Europe: A Carnival of the Bizarre

Europeans are viewed by most people on the west side of the Atlantic as rather eccentric. Behaviour that seems strange, odd or peculiar is usually put down to this classic European eccentricity. In fact, while the Japanese still hold the record for all-out weirdness, Europeans aren't lagging too far behind.

In case there is any doubt, here are some of the things people in Europe choose to do from time to time: hang from the neck of a live (and speeding) goose, chase a rolling wheel of cheese down a hill, give cigarettes to children and be chased by raging bulls. When you think the most excitement you got last year was taking a French language course, you must agree that Europeans tend to live on the edgier side of life.

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Life-threatening festivals, such as the Oh dear, I will die unless I outrun the bull yearly event in Pamplona, or the cheese-chase in Gloucester, UK, that has people sprinting, rolling and tumbling down a hill after a wheel of cheese, make others scratch their heads in disbelief. Of course, all these events are explained by cultural factors and traditions. The dangerous ones tend to be derived from religious ceremonies or from events to prove one's courage. The exception is the cheese-chase, the origin of which no one seems to know. This bizarre example of cultural heritage has been taking place for more than two centuries.

Not all traditions are so dangerous, however. On the island of Chios, Greece, an annual fireworks battle is held during the Orthodox Easter, which pits the parishes of the town of Vrodandos against each other. In Belgium, people are fond of swallowing live fish. The Dutch insist on only having one hot meal a day and will give you a piece of their mind should you suggest otherwise. In Turkey, men prove their bravado by wrestling camels. In Paris, the law considers an ashtray to be a deadly weapon and kissing on railways is illegal (which means that for lovers taking French courses France may not be the best option).