10 Bizarre Festivals You Won’t Believe Exist

Naki Sumo Baby Crying Festival, Japan

For most parents, when their baby cries it’s usually a sign that their child needs food, their diaper changed, or maybe they’re just tired, but during the Naki Sumo Baby Crying Festival, a crying child is a good thing. The festival takes place every year in April at the Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, and the reason for this strange event is to fend off demons by having 330 pound men (sumo wrestlers) try to get babies to cry.

Apparently, it’s origin is based on an old proverb “Naku ko wa sodatsu” that means “Crying babies grow fat.” Now you’re probably asking yourself, how do I get my baby involved? Simply approach the stage during the festival and a sumo wrestler will take care of the rest – and not too worry, your child is in good hands, they’re just like giant teddy bears (with a scary mask).  At the end of the day, the festival is all in good fun.

Do you know that Japan has an annual baby crying contest? Called ‘Naki Sumo Baby Crying Festival’, the traditional annaul event is celebrated at Tokyo's Sensoji Temple to ward off the evil from the babies’ lives #Japan #offbeat #Tokyo #interesting pic.twitter.com/mAi3ZTIy3k

— iEAGLE (@iEagleInc) October 27, 2017