10 most bizarre festivals in Europe

Oh Europe, a lot you brought into this world: culture, food, drinks, democracy, "Eurovision". But other than that, you gave the people some of the most unusual festivals on the planet Earth.

These holidays are so unpredictable and diverse that everyone can find in them something fun for yourself. How do you, for example, offer rafting down the river on a pumpkin? Or take part in the Battle of tomatoes? Or maybe you want to swallow meter black pudding? All this is, and even more ...

Here are 10 of the most unusual, in our opinion, the festivals of Europe, which you can visit.

Championship diving into the swamp, UK

Today, swimming under water in the swamp - a popular international event for which gather hundreds of participants from all over the world. This event is held in late August in the city of Wells Lanurtid that in Wales.

Event is a swim in two trenches filled with water and connected bog peat. According to the rules, participants should not use the usual swimming styles, but to put on fins, mask and snorkel is mandatory.

Those who are not good at swimming, offering a peat bog to overcome a depth of about two meters on a bicycle.

Yorkshire race boats of the pudding, UK

It is not joke! Boats are really made of pudding (flour, water and eggs). However, on top of their varnish to repel water. And then fuse them down the river. Manage these shaky structures children with oars.

This type of competition invented certain Simon Thackray when viewed in water. The guy thought it would be cool to go down the river on a boat from the pudding. He put his idea into practice, and it caught on.

The event is held in early June in the small town of Braubach, North Yorkshire.

The festival of pumpkins, Germany

If you ever dreamed of rafting on the pumpkin, then you should visit in the autumn of Ludwigsburg in Germany.

In total, the festival involved about 400 000 to 500 different types of pumpkins. collect different figures on a given subject of these pumpkins. For example, the theme of last year - a "Jurassic Park" (the dinosaurs of gourds), Egypt (Pharaohs of pumpkins) and ocean (whales of pumpkins).

If the exhibition is not enough, you can take part in races on boats, where instead of floating equipment used giant pumpkin. These pumpkins can weigh up to 300 kilos, so swim turns into a competition of those who long to remain afloat and not turn over.

La Tomatina, Spain

This is one of the most famous unusual festivals in the world. And one of the craziest parties. Battle of the food takes place in the last Wednesday of August in the small town of Bunol, near Valencia that.

Participants gather in the central square at 11 am, and the game begins Palo Jamon. The goal - to climb to the top of the smear soap pillar two storeys high and reset the down leg of pork, which is fastened at the top.

As soon as someone does succeed, tomatoes are unloaded from the truck and start a real massacre. The chaos lasted exactly one hour, then a few more days, the streets are washed from the tomatoes.

Keep in mind: if you want to attend, do not wear clothes that will be a pity to throw.

Running for cheese, UK

Presumably, once upon a time a man of genius has climbed to the top of the hill Coopers Hill and thought: "That would be great to throw down nine pounds! Cheese and run after them, "There is also a version that the festival is associated with the ancient pagan rite: things rolled down the hill, so that the soil was fertile.

Today, the story is not so important, because the annual Spring Festival attracted more than 15 thousand wishing to participate in the pursuit of cheese.

Essentially, each race is as follows: cheese thrown from the top of the mountain, the participants fall and roll down the hill after him, and the ambulance waiting at the bottom of all.

Naturally, the number of injuries is enormous, so the fate of this event is now solved by the health and safety authorities.

El Kolachev, Spain

Another unusual ritual originally from Spain, more precisely, from the town of Castillo de Murcia. One man, a local resident, received the dubious honor of change in the devil, go out and jump over rows of babies have been laid out on the road ahead. What is interesting, on the strength of this man's life depends on the feet of children, so this is a very responsible job.

Why in Spain do?

It all began in 1620 at the Catholic Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The ritual is designed to protect newborns from disease, the evil eye and evil spirits.

Championship transfer wives, Finland

To win the competition, taking place in sonkajärvi need to quickly bring all his wife to the finish. But this is not just another race in a straight line, it is an obstacle. The route abounds with fences, piles of sand, there is even a swimming pool that you want to swim.

The task is complicated by the fact that only allowed a few ways carrying wives: the way a fireman (the wife of shoulder) and Estonian way to (the wife hangs upside down, legs wrapped around the neck of her husband, and kept his hands around the waist spouse).

What is the prize you ask? The winner receives so much beer, how much weight his wife.

Orange Battle, Italy

On this festival the residents of a small town of Ivrea dress up in medieval costumes and playing the ancient battle. However, as a weapon may only be used oranges.

According to the legend, this festival symbolizes the uprising of the inhabitants of the city against the cruel tyrant. People that throw oranges from carts - it is protection of the tyrant, and those at the bottom - the rebellious citizens.

Festival pigs, France

The village of Trie-sur-Baïse is known in the whole of France that is producing the highest quality pork. It is no coincidence this is where the festival originated pigs La Pourcailhade, which takes place every second Sunday of August.

Entertainment on this holiday a lot. For example, you can try a variety of dishes, participate in choosing the best costume pig bets in the race of pigs, as well as to become a party to speed eating sausage competitions.

But the main highlight of the festival - it is a battle of breeders, where the jury will evaluate all stages of life on the farm pigs: from birth and ending with ham.

By the way, at the same festival competitions are held on eating black pudding. Participants should eat one meter of this delicacy.

Fire Festival, UK

The most unusual fire festival in the world - Up Helly Aa - is held in Lerwick, in Scotland.

In late January, one day this city is filled with people dressed as Vikings. These people pulled through the streets of Drakkar - viking ship combat - in its full size. After Drakkar delivered to the appointed place, it is burnt.

By the way, a new ship being built every year for this purpose. As the boat turns to ash, begin mass celebrations with dancing and drinking. They pass around Lerwick and continue until the morning.

And what of the festival would like to visit you?