There are some sports that are so unique you may have to be part of a special sports club to know their whereabouts, but that does not make them any less appealing; especially the crowning activities of these five festivals.
You may not see them broadcasted live on television or you may not have to stand in a long line to get tickets, yet feel free to shout at the refs, cheer from the top of your lungs, and high-five your teammates for exemplifying good sportsmanship. Whether you're slinging a pumpkin in the sky or showing off your best 16th century football skills, at these festivals the love of the game is as real as the oddities.
Delaware: World Championship Punkin Chunkin
Picture it: The winds are blowing at an ideal speed on a cool November day. How do you know the winds are perfect? You test it by slightly licking your finger and holding it out to the air. Yes! Your inner conscience does backflips at the thought of your pumpkin flying through the sky like a bird before crashing into pieces on the ground. Punkin Chunkin is a sport that is rarely noticed by sports fan, but you can't tell by the game faces of the many teams that have come out to play during the annual World Championship Punkin Chunkin held in Delaware.
Using a pumpkin-slinging device and other apparatuses like slingshots to hurl their pumpkins at great distances, the winner is determined by the furthest distance achieved as long as the pumpkin does not scatter into pieces while midair. When visitors aren't looking to the sky, there are also various activities like rides and live entertainment. With next year's competition kicking off November 6-8, you're just in time to practice your best punkin chunkin; but just wait until Halloween is over so as to not upset the kids by destroying their pumpkin lanterns.
Italy: Calcio Storico
Football fans everywhere love a good tackle (especially when it is their team that is doing the tackling). Although Calcio Storico is a celebration of the popular sport, the Italian festival takes it back to its earliest form. We're talking as far back as the 1500s as competitors put their hearts into the game and even their fists. Players are seen dripping blood caused by head-butts, knuckle-punches and elbowing. All are strategies used to win.
This nail-biting game of football that looks more like rugby was traditionally played in groups of 27 by competitors from different areas of Florence as a tactic to revolt against the French. In a quest to make the most goals, they incorporate both hands and feet, in contrast to soccer, where scoring is forbidden with the hands. The June contest stays true to its roots, with players donning historic costumes, and getting introduced to the crowd in the town square before they head onto the sand pit playing area.
West Virginia: Bridge Day
Bridge Day might just be the only day you are able to get away with jumping off of a bridge because someone told you to. But even if you chicken out it is exciting to watch others plunge into the New River Gorge's torrent flowing below from an elevation of 876 feet.
On October 18 tens of thousands of spectators come together to see the sky rain humans as B.A.S.E jumpers, zip liners, high-liners, rappellers, and skydivers take the leap of faith. So if you're looking for your next big adventure then head to Bridge Day because the yearly festival has it all. And imagine how triumphant you will feel after defying the laws of gravity by soaring like a bird in the sky?
China: Duanwu Festival
The Chinese love their festivals, so it is only right that they honor a beloved poet named Qu Yuan who was known for his stance against the government. Like many holidays, celebrators can look forward to great food consisting of rice dumplings and wine along with lots of activities and rituals. However, it is the dragon boat races that steal the show.
The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is recognized on Chinese lunar calendar during the fifth day of the fifth month with next year's commencing on June 20. The brightly decorated boats boast dragon-like characteristics that include a tail, eyes, and the front-end appearing as though the boat is going to swallow its opponents up. With dozens of rowers in each boat determined to knock their competitors out of the water by obtaining the flag at the end of the race first, this is one exciting contest every visitor of China should see.
Spain: Fiesta of San Fermin
This may not be of Olympic status but it definitely gets world recognition. Perhaps it is because it takes a lot of guts to run with raging wild bulls, or the spectacle is just so bizarre it is hard for spectators to tear their eyes away. During the Fiesta of San Fermin, which is commonly referred to as the Running of the Bulls, the cobbled streets of Pamplona are flooded with revelers dressed in white with their necks covered in red handkerchiefs to show their respect to San Fermin, who was a patron and believed to be of Roman descent.
With the sound of the rocket at 8:00 each morning of the festival, mayhem erupts as the bulls are set free joined by runners until they reach a nearby arena used for bullfighting. This week-long celebration, that will begin on July 6 and end on the 14th at midnight, continues to be historically rich, and most importantly full of adventure for participators and onlookers.
READ ON: There is plenty more to see in the Weird World of Sports.
Topics From This Article to Explore
