Odd Cultural Traditions and Quirks of Society: Photo Gallery

A Boeoegg, a 'snowman' made of wadding whose head is filled with explosives, is seen burning atop a bonfire in Sechselaeuten square in Zurich, in this combination picture taken on April 19. As the bells of St. Peter's church chime six o'clock, the bonfire below the Boeoegg is set alight. Then, mounted guildsmen gallop around the pyre to the tune of the Sechselaeuten March. According to tradition, the faster the head of the Boeoegg catches fire and explodes, the warmer and more beautiful the summer will be.

Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Maypole dancing is a form of folk dance from western Europe, especially England, Sweden, Galicia, Portugal and Germany, with two distinctive traditions[citation needed]. In the most widespread, dancers perform circle dances around a tall pole which is decorated with garlands, painted stripes, flowers, flags and other emblems[citation needed]. In the second most common form, dancers dance in a circle each holding a coloured ribbon attached to a much smaller pole; the ribbons are intertwined and plaited either on to the pole itself or into a web around the pole. The dancers may then retrace their steps exactly in order to unravel the ribbons.

The first kind of maypole dancing is probably extremely ancient and is thought by some to have Germanic pagan fertility symbolism, although there is a lack of evidence to support this conjecture. It is traditionally performed in the spring around the festival of May Day, but in Sweden it is during the midsummer festivities. The church of St Andrew Undershaft in the City of London is named after the maypole that was kept under its eaves and set up each spring until 1517 when student riots put an end to the custom. The maypole itself survived until 1547 when a Puritan mob seized and destroyed it as a "pagan idol".

Piglets take part in the pig races during an agricultural exhibition near the village of Liavonavichi, Belarus, on Tuesday.

Vladimir Nikolsky/Reuters

A judge watches as people sleep a siesta during the first Siesta Championship in Madrid on Thursday. The participants of the siesta contest win points for the first person to fall asleep, the loudest snorer, best original sleeping position and best dressed sleeper. Doctors are present to check if the contestants are really asleep.

Paul White/AP

A Belarussian Interior Ministry soldier has a masonry block on his chest smashed by a flaming hammer as part of Maslenitsa celebrations in Minsk, Sunday, March 6. Maslenitsa is a pagan holiday marking the end of winter celebrated by pancake eating and shows of strength.

Vladimir Nikolsky/Reuters

Members of the the 'Bloco da Lama', or Mud Block carnival group, cover a man in mud during carnival celebrations in Paraty, Brazil, Saturday.

Rodrigo Abd/AP

new mexico penetenties. still very active in northern new mexico.