Intermediate (B1)ReadingLessonPublic

Six More Unusual Traditions from Six Places

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Published 12 Oct 2026 · Updated 13 Oct 2026

El Colacho, the Battle of the Oranges, Busójárás, Onbashira, Tinku, and Thaipusam offer six different traditions to explore. Look at each one through three simple ideas: its place, its actions, and its meaning.

A sunny old village square decorated for a festival, with colourful masks, baskets of oranges and a big painted log.

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Introduction

, the , , , , and to . each one through : its , its , and its .

Before you begin

Warm-up

What local tradition do you enjoy, and why?
How can clothes or music make a celebration special?
Why do you think people keep very old traditions?

A man in a yellow and red costume jumps over colourful mattresses in a white Spanish village street while neighbours watch.

Reading

Part 1: El Colacho — a jump with a special meaning

is a in , a near in . It in 1620, so it is more than 400 . It on the after , a . In 2026, that was 7 .

The is . during the on in the . A as the over them. This is .

The has a . it and . To this , that the and the . It is not a over .

Check your understanding

Check: Part 1: El Colacho — a jump with a special meaning

1. What do people believe the jump does for the babies?

Sample answer

People believe the jump takes away bad luck and evil.

Think one step further

What would you want to understand before watching this tradition?

What traditions for babies do you know from your country?

How could you explain this custom respectfully to someone who finds it unusual?

Reading

Part 2: The Battle of the Oranges — a story told together

The is the of the . is a in , in . The for before .

on at in . The on are . There are on , including the and the . who do not a .

Behind these is a about the of up against a . The that through a . , the is from . It the with a about its .

Check your understanding

Check: Part 2: The Battle of the Oranges — a story told together

1. What story does the Battle of the Oranges remember?

Sample answer

It remembers the people of Ivrea standing up against a cruel ruler.

Think one step further

Have you ever been to a big festival in a town square?

Would you like to be on a festival team?

Would you prefer to join an activity or watch it, and why?

People in wooden masks and white sheepskin coats stand around a bonfire in a snowy Hungarian town.

Reading

Part 3: Busójárás — saying goodbye to winter

is a in , a in . It at the of . In 2026, it from 12 to 17 and with a , a .

and . These are from . The , that . , , and this its .

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Check your understanding

Check: Part 3: Busójárás — saying goodbye to winter

1. How do the busós take part, and what does the custom mark?

Sample answer

The busós wear wooden masks and sheepskin coats and carry noisemakers. The custom marks the end of winter.

Think one step further

Do you like winter, or are you happy when it ends?

Which would create the strongest atmosphere for you: masks, noise, or a bonfire?

What seasonal change would you like your community to celebrate?

Reading

Part 4: Onbashira — a huge shared task

is a of around in , . A is a with . The is over 1,200 .

It in the of the Tiger and the Monkey, about every six . It was in 2022, and the is in 2028. Unlike the other so , it is not a .

16 from the to the . The are over 150 and about 17 . the . The is at the of the , and these is its .

Check your understanding

Check: Part 4: Onbashira — a huge shared task

1. How often does Onbashira happen, and what do people move?

Sample answer

Onbashira happens about once every six years. People move 16 huge fir trees from the mountains to the shrine.

Think one step further

Would you like to see Onbashira in 2028?

Have you ever done a big job together with a group of people?

Would you prefer a yearly tradition or a less frequent one, and why?

Reading

Part 5: Tinku — meeting with hope for the harvest

is an from in . A is an with a that . The in during the . In 2026, it was on 3 and 4 .

to the with , , and . The is a between of the . it a , a of from the .

is a at in . Its with both a and a . In , for the is to its .

Check your understanding

Check: Part 5: Tinku — meeting with hope for the harvest

1. What happens at Tinku in Macha, and what do people hope it brings?

Sample answer

Two groups of the community meet, and communities gather with music, colourful clothes, and dance. People believe the ritual brings a good harvest.

Think one step further

Do you know any festivals for a good harvest?

What kind of music do you like at a festival?

What hope would you choose to express through a community celebration?

A team of people pulls a huge fir log with ropes down a forest hillside in Japan during the Onbashira festival.

Reading

Part 6: Thaipusam — a journey of religious belief

is a for , by . Its is at , near in . In 2026, was on 1 . Before the , more than 2.5 were at . That was an , not a .

, to their , 272 to the in the . Many a , a , or of .

is to this . The , the , and the are of the for . that us more than a or .

Check your understanding

Check: Part 6: Thaipusam — a journey of religious belief

1. Where do devotees go at Batu Caves, and what do many carry?

Sample answer

Devotees climb 272 colourful steps to the temple in the cave. Many carry a decorated frame called a kavadi or pots of milk.

Think one step further

Would you like to climb the steps at Batu Caves?

How would you feel watching Thaipusam at Batu Caves?

Which festival in your country do you like most, and why?

What you can do now

Final Reflection

Across all six traditions, which seems most strongly connected with belief, community, the seasons, or an old story? Explain your choices.
Which two of the six traditions do you think are most similar, and why?

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Six More Unusual Traditions from Six Places

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Reading

Part 1: El Colacho — a jump with a special meaning

El Colacho is a tradition in Castrillo de Murcia, a village near Burgos in Spain.

It began in 1620, so it is more than 400 years old.

It takes place on the Sunday after Corpus Christi, a Christian celebration.

In 2026, that Sunday was 7 June.

The tradition is also called baby jumping.

Babies born during the past year lie on mattresses in the street.

A man dressed as the devil jumps over them.

This man is called El Colacho.

The jump has a special meaning.

People believe it takes away bad luck and evil.

To understand this tradition, remember that the action and the belief belong together.

It is not simply a jump over mattresses.

Reading

Part 2: The Battle of the Oranges — a story told together

The Battle of the Oranges is the biggest part of the Historic Carnival of Ivrea.

Ivrea is a town in Piedmont, in northern Italy.

The event lasts for three days before Carnival ends.

Teams on foot throw oranges at throwers riding in carts.

The people throwing on foot are called aranceri.

There are nine teams on foot, including the Diavoli and the Scacchi.

Visitors who do not throw wear a red hat.

Behind these actions is a story about the people of Ivrea standing up against a cruel ruler.

The event remembers that story through a shared activity.

Here, the meaning is different from El Colacho.

It connects the town's celebration with a story about its people.

Reading

Part 3: Busójárás — saying goodbye to winter

Busójárás is a six-day carnival in Mohács, a town in southern Hungary.

It happens at the end of winter.

In 2026, it ran from 12 to 17 February and ended with a big bonfire, a large outdoor fire.

Men called busós wear scary wooden masks and sheepskin coats.

These coats are made from sheep's skins.

The men also carry noisemakers, objects that make loud sounds.

Masks, warm coats, and noise give this celebration its special character.

The custom says goodbye to winter.

The season is therefore part of its meaning, not just its date.

In 2009, Busójárás joined UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

This list recognises living traditions, including customs that communities continue to practise.

Reading

Part 4: Onbashira — a huge shared task

Onbashira is a festival of Suwa Taisha shrine around Lake Suwa in Nagano, Japan.

A shrine is a place connected with religious belief.

The festival is over 1,200 years old.

It happens in the years of the Tiger and the Monkey, about once every six years.

It was last held in 2022, and the next festival is in 2028.

Unlike the other traditions described so far, it is not a yearly event.

People move 16 huge fir trees from the mountains to the shrine.

The trees are over 150 years old and about 17 metres tall.

Riders ride the logs down steep slopes.

The shrine is at the centre of the festival, and moving these enormous trees is its shared task.

Reading

Part 5: Tinku — meeting with hope for the harvest

Tinku is an Andean ritual from northern Potosí in Bolivia.

A ritual is an activity with a special meaning that people repeat.

The best-known Tinku takes place in Macha during the Fiesta de la Cruz.

In 2026, it was on 3 and 4 May.

Communities come to the town's main square with music, colourful clothes, and dance.

The ritual is a meeting between two groups of the community.

People believe it brings a good harvest, meaning a good amount of food gathered from the fields.

Tinku is also a famous dance at carnival in Oruro.

Its name therefore connects with both a community ritual and a dance.

In Macha, hope for the harvest is central to its meaning.

Reading

Part 6: Thaipusam — a journey of religious belief

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival for Lord Murugan, celebrated by Tamil people.

Its biggest celebration is at Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

In 2026, Thaipusam was on 1 February.

Before the festival, more than 2.5 million visitors were expected at Batu Caves.

That was an expectation, not a final visitor count.

Devotees, people strongly committed to their religion, climb 272 colourful steps to the temple in the cave.

Many carry a kavadi, a decorated frame, or pots of milk.

Religious belief is central to this festival.

The steps, the things people carry, and the temple visit are parts of the celebration for Lord Murugan.

Understanding that purpose helps us see more than a large crowd or colourful steps.

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Six More Unusual Traditions from Six Places

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