10 strange traditions (4)

(1) Fingerhakeln or "finger wrestling"

is a game played in the Alpine region of Austria and Germany. Two, usually male, competitors sit on opposite sides of a table. Each player puts his middle finger into a strap. When everything is ready a referee gives signal for match to begin. Players try to pull as hard as they can. The winner is a person who manages to pull his opponent over the table using only his finger. There is an international championship in fingerhakeln held in German village of Ohlstadt. It includes competitors from Germany and Austria. Competitors are divided into categories according to their age and weight.

(2) "Krakelingen" festival

Belgian town of Geraardsbergen, located in the northeast of country, is famous for its "Krakelingen" festival. The festival is held on the last Sunday in February. The fact that makes it rather bizarre is a ceremony in which local people drink wine with live "grondeling" fish inside. The fish is about 2.5 centimeters long. Because of protests organized by animal activists only 24 persons can participate in the ceremony.

It has to be said that "Krakelingen" festival itself has little bit more ordinary origin. Long, long time ago, in the medieval time, people of Geraardsbergen threw food over the city walls to confuse enemy army to tried to conquer the town. To commemorate the event locals organize throwing of bread rolls called Krakelingen to people gathered at the festival.

(3) Water buffalo racing or "Kambala" (Kambla)

is a popular sport in Indian state of Karnataka and Kerala. One of the most famous of all races is called "Koti Chennaya Kambala". It is held in a village of Puttur, Karnataka. Kambala is a competition between two men. Each of them uses a whip to control his two buffaloes across the muddy track. Bufalloes are divided into several categories according to number of their fallen teeth. Gambling is very popular at Kambala races.

(4) Monkey festival

is held each year in Thailand. Thai Lopburi province is especially famous for its festival honoring monkeys. Huge quantities of fruit and vegetable are given to monkeys. It is done to honour Rama who assigned the province to Monkey King Hanuman.

(5) Wife Carrying World Championship

Small Finnish town of Sonkajärvi is famous for its Wife Carrying World Championships. The championships is held every summer. Like all events it has a legend about its origin. In the 19th century local man Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen used to steal women from nearby villages and later carry them across rocky terrain. Today the competition is held over 250 m long course combining sand, grass and asphalt. Logs and water are used as obstacles.