Absurd Holiday Traditions explores the fascinating world of unusual festive practices across different cultures. Delving into World History and Social Science, the book examines why certain holidays involve bizarre activities like throwing tomatoes or burning effigies, revealing how these customs persist and shape cultural identity. It highlights the surprising resilience of these traditions, demonstrating how they reinforce social cohesion and provide outlets for emotional expression.
The book approaches its subject matter with a blend of historical context and contemporary social science, tracing the origins of these practices and examining their modern-day significance. For example, costume-based celebrations, sometimes seemingly terrifying, often serve as a way for societies to confront and manage collective fears.
Unfolding in a structured manner, the book begins by defining "absurd traditions," then progresses through case studies categorized by type, such as food-related festivities and effigy-burning rituals, before synthesizing broader implications for understanding cultural behavior.
