Buzz
Picture this: You’re casually strolling down a street, lost in your own thoughts, when out of nowhere, you spot an irresistibly cute kitten. How do you react?
If you’re from Europe, there’s a good chance your instinctive response is, “crush its skull!” Surprising, isn’t it? While we often view the European continent as a model of tolerance and refinement, the reality is that some of their traditions reflect a deep-seated, almost irrational disdain for animals. Still skeptical? Well, let’s take a look at these so-called ‘traditions.’
10. Quail Catapulting – Spain
Quick: What sets a quail apart from a cannonball? If your response is anything other than ‘Isn’t there a difference?’—congratulations: You’re more observant than the people of Valencia, Spain.
Every year, residents along Spain’s Mediterranean coast gather large quantities of quail, stuff them into a cannon, and fire them into the air. And just when you think it couldn’t get worse, they then shoot at them with shotguns, turning the already injured birds into nothing more than bits and pieces. No, that’s not a mistake: these are “babies.” As reported by Der Spiegel, the average age of these small cannonballs is merely “a few weeks old.” This isn’t some offbeat pastime of a handful of eccentrics either. There are entire clubs devoted to quail catapulting, and crowds of people gather to watch each event. Because what could be more fun than watching tiny creatures explode into pieces, right?
Explore hundreds of other strange lists in The Ultimate Book of Bizarre Lists available on Amazon.com!
9. Swallowing Live Fish – Belgium
In the small Belgian town of Geraardsbergen, with a population of barely 30,000, few would know of it were it not for their annual Krakelingen festival. It may seem like any other parade, but with one striking exception. After the usual marching and festivities, the locals gather at the base of a hill to witness their mayor swallow live fish.
The tradition, which is believed to date back to 1393—though some more reliable sources point to 1600—begins with immersing a tiny fish in a glass of wine before drinking it down in one go. According to Flemish animal rights experts, this practice is comparable to “a human being tossed into a vat of toxic waste” (only to be possibly eaten by a giant). If you think that sounds bad, it used to be worse. Before a 2001 court ruling, nearly the entire population of Geraardsbergen would swallow at least one fish during the Krakelingen festival. Now, it's just the mayor and a few of his friends with impressive beards.
8. Horse Wrestling – Spain
In most places, macho men like to display their strength by taming wild horses. In Spain, they wrestle them instead.
Each year, the people of Galicia get intoxicated, ascend the nearby mountains, and drunkenly herd hundreds of wild horses down into the town, where they then fight and shave them. No, we're not making this up either.
Locals say the “Rapa das Bestas” tradition, which has lasted for over 400 years, was originally meant to help track and care for the horses. But once alcohol entered the mix, the event became a chaotic annual spectacle—one that persists to this day. Despite criticism from numerous animal welfare organizations, the Rapa continues. In fact, according to the Spanish government’s official tourism website, all the bad press only serves to attract a larger audience.
7. The Most Dangerous Horse Race – Italy
Twice a year, the people of Siena, Italy, come together for an event known as the 'Palio.' While the name may sound harmless, a more fitting title would be ‘the deadliest horse race ever.’
A 90-second dash around an incredibly small track crammed with cheering onlookers, the Palio has become notorious for its fatality rate. According to Italy’s animal protection association, the race has claimed the lives of 49 horses since 1970—that’s about one horse every two and a half minutes. While this statistic is shocking in itself, it’s just the beginning of the madness. Up until 2009, jockeys could legally ride their horses while completely intoxicated, which probably didn’t help with that whole ‘high mortality rate’ thing we mentioned earlier.
However, there have been some improvements. In 2011, the Italian government chose not to recognize the race as part of its official cultural heritage, acknowledging the public outcry over all the horse fatalities. But even that hasn’t stopped the race from continuing or additional deaths from occurring.
6. Goose Decapitation – Spain
In addition to horses, quail, and bulls, it turns out there is another animal the Spanish have a particular disdain for: geese. This is especially true in the town of Lekeitio. For the past 350 years, the locals in this small Basque community have marked their patron saint's festival by suspending a goose over the harbor and forcing people to tug at its neck until its head is detached.
Strangely, the origins of this gruesome tradition remain unclear. What we do know is that, at some point in history, the Basque people decided to kill a goose in the most grotesque manner every year. Or at least, this was the practice until recently. Thankfully, animal rights reforms have made it so that the bird is killed prior to decapitation; though it's still a morbid sight, it no longer feels like something straight out of an Eli Roth film. As a bizarre twist, the townsfolk now grease the dead goose before hanging it up, extending the whole decapitation process to an excruciatingly long duration.
5. Ferret Legging in England
What could be more revolting than something you'd never want to experience? Unless you're a frequent visitor of disturbing websites, it’s hard to imagine a worse fate than that of those who participate in 'ferret legging.' This strange 'sport,' which originates in the tough region of Yorkshire, England, involves trapping a very hungry live ferret inside a man's pants, where it remains for up to five and a half hours.
As reported by the Telegraph, this strange tradition began as a way for tough coal miners to prove how tough they were by engaging in something that no rational person would ever consider. Eventually, it became a popular activity, until the UK’s 2006 Animal Welfare Act made it legally questionable. That hasn’t stopped some from preserving the tradition, though judging by articles like this one, it’s unclear who suffers more: the ferret or the person foolish enough to put it in their pants.
4. The Goat-Throwing Tradition of Spain
Let’s be clear: we don't mean to pick on any particular country, but it’s difficult not to when Spain’s very existence makes it a bit of a target. Not only are the Spaniards infamous for causing more animal deaths than Ernest Hemingway could ever dream of in a fit of rage, but they also seem to enjoy traumatizing animals. This brings us to the San Vicente de Martir festival, where for years, the people of Manganeses de la Polvorosa gathered to throw a goat off a tower.
Unlike many other bizarre traditions, goat-throwing never really earned much respect as a cultural custom. Locals claim it has been practiced for over 200 years, though a BBC report suggested it might have only started as recently as 1978—though the 'why' remains a mystery. On the bright side, the tradition is now a thing of the past. In 2002, Spanish courts ruled that this particular practice was even more unlawful than the country’s notorious blood sports, and it was banned. Today, fans of the tradition are left to throw a stuffed goat instead.
3. Setting a Bull's Face on Fire in Spain
Warning: The video contains scenes of violence and animal cruelty.
It's no secret that the Spanish have an odd connection with bulls—one that often involves killing them while dressed in outrageous costumes. But the residents of Medinaceli, a small village, take it a step further than just bullfighting or even bull lancing. Each year, they slather a bull's face with tar and set it ablaze.
Yes, you read that right: they set the bull’s actual face on fire. Known as the “Toro Jubilo,” this event sees the bull set alight before being released to run wild through the town square, crashing into walls and frightening anyone with a fear of bulls, fire, or nightmarish combinations of both. According to groups like PETA (admittedly not the most impartial source), this ordeal can go on for hours, often leaving the bull disfigured and blinded. However, proponents argue that it’s all superficial and the bull rarely endures lasting harm. Regardless of the truth, it's not something we’d be eager to experience ourselves.
Looking for something heartwarming to counterbalance this? Check out Unlikely Loves: 43 Heartwarming True Stories from the Animal Kingdom at Amazon.com!
2. Donkey Stoning in Spain
The origins of the Pero Palo festival in Spain are as grim as the event itself. Many years ago, a rapist who had been terrorizing the community of Villanueva de la Vera was captured, bound to a donkey, and paraded through the streets before being led outside the village and executed. Nowadays, the villagers reenact this grim scene annually, but with a major twist. Today, it’s the donkey who suffers.
In a disturbing display of violence, the villagers drag a specially chosen donkey through the streets, taunting it, slapping it, throwing rocks at it, and even detonating firecrackers near its legs. When the donkey collapses, they pull it back up and repeat the torment, continuing until the animal is in severe pain, dead, or both. Unlike many of the other bizarre traditions listed here, the Pero Palo festival remains legal and continues to this day. In 2014, there were even reports of festivalgoers shooting shotguns at the donkey.
1. Hitting Cats with Sticks in Germany
Ever heard the saying 'madder than a sackful of cats'? Well, in some parts of Germany, it’s more than just a saying—it’s actually a part of an ancient tradition.
This tradition, known as 'tomcat poking,' was once popular in parts of rural East Germany, though it’s hard to find anyone partaking in it today. And for good reason: Tomcat poking involved putting a cat in a sack, placing the sack in a box, and then hitting the box with sticks until the cat began to scream.
As reported by Der Spiegel, this bizarre custom dates back to the Middle Ages and was apparently a game for the mentally unstable, because even animal cruelty seemed like fun when the alternative was waiting to die of the plague. Although it was outlawed long ago, there are still occasional instances. In 2004, for example, some residents of the small town of Wiednitz were warned for playing the game during a bachelor party.
