Naki Sumo, Japan
Two giant sumo wrestlers step into a ring, looking as tough as they are massive, and they square up to each other threateningly. Each is holding an infant. The goal of each sumo wrestler is to make his opponent’s baby cry.
This may seem like a setup for either disaster or comedy in the minds of most, but to the Japanese parents handing over their babies to the giant wrestlers, it’s an effort to bring good luck to their kids. It is also said to ward off evil spirits. And what if the kids don’t cry? The referee steps in wearing a terrifying mask to make sure that no infant goes psychologically unharmed for the day.