10 Bizarre Festivals You Won’t Believe Exist

El Colacho Baby Jumping Festival, Spain

Now maybe you’re not one for making a baby cry, but how about laying them down (on a mattress) to be jumped over? If this sounds strange to you, you’ve probably have never heard of the festival of El Colacho in Spain. It’s a festival that takes place annually in mid-June and it is said to be a symbol of “good over evil.”

The festival starts off with masked men representing the “devil” running through the streets as they intimidate civilians and whip them with a horsetail (OKAY, so maybe I’ll stick with attending the crying baby festival). But don’t worry, this event is all for show (no one actually gets hurt).  This pre-event leads up the festival’s main event where babies – YES babies – get jumped over by these “devils,” and it is said that by doing this, the babies will be free from disease and hardship. Again, no babies are harmed as they act like hurdlers.

The event dates back to the 1620s and has Catholic and pagan ties as it takes place during the religious feast of Corpus Christi. However, the origins of the festival are not concrete. Although, for what is said to be Catholic ritual, this event does cause quite a bit of controversy as it is disfavored by the Catholic church. However, according to the Spanish community, babies need saving, so the event goes on!

El Colacho, also internationally known as the baby-jumping festival, is a traditional Spanish holiday that was started in Burgos, Spain. pic.twitter.com/TkRjumyDbK

— ATWC (@AtwcInfo) July 3, 2017