The World’s 10 Weirdest Rituals You Won’t Believe Exist (Not for the Faint of Heart)

You won’t believe these 10 weird global rituals—they’re so wild, you’ll need to read every single one! 
TOP 10. Sky Burial

In Tibet, sky burial is a super sacred practice: the deceased’s body is taken to a special mountain spot, carefully chopped into small pieces, and left as a gift to nature—mostly for vultures, which are seen as messengers that carry the soul to the afterlife. For devout Buddhists, the body is just an empty shell once the soul leaves, so giving it to other creatures is total selfless kindness and a way to earn spiritual merit. Wild, right?

TOP 9. Newlywed Bathroom Ban


Over in Borneo, the indigenous Dayak tribe sticks to a strict, ancient wedding rule: newlyweds can’t use the bathroom for THREE FULL DAYS AND NIGHTS after tying the knot! Elders keep a close eye on them the whole time to make sure they follow it. Locals are convinced this weird tradition purifies their marriage, bringing lifelong good luck, prosperity, and a happy, harmonious life together. Talk about a tough start to wedded bliss!

TOP 8. Living with the Dead


The Toraja people of Indonesia have a seriously unique take on death: they keep their deceased loved ones at home for YEARS, treating them like they’re still part of the family. Every day, they clean the bodies, dress them in traditional clothes, and even chat with them while going about their day. They also use a special herbal mix to slow decomposition. Yep, the Toraja literally live with the dead until they can throw a proper funeral. Mind-blowing!

TOP 7. Sun Dance


The Sun Dance is a long, intensely spiritual ritual practiced by many Native American tribes—especially Plains Indians like the Lakota and Cheyenne. The ceremony usually includes hours of solemn praying, strict fasting, and then a brutal dance: young warriors get their skin pierced, attached to sacred poles, and dance until they pass out from exhaustion. This extreme act is both a powerful tribute to the sun god (who they believe keeps everyone alive) and the ultimate test of a warrior’s courage and stamina. And get this—many Native American communities still do this sacred ritual today!

TOP 6. Self-Immolation


Thankfully, it’s super rare, but Tibetan Buddhist monks have sometimes turned to self-immolation as a drastic way to protest injustice. This horrific, deeply disturbing act involves setting oneself on fire—often in public—to draw attention to a cause. It also became globally infamous during the Vietnam War, when several Buddhist monks did this to protest the government, shocking people everywhere with how extreme it was.

TOP 5. Eskimo Funeral Ritual


Life in the harsh, unforgiving Arctic is a constant fight for survival for Inuit (Eskimo) communities. When elderly tribe members get too frail to care for or be cared for, they’re sometimes placed on a floating ice sheet and sent out to sea. Tragically, that means the elders are left to starve or freeze to death—a heart-wrenching practice born out of the brutal reality of scarce resources in the Arctic.

TOP 4. Carrying Your Wife Over Burning Coals


There’s a wild, risky Chinese folk custom where husbands have to carry their pregnant wives barefoot across burning coals! The tradition comes from the belief that this act of courage and devotion will please the gods and make the wife’s delivery smooth and pain-free. Crowds love watching this intense spectacle, and while it seems crazy dangerous to outsiders, many locals still see it as a symbol of love and commitment. Talk about a high-stakes way to wish for a safe birth!

TOP 3. Baby Throwing


In some parts of India, there’s a shocking ritual that’s been around for nearly 700 years: new parents throw their newborns off the roof of a 30-foot-tall temple! They’re dead set on the idea that this terrifying “entrusting the child to the gods” act will give their little ones long, healthy lives. It started centuries ago when infant mortality was devastatingly high—desperate parents asked a local saint for help, and this extreme prayer was his advice. It’s illegal now, but a few families still secretly do it. Insane, right?

TOP 2. Drinking Cow’s Blood


In the grasslands of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, the Maasai tribe has a long tradition of drinking cow’s blood during big life moments—like births, weddings, and coming-of-age parties. They even swear it cures hangovers in a flash! Here’s how it works: they make a tiny cut in a cow’s vein with a sharp bamboo shoot, then drink the blood straight up. Surprisingly, the Maasai say the cow doesn’t get seriously hurt and heals totally fine.

TOP 1. Phuket Vegetarian Festival


Thailand’s annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is way more than just eating veggies. Participants commit to a strict nine-day fast—no meat, seafood, or dairy—to purify their bodies and minds. But the craziest part? To honor animals and show their devotion, lots of people pierce their mouths and cheeks with sharp stuff like swords, skewers, and nails. Ouch—that’s one painful way to respect a tradition! You’d never catch me doing that.