Top 10 Bizarre Traditions

Many of these customs have become relics of the past, and in most instances, this is a positive development, as they are often deemed brutal or malevolent. However, a few of these practices ceased only in recent times. Here, we present a compilation of the top 10 unusual traditions that have largely disappeared from human society. Note: This content includes mature themes.

10. Geisha

The traditional practices of the Geisha have now been replaced by a contemporary framework. Once abundant, the number of Geisha has significantly declined. In the 1900s, there were more than 25,000 Geisha, and by the early 1930s, this number had surged to 80,000, with the majority residing in Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. Today, fewer than 10,000 Geisha remain, with only 100 in Tokyo. Genuine Geisha are even rarer. Modern Geisha are no longer acquired from impoverished families and raised in Geisha houses as children. The path to becoming a Geisha is now entirely voluntary, and women from non-Geisha backgrounds can pursue this role. Despite these changes, the training remains as demanding as ever, requiring young women to dedicate themselves to mastering traditional Japanese dance, music, singing, and other arts.

Traditional Geisha were not involved in prostitution, although there are rumors that some contemporary Geisha might engage in such activities.

9. Dueling

From the 15th to the 20th century, dueling was a formalized combat between two individuals in Western cultures. Conducted with equally lethal weapons, these fights followed agreed-upon rules, often over matters of honor. Typically, each participant was accompanied by a trusted representative, who might also engage in combat. Despite being illegal, duels were a recognized practice during this period.

A duel typically arose when one individual (the challenger) sought to rectify a perceived slight to their honor. The primary aim was not necessarily to kill the opponent but to achieve “satisfaction,” meaning to reclaim one’s honor by showing a readiness to risk one’s life for it.

Duels were conducted using swords or, from the 18th century onward, pistols. Wealthy nobles often commissioned specially designed dueling pistols for this purpose. Following an offense, whether real or perceived, the aggrieved party would demand “satisfaction” from the offender, often through a deliberately insulting act, such as throwing a glove at their feet, giving rise to the phrase “throwing down the gauntlet.”

8. Eunuchs

To clarify, the image above depicts a male eunuch. A eunuch is a castrated male, typically one who underwent the procedure to fulfill specific societal roles, as was common in many historical cultures. In ancient China, castration served as both a traditional punishment (until the Sui Dynasty) and a pathway to employment within the Imperial court. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial palace housed 70,000 eunuchs. The potential for power—some eunuchs wielded influence surpassing even that of prime ministers—was so great that self-castration had to be outlawed. By 1912, when the practice ended, only 470 eunuchs remained in Imperial service.

Eunuchs castrated before reaching puberty were highly prized and trained in various cultures for their unique vocal qualities, which retained a youthful, ethereal flexibility and high pitch. These individuals were referred to as castrati. However, the decision to undergo castration was often made at an age when the boy could not fully comprehend the sacrifice of his future sexual capabilities, and there was no certainty that his voice would maintain its musical brilliance post-operation.

Play a video of a true castrato – taken from Top 10 Incredible Recordings.

7. Concubinage

The image depicts a group of concubines positioned behind their guardians, typically eunuchs. Concubinage refers to a quasi-marital arrangement where a woman or youth maintains a long-term relationship with a man of higher social standing. Usually, the man has an official spouse alongside one or more concubines. Concubines receive limited support from the man, and their children are recognized as his offspring, though they hold a lower status compared to those born to the official wife or wives.

Throughout history, concubinage was often a voluntary arrangement, either by the girl or her family, as it offered economic stability for the woman. In contrast, involuntary or servile concubinage sometimes entailed sexual slavery, typically imposed on the female member of the relationship.

6. Seppuku

Seppuku (also known as Hara-Kiri) was a crucial element of bushido, the samurai warrior code. It served as a method for warriors to avoid capture by enemies and to mitigate shame. Samurai could also be commanded by their daimyo (feudal lords) to perform seppuku. In later times, disgraced warriors were occasionally permitted to commit seppuku instead of facing standard execution. Since the act aimed to restore or preserve a warrior’s honor, it was exclusive to the samurai class; non-samurai were neither ordered nor expected to perform it. Samurai women required permission to carry out the act.

A Samurai preparing for seppuku would be bathed, dressed in white robes, and served his favorite meal. Once finished, his ritual instrument was placed before him. Clad ceremonially with his sword in front and sometimes seated on special cloths, the warrior would compose a death poem. With his chosen attendant (kaishakunin) nearby, he would open his kimono, take up his tantō (knife), and stab his abdomen, slicing from left to right. The kaishakunin would then execute daki-kubi, a near-decapitation cut, leaving only a small strip of flesh connecting the head to the body.

5. Human Sacrifice

Human sacrifice involves the killing of a person as an offering to a deity or supernatural force. This practice was prevalent in numerous ancient civilizations. Cultures like the Mayans and Aztecs were infamous for their ritualistic killings, while others viewed the act as barbaric. Victims were often killed in ways believed to satisfy or placate gods or spirits, ranging from prisoners and infants to Vestal Virgins, who faced methods such as burning, decapitation, or live burial.

Over the centuries, human sacrifice has diminished globally and is now exceedingly rare. Most modern religions denounce the practice, and contemporary laws classify it as a criminal act. However, it still sporadically occurs, particularly in underdeveloped regions where traditional beliefs endure.

4. Foot Binding

Foot binding was a tradition imposed on young girls in China for nearly a millennium, starting in the 10th century and ceasing in the early 20th century. The process involved tightly wrapping the feet of girls, typically around age six or younger, to prevent normal growth. This caused the feet to break and deform, often not exceeding 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in length. Today, it remains a significant cause of disability among older Chinese women.

The procedure began by soaking the feet in a warm blend of herbs and animal blood, which caused dead tissue to slough off. The toenails were then trimmed as short as possible to avoid ingrowth and infections. The feet were gently massaged to prepare for the next steps. Silk or cotton bandages, measuring ten feet long and two inches wide, were soaked in the same mixture. Each toe was broken and bound with the wet bandages, which tightened as they dried, pulling the toes downward toward the heel. Deep cuts were sometimes made in the soles to aid the process.

3. Tibetan Sky Burial

Sky burial, or ritual dissection, was a widespread tradition in Tibet. The process involves dismembering a human corpse into small pieces and placing it on a mountaintop, exposing it to natural elements and scavenging animals, particularly birds of prey. In one description, the chief mok would sever the limbs and chop the body into parts, distributing them to assistants who used rocks to crush the flesh and bones into a pulp. This mixture was combined with tsampa (barley flour mixed with tea and yak butter or milk) before vultures were called to consume it.

In other accounts, the flesh was stripped from the bones and directly offered to vultures. The bones were then smashed with sledgehammers, often mixed with tsampa, and fed to the birds. In yet another version, the entire body was given to vultures. Once only bones remained, they were pulverized with mallets, ground with tsampa, and offered to crows and hawks that waited after the vultures had finished.

The Chinese Communist government banned the practice in the 1960s, nearly eradicating the tradition. However, it was re-legalized in the 1980s.

The image above was captured by Rotem Eldar. For more rare and graphic photographs, visit his site here. WARNING: These images are explicit.

2. Self-Mummification

Sokushinbutsu refers to Buddhist monks or priests who reportedly induced their own deaths in a manner that led to their mummification. This practice was almost entirely confined to northern Japan, particularly in the Yamagata Prefecture. To date, between 16 and 24 such mummified remains have been discovered.

For three years, the priests adhered to a strict diet of nuts and seeds while engaging in intense physical activity to eliminate body fat. This was followed by another three years of consuming only bark and roots. They then drank a toxic tea made from the sap of the Urushi tree, commonly used for lacquering bowls. This tea induced vomiting, rapid fluid loss, and crucially, killed any maggots that could cause decay after death. Finally, the monk would enter a narrow stone tomb, assuming the lotus position. He maintained contact with the outside world through an air tube and a bell, which he rang daily to signal he was alive. When the bell ceased, the tube was removed, and the tomb was sealed.

1. Sati

Sati was a Hindu funeral practice, now extremely rare and illegal in India, where a widow would immolate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. Traditionally, sati was considered a voluntary act, and historical records suggest many widows chose it willingly. However, societal expectations in some communities may have influenced this decision. Modern debates often focus on whether such social pressures constituted coercion. Widows, particularly those without children, were often seen as having little to live for after their husband’s death. Yet, there were cases where a widow’s desire to perform sati was opposed, and attempts were made to save her from death.