 9 strangest festivals around the world that will make you scratch your head.
1. Beer Floating Festival – Finland
If you’re a beer lover, then you should attend the beer floating festival in Finland. You can participate in this festival by going to Helsinki which is the capital of Finland.
This festival involves a lot of people where you can drink, swim and have a beer bath together. You will find all kinds of beer and beer-related activities in this festival.
The fun fact is that there is no official event organizer or committee that manages this festival. People who love beer will come there, drink beer, swim, board the boat, and drink beer together with people who take part in the Beer Floating festival.
2. Pamplona Bull Run – Spain
Fighting with bulls has been a common festival in Spain for decade. Among all type of the bulls game, there is one famous one: Pamplona Bull Run.
This festival is usually held in July every year. A number of bulls will be released on the streets and will run in all directions randomly. People who take part in the festival must escape from the pursuit of the bull group.
There is no specific goal from this festival other than being able to escape from the bull’s chase. This festival has high risk with the possibility of someone being injured and even dying.
3. Festival of the Horns – Rocca Canterano
Affair is one of the problems that arise in romantic relationships. Usually, when there is an affair, this will be a sad ending for both side.
However, it turns out there is one city that celebrates the moment of the affair. A city outside Rome called Rocca Canterano celebrates infidelity by women with a festival called the Festival of the Horns or Festa del Cornuto. This festival has been carried out long ago in the era of the Roman Empire.
In times of war, men will leave their homes. After returning from the war, not a few of these soldiers were having affair with others. The term cornuto is a term used to designate people whose partner cheated on them. Then these cheated men will take action on the streets by destroying objects given by their ex. It is hoped that this festival can entertain and honor the male soldiers.
4. Moose Dropping Festival – Alaska
In Alaska, you can witness moose falls from the sky. It’s not a natural phenomenon, but the residents of Talkeetna have deliberately dropped moose droppings from the sky.
Moose droppings are painted white and then dropped from a helicopter or hot air balloon. Festival attendees at the bottom will guess where the dirt will land. This strange festival has been held since 2009 and still very popular until now.
5. Cat Food Festival – Canete
Canete festival or also known as the Cat Food Festival is a festival that uses cat meat to be eaten by many people. The festival indeed raise a controversy from the animal lovers, especially cat lovers.
This festival is held once a year, which is in September. About 50 cats are used to celebrate this festival. The cats will be killed and their meat will be taken.
Cat meat will be processed into Canete specialties such as schnitzel, hiacatay, or greaves. According to local beliefs, cat meat has properties as an aphrodisiac and prevents bronchial disease.
6. Monkey Buffet Festival – Thailand
In Thailand, there is this festival called as Monkey Buffet Festival when the locals are treating the monkey all you can eat buffet for a day. This festival is a feast for monkeys. In Lopburi province, the monkey population there is very large. The people there think that monkeys are respected animals and can bring good luck.
As a form of respect for the monkeys, the people of Lopburi provide food for the monkeys to eat. The food consists of fruits and vegetables that are the monkey’s favorite.
7. Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming – UK
Worms are the animals that are considered disgusting by some people but have benefits for the environment. Worms can help fertilize plants naturally. However, you might not expect if there is a festival that use worm as the main theme.
Precisely in Southeast England, Devon, there is a strange festival called the Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming. A number of people must be able to catch worms from the ground in a predetermined time. The rules require participants to be able to catch worms with any effort and not to dig them.
Some tried to take the worms by singing, using musical instruments, pouring special liquids, and so on. The point is not to take it by digging.
8. Jalilkatu – India
India, a country strong in tradition and there are many festivals held to celebrate something. Among all the many festivals, there is one festival that is considered strange because of the high risk but is still held and attended by many participants. The festival is called jalilkatu or bull-taming.
The festival is held in Tamil Nadu and is part of the Pongal celebrations. A bull will be released in a crowd of people. Those with big guts will try to jump and sit on the bull. As much as possible the participants sit for as long as possible. Of course the risk of injury is very high.
This festival was first performed in the 3rd century BC and was performed by the ancient Ayars. In 2017 the festival was banned. However, because local residents protested loudly, the authorities finally lifted the ban.
9. Day of the Dead Festival – Mexico
In some countries in the world, there is a tradition where there are special events held to honor the deceased family. Mexico is one of the countries in the world that has a strong tradition of respecting ancestral spirits. And they celebrate by holding the Day of the Dead festival.
This festival is somewhat similar to Halloween celebrations where people take to the streets dressed in horror style. But in Mexico, the festival is more spiritual. Those who are still alive will dress up like ghosts in spooky and colorful costumes. This colorful outfit depicts a soulful and uplifting atmosphere.
According to the study, in the next few decades, Japan and South Korea will lose 50% of their population. Their population will drop by up to 50%. So, what’s behind the South Korea and Japan’s population decline?
Economy Impact
This demographic crisis will have a dark impact on their economy. The reason is simple: when a nation loses 50% of its population, their economic turnover will also collapse at a relatively similar rate. Their market share will drop 50%. And their economic output will also experience a significant fall. Who else will produce and buy their products when 50% of the population is gone?
Currently, such a dark demographic crisis has slowly undermined the strength of the Japanese economy. Grind slowly but the impact is very crucial. For example: in the suburbs of Japan, now many villages and sub-districts are transformed into ghost villages. Because literally, all of the population is extinct. There are thousands of houses left empty, because the occupants died and there was no longer a successor generation. Dead cities like this will slowly ambush various cities in Japan and Korea.
Kindergartens and Elementary School Are Closing Down
More and more kindergartens and elementary schools are closing because there are no more students registering. Because there are no more new babies born. There is no next generation who every year flocks to register for kindergarten. The supply of her new baby had disappeared.
The cause of this brutal demographic crisis is very simple. The reason is: more and more young people in Japan and Korea are reluctant to get married and have children. There are many of them choose to be single forever. Meanwhile, those who choose to get married, decide not to have children forever (childless family).
The result is fatal: no more new babies were born. And this is a disaster: because the parents who died, no longer have a successor generation. They do not have children and grandchildren who can continue civilization.
In Japan, for example, last year there were 1.4 million people who died (mostly yes because they were old and died naturally). Well, when young families in Japan are reluctant to have children, the number of deaths of 1.4 million is no longer a substitute. In other words, every year the Japanese population will decrease significantly every year.
Demographic Crisis
Such a phenomenon also occurs in Korea and China (China’s population will also drop 50% in the next few decades because many young people there are reluctant to have children now).
These three giant countries, Japan, China and Korea, experienced a demographic crisis with fatal consequences. Every year, the number of babies born in the three countries is always far below the number of elderly people who die.
Reasons of Low Birth Rate
The question is: why are more and more young people in Japan, Korea and China reluctant to have children? The answer is simple: because having children is complicated and very expensive. Many young families in Japan, Korea and China can’t afford to buy a house.
On the other hand, the cost of living to raise children, and finance children’s education funds, in the three countries is also increasingly expensive. While the income of many young people there is also mediocre. They are worried that they will not have enough funds to support their children’s life and education.
Government Solution
The governments of Japan, Korea and China themselves began to fear the demographic crisis that kept this time bomb. They are aware that without any improvement, the economic condition of their nation will collapse. Because 50% of the population will be irreplaceable.
There are three possible solutions that may be feasible by the governments:
1. Provide Low-Cost Housing
First: they must provide low-cost housing to young, newly married millennials. Don’t let private developers take possession of the land, and then set house prices too high. The governments of the three countries must aggressively build adequate flats, at affordable prices, so that young, newly married families will have more freedom to have adequate housing. The hope is that with this, the cost of living will be more affordable.
The policy is expected to encourage young people to be more willing to have children, because their government also subsidizes the cost of owning or renting a house (an important element for a young newly married family).
2. Subsidy The Child Care Service Cost
The second solution: provide quality child care services at low prices, or even for free.
Good child and baby care services, widely available, and at low cost or even free, will make young newly married families not have to worry about the burden of caring for their newborn baby. The hope is that this will encourage the young generation of Japan, Korea and China to have children.
3. Lift Up The Foreign Immigration Rules
The third solution: the three countries, especially Japan and Korea, should make it easier for foreign immigrants to come from various countries to work and become citizens of their country. So far, Japan and Korea have somewhat limited the presence of foreign workers.
It is better if the governments of Japan and South Korea begin to relax foreign immigration rules. Let thousands of foreign workers to find work and even settle down as Japanese or Korean citizens. Even the Japanese and Korean governments need to encourage the foreign workers to become their citizens and also marry local Japanese or Korean citizens.
These are the three concise solutions that the governments of Japan, Korea and China need to implement in overcoming the threat of the demographic crisis in front of their eyes.
As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we rounded up 10 celebrities who’ve been open and candid about dealing with depression, anxiety, and other issues surrounding mental health.
1. Daniel Radcliffe
No one glanced at the figure of Daniel Radcliffe until he was finally involved in the Harry Potter films. Harry Potter was originally a novel by J. K. Rowling that tells the story of the wizarding world. Daniel Radcliffe plays in the film as the main character, Harry Potter. This British actor is known to have a mental disorder called OCD.
OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder makes Daniel Radcliffe quite tormented. He said that he had OCD since he was 5 years old. It was because of this mental disorder that Daniel Radcliffe had to consult an expert. Not an easy journey but it must be done so that mental problems can be resolved.
2. Katy Perry
Pop music lovers may not know the singer Katy Perry. The singer of the song Roar is included as one of the successful singers in Hollywood. Always able to create hits and looks strong, it turns out that Katy Perry has a big problem and it makes Katy Perry depressed.
In the case of Katy Perry, she had a dead end when she was in her 30s. She was so depressed that she was unable to compose songs. One of the causes of her depression was that she broke up with her spouse. After going through those tough times, Katy Perry managed to get up and re-create songs.
3. Leonardo DiCaprio
The popularity of Leonardo DiCaprio is unquestionable. Its high popularity is certainly not without reason. Leonardio DiCaprio is highly appreciated for his excellent acting skills. It had been a question why an actor as great as himself did not get an Oscar. Finally, the wait was over when he got it in 2016.
An actor as great as Leonardo DiCaprio is not a perfect human being. He also has a serious mental disorder. DiCaprio admits that he suffers from a mental disorder known as obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD for short. OCD causes sufferers to have uncontrollable and repetitive thoughts and urges and compulsive behaviors.
4. Robin Williams
When someone is sad and wants to find entertainment, one way is to watch comedians. But, have you ever thought what if the comedian is sad? Where should they run and seek help? This is roughly what the comedian actor, Robin Williams, experienced.
Robin Williams died shockingly in 2014. He died by suicide. After being investigated, it turned out that Robin Williams had suffered from severe depression throughout his life. The actor suffered from depression, dependence on alcohol, was sentenced to dementia, and Parkinson’s. This is what made him decide to end his life.
5. Zayn Malik
2010 was the year One Direction was born. One Direction is a British boy band consisting of 5 handsome men. They are Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and Zayn Malik. The boyband has been on hiatus for a long time and some of its members have solo careers, namely Zayn Malik.
Zayn Malik through an interview, open to the public by telling how he suffered from mental disorders. In the interview he admitted to having problems with anxiety and depression. This mental disorder makes it difficult to live life and make decisions. He also had an eating disorder when he was still in One Direction.
6. Chris Evans
Marvel has always been selective in choosing which actors will play the characters in the comics. Robert Downey Jr., Hugh Jackman, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Evans were very well chosen to play superhero characters from Marvel comics. From some of the names that have been mentioned, it turns out that Chris Evans, who became Captain America, has a mental disorder called social anxiety.
In an interview, Chris Evans shared how he struggled with social anxiety. He realized that if this was not addressed immediately, this could threaten his career in film. Social anxiety is a mental disorder that causes sufferers to experience unreasonable anxiety when engaging in social interactions. Sufferers can feel panic, fear, and shame when they have to face other people.
7. Camila Cabello
The appearance of the girl group Fifth Harmony in 2012 gave a new color to the music world. Fifth Harmony is from America and consists of Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregui, and Camila Cabello. One of its members, Camila Cabello, decided to leave and go solo in 2016.
This Cuban-American singer has become one of Hollywood’s top singers. Young, beautiful, and can write her own songs, very talented. In 2022, Camila Cabello talks about her mental health. She has anxiety and OCD. OCD is what makes her experience anxiety. This disorder bothered her so much until she didn’t even want to work until her mental condition got better.
8. Adele
There are many singers with extraordinary vocal power. Adele became one of the many singers who have extraordinary vocal power. And plus it turns out that Adele is experiencing problems with her mental health.
The Grammy-winning singer opened up to the public about her mental health. She admitted that she had experienced postpartum depression after giving birth. Postpartum depression is a condition when a mother feels sad, guilty, and other common forms of depression for a long time after giving birth. Adele doesn’t have any medical procedures or talk about it with anyone and that really bothers her.
9. Lady Gaga
Have you ever heard of PTSD? PTSD is a mental disorder that causes the sufferer to experience trauma after experiencing a traumatic event. It could happen because he experienced or even witnessed. PTSD stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, and is usually experienced by soldiers.
A number of famous Hollywood celebrities suffer from this mental disorder, including one of them is Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga, who is known for her eccentricity, bombastic songs, and unique style of dress, admits that she suffers from PTSD. The PTSD she experienced was because when she was 19 years old, she had been a victim of rape.
10. Dwayne Johnson
Starting as a wrestler following in his father’s footsteps, Dwayne Johnson has now transformed into a famous Hollywood actor. Even his name was included in the list of the highest paid actors in the world. Even actors who have tall and burly bodies have experienced problems with their mental health.
It seems we really can’t judge people from their physical appearance alone. Dwayne Johnson as a child had depression. The deep depression he experienced was because he had seen and saved his mother from an attempted suicide. It is very painful to see the person who gave birth to him wanting to end his life.
Dia de los Muertos is perhaps the most popular holiday in Mexico, symbolized in the classic skull painting. While it’s look like a Halloween for foreigners, Dia de los Muertos has actually other meaning behind it. Let’s check out what does this tradition really represent!
Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Death
In Mexico, there is a unique tradition to remember the dead that called as Day of the Death or famously known as Dia de los Muertos.
In contrast to most of the culture, while the family members will be mourning during the death date of someone they love, Mexican are actually celebrating it in the form of festival. It has similar concept with the Ma’nene tradition from Torajan, while the villagers are celebrating the life among the death.
The Lady of The Dead
The Day of the Death festival exist since 2,500 to 3,000 years ago while the origin villagers are celebrating the soul of the dead. The tradition was actually dedicated to a Goddess of Mictecacihuatl or also known as “The Lady of the Dead”.
The Aztecs and other Mesoamerican peoples do have a unique tradition of keeping skulls in their homes and will display the skulls during festival activities. The tradition of displaying the skull symbolizes death and rebirth.
Symbolize Life Guarantee After Death
Death has always played an important role in the procession of worshiping the gods and performing rituals in ancient Mexican civilization. The Aztecs believed that when a person died in childbirth, or as a sacrifice for others or died in battle, it was a blessing. They believe that people who die in these conditions will get the desired life guarantee after death.
However, when the Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Mexico, they considered the celebration impolite and changed the date of the celebration to coincide with the Christian holidays of All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Spirit which fall on November 1 and 2. The combination of European Catholic traditions and indigenous Mexican traditions eventually formed the current El Dia de Los Muertos celebration.
Now, El Dia de Los Muertos is celebrated every November 1 and 2 by Mexican, Central and South Americans and by Latinos living in parts of the United States and Canada to honor deceased relatives and friends.
November 1 is known as Dia de Los Angelitos and is dedicated to the memory of the spirits of children. Meanwhile, on November 2, it is called Dia de Los Difuntos to commemorate the spirits of adults.
The Altar Decoration
During the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, each family will make an altar decorated with various colorful trinkets ranging from photos, Aztec Marigolds (Mexican death flowers), calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), skull-shaped candy, papel picado ( a kind of Mexican ornament), the deceased’s favorite foods, drinks, and items during the dead’s lifetime.
The celebration of Dia de Los Muertos is indeed identic with altars or commonly known as ofrendas. These altars were erected and decorated to honor deceased relatives. Mexicans believe that this celebration makes it easier for the souls of the dead to visit those who are still alive during the two days.
Not just that, Mexicans also believe that these spirits will come to eat and party with them during the festive day. During the celebrations, family members will offer prayers to the deceased in the hope that the dead will hear them.
During the festival, The Mexicans will also visit graves and place offerings on the graves of their relatives. They will also clean the tomb and decorate it with beautiful ornaments and light candles around the tomb. During night of the festive day, the atmosphere in the tomb actually looks very beautiful with thousands of lit candles.
Not only at homes and cemeteries, but the streets will also turn lively when Dia de Los Muertos festival is held. Everyone in the community will feast on ghost costume parades, art exhibitions, musical performances, and more.
Welcome Food For The Dead
The Mexican believes that the spirit might be hungry and thirsty after the long journey from the spirit world to the living world. Hence, the family usually will present the favorite food of their dead loved on the altar. The offering of the foods are usually consist of what the person enjoyed when they were still alive.
However, the most common meal in the altar offering is Pan de muerto, or also known as bread of the dead. In Mexico, Pan de muerto is usually presented at most of the bakeries and supermarkets by middle of October. Mexican honor the loved ones who passed away and leave them offerings at their gravesites or at altars made at home.
Mexicans do not see death as the end of life, but interpret it as the beginning of a new life. That’s why Dia de Los Muertos is performed in a cheerful and colorful celebratory setting.
In the 90’s era, when people heard that there was a place that was haunted, no one dare to go there. However, it is different now as in more people are daring to challenge their fear. Even the horror place can become a tourist place.
People are nowadays interested in visiting this terrible place even though there have been warnings of ghosts inhabiting the place. If you like to challenge your fear, try to visit these scariest places in the world for your ghost hunting adventure!
1. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum – USA
When we talk about a haunted place, it can’t be separated from an abandoned mental hospital. Mental hospitals are places to treat those who have mental problems and in need of intense care. In America, there are many mental hospitals that were built and many are no longer used and converted into tourist attractions.
Like the one in West Virginia, the Trans-Allegheny lunatic asylum was opened in 1864 and closed in 1994. The hospital has been used as a tourist spot since 1994. There are paranormal tours that can be done at the Trans-Allegheny lunatic asylum, visitors can see the room used to treat the mental patient. The visitors claimed that they saw ghost sightings of patients who died there.
2. Aokigahara Forest – Japan
Aokigahara is known throughout the country because it is used as a place to commit suicide.
As it was used as a place to commit suicide, Aokigahara became one of the scariest forest places in the world to visit. Although considered a sacred and spooky place, Aokigahara is open to the public as a tourist spot. Aokigahara is near Mount Fuji so you can also enjoy the beauty of the highest mountain in Japan.
3. Circulo Cubano de Tampa – Florida
Old buildings are usually the perfect place for the spirits. Circulo Cubano de Tampa is one of the horror places in Florida. This building was used as a gathering place for immigrants from Cuba. The building in 1972 was made a protected building by the US National Register of Historic Place.
This place is believed to be a haunted place by many people. A channel on Syfy has a show called Ghost Hunters. It is said that the place is indeed haunted and there is a ghost of a boy named Jimmy and communicating with them. Since then, many people have come to the place to find ghost apparitions.
4. Villisca Ax Murder House – USA
A building can be spooky when tragedy strikes. Villisca Ax Murder House, a house located in Villisca, is a silent witness to the sadistic murder of a family. The victim in the house were Josiah B. Moore, his wife, 4 children, and 2 young women. They were killed by someone who even until now is unknown.
For several years, local residents claim to have seen sightings of men carrying axes, the sound of crying children, and other paranormal activities. In 1994, the house was restored to its original state. The house is now open for visitors. If you are curious about any paranormal activity, go ahead and visit the house!
5. Moundsville Penitentiary – USA
Prison is a place for criminals to be punished for their crimes. Not only tortured, there are also criminals sentenced to death in prison. And there is one famous prison in America called Moundsville Penitentiary, located in West Virginia. This prison once housed nearly 1000 criminals. There are also those who were sentenced to death in the prison.
Moundsville Penitentiary closed in 1995. Its original function as a place to imprison criminals has turned into a tourist spot. There is a tour guide provided for visitors who want to see what a place of torture for criminals looks like. Knocking on walls and cries of prisoners are said to have been heard while visiting Moundsville Penitentiery.
6. Highgate Cemetery – England
The name of the cemetery is certainly scary. In England, there is a very famous grave called Highgate Cemetery. It is located in North London.
This cemetery is famous as there are 170,000 bodies buried there. Several famous figures are also buried at Highgate Cemetery such as Karl Marx, Lucien Freud, and Christina Rossetti. This cemetery is not only a final resting place but also used for tourism. This cemetery can be entered after buying an entrance ticket.
7. Island of Dolls – Mexico
If just one doll can give off a scary aura, what if the dolls are in large numbers and neglected? It will certainly add to the horror of those who see it.
In Mexico, there is one place that contains many abandoned dolls, which is Island of Dolls. There you can see lots of dolls hanging from trees or on the roofs of houses. It is believed by Mexicans that the dolls there have spirits in them. Terrible indeed, but this island is one of the world scariest places that you can visit.
8. Paris Catacombs – France
Paris, which is usually visited for its fashion and art, turns out to have horror tourist destinations that you can visit. Those of you who are curious and want to test your courage can go to a place called The Catacombs of Paris. There you can see millions of human bones piled on the walls.
The Catacombs of Paris is a building built underground. On the right and left side of the tunnel wall, human bones could be clearly seen. It is estimated that there are more than 6 million human bones laid there. The Catacombs of Paris were built in the late 18th century as a cemetery.
9. Plastinarium – Germany
Not only can we gain knowledge but we can also get a horror atmosphere by going to museums. Going to the museum can definitely increase knowledge because there is a lot of information that can be seen there. But how can a museum have a spooky atmosphere? If you go to the Plastinarium, you can find the answer.
The Plastinarium is a large museum located in the city of Guben, Germany. This museum shows the anatomy of animals as well as humans. Those who enter the museum can not only know the anatomical structure of humans but also animals. But on the other hand it also shows the horror. What if one day there was an anatomy doll that moved on its own?