1. UP HELLY AA 1ST NINIAN'S ISLE, SCOTLANI
When: Last Tuesday of JanuaryWinter is pretty bleak on this far-flung island, so they hot things up a bit with Europe's largest fire festival. Local gents dress in full Viking regalia, light torches and go rampaging through town.
2. BATTLE OF ORANGES AVREA, ITALY
When: FebruaryThe origins of this event is hazy, but one thing is clear: this is Italy's biggest food fight, and it's carried out exclusively via the medium of oranges. A waste of oranges or the best thing since sliced bread? You decide.
3. HADAKA MATSURI OKAYAMA, JAPAN
When: February
Though the translation is "Naked Festiva, participants rarely get completely starkers. Mostly, it's just 9,000 blokes in tiny loincloths, receiving purification from temple water and hoping for a lucky year.
4. NAKI SUMO TOKYO, JAPAN When: April
When: FebruaryThe origins of this event is hazy, but one thing is clear: this is Italy's biggest food fight, and it's carried out exclusively via the medium of oranges. A waste of oranges or the best thing since sliced bread? You decide.
5. SONGKRAN FESTIVAL CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
When: 13th - 15th AprilAs part of celebrations of Thai New Year, Thais wander the streets with small containers of water or even water guns, dousing all and sundry with water in the streets. Parts of the city are even closed off.
6. GOLDEN SHEARS MASTERTON, NEW ZEALAND
When: March
Wool is a matter of great national pride for New Zealand, and so sheep shearing is the subject of this competition. Held over three days, shearers the world over compete for the honour of winning the golden shears.
7. DAY OF THE SKULLS LA PAZ, BOLIVIA
When: 5th May
You know how you keep your relatives' skulls lying around the house? If you head to La Paz you will be in good company. Decorate them with flowers, hats and cigarettes. For good luck, naturally.
8.CHEESE ROLLING, COOPER'S HILL ENGLAND
When: May (Spring Bank Holiday)
Since the C15th, people have gathered on Cooper's 'it race around of Double Gloucester cheeset the bottom.
9.EL COLACHO CASTRILLO DE MURCIA, SPAIN
When: June (Corpus Christi)
That day each year when a man wearing a devil's costume leaps over the town's babies to cleanse them of evil spirits. Once more: annually since 1621, a dude in a devil outfit has jumped over 1-year old infants as they lay on the floor.
10. LA TOMATINA BANAL, SPAIN
When: Last Wednesday of August
Another food-fight, La Tomatina uses an estimated 40 metric tons of tomatoes each year. The rule state that tomatoes must first be squashed to avoid injury; only tomatoes are to be used, and there is no ripping off of t-shirts.
11. WIFE-CARRYING CHAMPIONSHIP SONKAJARVI, FINLAND
When: July
Men must carry a wife (it doesn't have to be his own) around an obstacle course in the fastest time. The rules stipulate that the wife must be at least 17 years old and weigh 49 kilograms, and also that all participants must enjoy themselves.
12. BORYEONG MUD FESTIVAL BORYEONG, SOUTH KOREA
When: July
Perhaps the weirdest thing about this festival is that it was originally designed as a vehicle to market cosmetics. And that mud is trucked in to make "Mud Experience Land". And that people take their clothes off and bathe in mud.
13. RAYNE FROG FESTIVAL LOUISIANA, USA
When: September (Labour Day)
In the grand tradition of pageantry that America's heartland loves - like dairy queens and Toddlers and Tiaras.
14. MONKEY BUFFET FESTIVAL LOPBURI, THAILAND
When: November
No, the monkeys aren't in the buffet. Instead, fruit and vegetables are prepared in a buffet for the local monkey population by top chefs. They feast like primate kings at the local temple, while people watch on... hungrily.
15. NOCHE DE RABANOS OAXACA, MEXICO
When: 23rd December
Another vegetable-based festival, the Night of the Radishes begins with a competition where Mexico's finest craftsmen carve large root vegetables into a variety of vivid forms. Winner gets their picture in the paper. And glory.
Info-graph credit : Sherla
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