It’s not all tea, crumpets, and royal weddings in the United Kingdom. In fact, Britain is home to some downright bizarre and truly weird and wonderful festivals.

To some outsiders, the Brits may seem prim, proper, and a bit too serious at times. But a closer look will dispel that notion. From ancient pagan rites to modern-day oddities, this small island has the power to charm, amaze, and occasionally disgust. But it’s always entertaining.

10 Summer Solstice At Stonehenge

Each year, thousands gather at the ancient stone monument in Wiltshire to mark the summer solstice. As the Sun rises, it aligns perfectly with the Heel Stone, the ancient stone entrance to the monument, and casts rays of light across the revelers gathered there.^[1]

Stonehenge is considered to be a sacred site by Britain’s pagan and druid communities. Visitors are not normally permitted to approach and touch the stones, but an exception is made for the solstice celebrations. It is unknown how, when, or why this ancient monument was constructed. However, there are many theories, each more fantastic then the last.

9 The Tar Barrels Of Ottery St. Mary

Each November 5, the usually quiet streets of Ottery St. Mary in Devon are lit up by the flickering light of flaming tar barrels. Men and women charge through the crowded streets while carrying these fiery barrels overhead. Each weighs as much as 30 kilograms (66 lb). Wearing thick gloves to protect their hands, the barrel carriers must have grit and courage to endure the heat.^[2]

Many generations of the same families appear as proud barrel rollers. However, the origins of the festival are unclear. Some believe that it has links to the famous gunpowder plot, while others think it is a pre-Christian pagan ritual intended to drive out evil spirits.

8 Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival

The small town of Whittlesea in the east of England celebrates the harvest in a particularly unusual way. Known as the “straw bear,” a man covered from head to toe in straw is paraded through the streets. Accompanied by musicians and led by a “keeper” or “driver,” the bear dances in front of houses and inns for gifts of food, money, or beer.

The event briefly died out in 1909 when a local police inspector banned it as a form of begging. However, the custom was revived in 1980 by the Whittlesea Society and now takes place during the second weekend of January.^[3]

7 Egg Throwing World Championships

Legend has it that the tradition of egg throwing in the English village of Swaton dates back to the 14th century. In an attempt to boost numbers at church, the abbot gave out free eggs to all who attended. In 1322, the river flooded and prevented locals from attending church. So monks threw eggs across the river, and the tradition was born.

The first Egg Throwing World Championship took place as a feature of the 2005 Swaton Vintage Day where the grand prize was scooped up by an “eggstatic” team from New Zealand. Teams of two compete for the prize by seeing who can pass the egg farthest without breaking it.

Additional events include the “Russian egg roulette” in which competitors take turns smashing eggs against their own heads. Of the six eggs available, five are hard-boiled and one is raw. The competitor who picks the raw egg loses and ends up with actual egg on his face.^[4]

6 Burning The Clocks

The seaside town of Brighton marks the shortest day of the year with the “Burning the Clocks” festival. Thousands of individuals line the streets to watch a procession of people with homemade fire lanterns. After parading through the town, the people ceremoniously burn the lanterns on the town’s beach.^[5]

The event organizers explain, “Burning the clocks is an antidote to the excesses of the commercial Christmas. People gather together to make paper and willow lanterns to carry through their city and burn on the beach as a token of the end of the year.”

5 Abbots Bromley Horn Dance

First performed in 1226, the Abbots Bromley Horn Dance is one of Britain’s oldest surviving traditions. Dancing through the town are six men dressed with reindeer antlers, two musicians, a man dressed as a woman, an archer, and a fool who hits anyone who comes too close with an inflated pig’s bladder.^[6]

The reasons behind this strange event have been obscured by the mists of time. Some suggest that it was performed to mark the opening of the hunting season and to ensure a successful year. Others speculate that it is connected to ancient fertility rites. One thing is for sure: This ancient tradition is downright strange!

4 Maldon Mud Race

The Maldon Mud Race is held each year on the River Blackwater in Essex. At low tide, competitors race across the incredibly muddy riverbed and back with their footwear taped on firmly to prevent any lost shoes.

The event originated in 1973 when the landlord of the Queens Head pub was dared to serve a meal on the riverbank dressed in a tuxedo. The following year, a bar was opened on the riverbank for the day. About 20 people competed to dash across the river, drink a pint of beer, and return. The Maldon Mud Race was born.^[7]

3 ‘Obby ‘Oss

Perhaps the oldest dance festival in the UK, the ‘Obby ‘Oss is celebrated every May 1 in the Cornish fishing village of Padstow. Thought to be connected to the ancient Celtic festival of Beltane, the main event begins when two parades accompanying male dancers dressed as hobby horses (hence ‘obby ‘oss) swing through the town.

The ‘Obby ‘Oss consists of a large oval frame wrapped in a black oilskin with a strange horse’s mask and snapping jaw. The ‘Oss is accompanied by other dancers and musicians and led through the town by a teaser who prods the ‘Oss with a painted club.^[8]

As he passes through the town, the ‘Oss will attempt to catch young maidens and drag them under his cloak. To be caught by the ‘Oss is considered good luck.

2 World Toe Wrestling Championships

Established in Staffordshire in 1976, the World Toe Wrestling Championship is now held annually in the Bentley Brook Inn. Much like arm wrestling but with feet, contestants link toes and attempt to pin the other’s foot for three seconds. You’ll be pleased to know that the feet of all competitors are thoroughly checked by a podiatrist before they can compete.^[9]

1 Haxey Hood

First played in the 14th century, the Haxey Hood takes place on the 12th day of Christmas each year. Regulars from the town’s four pubs attempt to push the “hood” (a leather tube) to their pub, where it will remain until the following year.

Legend has it that in the 14th century, the wife of local landowner John de Mowbray was out riding when her hood was blown from her head. She was so amused by the efforts of the 13 farmhands who chased the hood across fields that she gifted the parish 13 acres of land on the condition that the chase be reenacted every year.

Said to be more about drinking than anything else, the game begins when the hood is thrown into the air and a large rugby-style scrum (known as the “sway”) converges on it.

There are no organized teams, and the only rules are that the hood cannot be thrown or run with. As many as 200 people can be playing at any point. The objective of the game is to move the hood to one of the local pubs. The game ends when the hood is touched by the pub’s landlord standing on his front step.^[10]

Will is an entrepreneur, yogi, and travel lover. He can be found at www.veganchocolateshop.co.uk.

Think libraries are boring?

Well, think again. Today’s libraries are a delightful combination of old school and high tech. Of course, libraries will always have great books waiting to be plucked from the shelves, but at many locations, you can also find free Internet, downloadable media, 3-D printing, and more.

Unfortunately, there are some parts of the world with no libraries at all. These people have little access to books, and you can forget about high-tech add-ons. So, what to do if you’re a bibliophile who lives in Burundi or on the plains of Mongolia?

To solve this problem, people had to think outside the box and some of their solutions will knock your socks off!

10 Books By Elephant

Some of the biggest library heroes are really big. Elephants are known for their size, memory, and excellent circus stunts, but who knew they could also be librarians? In the mountainous regions of Omkoi, Thailand, there are no schools or libraries and many people cannot read or write. The Books-by-Elephant program hopes to change that.

Many of these remote villages can only be reached by foot. In the rainy season, even that is difficult—but not for elephants. In Thailand, elephants are already used in rice paddy fields and the logging industry. It just took a little imagination to see that they could also carry books.

With specially built frames on their backs, these ponderous public servants can carry huge boxes of books along with video equipment and satellite dishes—whatever it takes to teach people to read.^[1]

There are currently 20 elephants involved in the program. Each team is made up of two elephants, their trainers, and at least two teachers. These groups cover different areas and are able to reach out to more villagers every year.

9 Weapon Of Mass Instruction

Eccentric artist Raul Lemesoff created this particular weapon to battle ignorance and spread knowledge through the streets of Buenos Aires. His tank look-alike is made from a remodeled 1979 Ford Falcon.

The realistic-looking gun barrel and rotating turret ensure that people sit up and take notice wherever he goes. That’s fine with Lemesoff. The bigger the crowd, the more free books he can hand out. His only request: Read it, and pass it on.

His friends say he is one of those great crazy people that society needs. A poet, inventor, and artist, Lemesoff likes to combine these skills whenever possible. When he first started work on his weapon of mass instruction, no one was sure what he was making. Was it a spaceship or submarine, or was he just fixing his car? The end result was a delightful surprise.

With room for 900 books, Lemesoff can supply lots of readers, but his prime target is young people. He believes a young reader will be a lifelong reader. “I don’t do this for money or fame,” he said. “I do it because it’s fun. I attack people with knowledge but in a nice and funny way.”^[2]

When Lemesoff’s weapon of mass instruction rolls into view, the shocked and ultimately smiling faces make his day. “The weapon of mass instruction is a peace tank,” he said, “a symbol of protest against real weapons of mass destruction.”

8 Biblioburros

“Bibliomu-u-u-u-las,” the kids shout as their four-legged library approaches. The mules snort and stamp. But while they can be a little cranky, they seem to enjoy their job of spreading the love of reading.

Donkeys have always been used as pack animals, but now they have a special job—bringing books to the mountainous regions of Venezuela. Sponsored by the University of Momboy, an institution known for its community service, the biblioburros have changed the lives of countless villagers. These people reside in the Andes Mountains, and the climb to their homes is rugged.

The journey starts in the Valley of Momboy in Trujillo where the mules are loaded with books. For the next two hours, dedicated volunteers scramble up rutted paths in the sweltering sun.

Photojournalist James Ingham said, “These are just the foothills of the Andes, but they are high enough, especially when you’re walking.”^[3]

According to the volunteers, the delighted faces of the children make it all worthwhile. In addition to bringing books to people, the university would like to provide Internet service. Their goal of installing wireless modems under the banana trees may sound far-fetched, but at one time so did biblioburros.

“Cybermu-u-u-u-las!” Why not?

7 The Levinski Garden Library

The Levinski library is located near the Tel Aviv central bus station in a community populated by refugees and migrant workers. Many of these people are not legal citizens, but the love of reading transcends the complexities of social status.

This is a simple library—no walls, just two shelves built against the side of a public shelter. Yet it is a place of learning and security, a designated safe house where no one is allowed to interrogate or intimidate.

The collection of 3,500 books comes in 15 languages from Mandarin Chinese and Amharic to Romanian. This outdoor facility is fitted with a canopy that swings out to protect books from the elements. There is a tall shelf for adults and a special reading area for children with panels that fold down to sit on. The facility is also lighted so that people stopping by after a hard day’s work can browse in the evenings.

The most unusual thing about this library is the filing system. Don’t look for the Dewey Decimal System here. These books are filed by the emotions they evoke in their readers.

Each book contains a file card where the reader notes his feelings about the book. Although one person may think it’s a nail-biter, the next reader may find it reassuring or inspiring. It’s a unique approach, but library patrons think the notes make each book more interesting.

Librarians at the Levinski project say it’s important for people to have a place to come and escape the hard realities of their lives. And as we all know, a good book is the perfect getaway vehicle.^[4]

6 Human Library Living Books

Have you ever been to a Human Library? Here you can check out living books. These books are interesting people with stories to share. Readers check them out for 30-minute time periods, and that’s when the magic happens. At a Human Library, you can chat with people from all walks of life. Think former stripper, LGBTQ activist, or a journalist who was forced to flee his country.

The Living Books festival originated in Denmark in 1993. Due to a large number of immigrants, the social structure had changed and the old and new members of the community were not getting along. The first Human Library was aimed at giving people a chance to get to know each other, to sit down as neighbors, and break down barriers. It was a great success, and the concept of the Human Library has caught on.

“This type of library gives people a chance to talk with someone they wouldn’t ordinarily meet,” said the Imam of an Islamic society. “When you bring people from opposite ends of the social and political spectrum together in a nonjudgmental setting, a lot of good can come of it.”^[5]

Human Library events are usually sponsored by library systems and community outreach programs. The whole idea is to get people talking and—most importantly—listening to each other.

The motto of the Human Library? Don’t judge a book by its cover.

5 Vending Libraries

It’s 3:00 AM, and you can’t sleep. If only you had a good book to read. With library vending machines, you can hop into the car no matter what time it is and go check out a book. Similar to Red Box DVD dispensers, these self-service libraries are gaining in popularity. While they provide reading material to populations who can’t afford a regular library, they serve the public in other ways as well.

Vending libraries are popping up in high-traffic areas like park-and-ride lots, hospitals, and shopping malls. They’re also on busy street corners. Got a long layover at the airport? Get a book from the vending machine. Too time-crunched to stop at a regular library? Check out a title in the grocery store parking lot.

There are positives and negatives to this new technology. On the downside, vending machines have small collections and must be monitored carefully to make sure they are always full. Also, some people predict that downloadable options will make vending libraries obsolete.^[6]

On the positive side, vending libraries are much cheaper than brick-and-mortar sites. They are mobile and can service remote populations. Many also provide Wi-Fi hot spots.

The first year after Contra Costa, California, rolled out their book vending devices, library circulation increased by 8 percent, which translates to 600,000 books. Bottom line for now, vending libraries get more books to more people.

4 Reading Club 2000

It was the year 2000 when Hernando “Nanie” Guanlao’s parents died. He wanted to honor them and soon realized the most cherished thing they had given him was his love of reading. As a legacy to his parents, he vowed to pass that love along to others in his community. So he started a library.

At that time, he had about 100 books in his home and wondered how he might share these with his less fortunate neighbors. To begin, he set his books outside with a sign indicating that they were for public use. He had no idea how people would react. Would the books be stolen? Would people even notice his fledgling library?

They did.

The books quickly disappeared and soon reappeared, along with donations of more books. Since then, his collection has multiplied. Guanlao now has 2,000–3,000 books and has become a middleman of sorts, donating books to other needy libraries when his collection grows too large.

In this library, there are no memberships, no due dates, and no late fees. If you can’t part with a particular book, you can keep it. The Reading Club 2000 currently offers everything from magazines and romance novels to philosophy books. Every day, a steady stream of people go home with a new book.^[7]

3 Floating Books In The Fjords

If you’ve ever dropped your book in the bathtub, you know books and water don’t mix. But there is one exception. A book boat called the Epos traverses the rocky fjords of Norway, bringing light and learning during the dark Scandinavian winter.

The Epos is a 24-meter (80 ft) cutter that has been refurbished to hold 6,000 books along with a kitchen and living quarters for the crew. The book boat operates from September through April and makes two runs each year. During this time, it visits 150 coastal hamlets which are difficult to reach by traditional methods.

Norwegian winters are brutal, with dark days and howling blizzards. When the storms become too harsh, the book boat must hide out in a safe harbor. But this is a rare occurrence as there is great disappointment when the book boat fails to arrive. One of the requirements for the crew is immunity to seasickness.

The book boat keeps to a strict schedule. They arrive at a set time and stay for two hours at each location during which they receive up to 150 visitors. According to librarian Joep Aarts, the most eager borrowers are children and elderly people. Along with people’s selections, the book boat leaves a large package of books for people to enjoy until the next visit.^[8]

The Norwegian government wants library services to be free of charge and available to everyone. The Epos makes that possible.

2 Camelback Library

“The walls of this reading room are made of mountains covered with forest, the roof is blue sky, the floor is a flower-covered steppe, and the reading light bulb is the Sun,” said Jambyn Dashdondog, the proprietor of the Camelback Library in Mongolia.

Over the course of 20 years, he covered 80,000 kilometers (50,000 mi) through rain and blistering sun. His employees were his wife and son, and transportation consisted of camels, oxcarts, and a cherished van.

In the early 1990s, the Mongolian government broke away from communism and subsequently lost funding for their libraries. Dealing in books and literature was not a profitable business, and in the new free-market economy, private investors were scarce.

An award-winning author himself, Dashdondog hated the idea of a society with no libraries. He decided if there was no place for children to get books, he would take books to the children.

When the library camel visited an area, Dashdondog would stay for a few days so that villagers had time to read their selections. Then everything was packed up and moved to the next outdoor reading room where children anxiously awaited his arrival.^[9]

The camelback library and Dashdondog’s other literacy efforts were funded through the sale of his books and poems, some of which have been made into movies and songs. Sadly, Dashdondog passed away in 2017. He’ll not soon be forgotten, especially by the children.

1 Micro Libraries— Build Your Own

Do you love libraries? Now you can have one of your own just like 75,000 other people in 88 countries across the world. The popularity of this stripped-down version of Andrew Carnegie’s grand idea is growing by leaps and bounds.

Many tiny libraries are just for fun and manned by booklovers who want to share their love of literature. Others serve a vital purpose in inner-city neighborhoods and far-flung outposts.

When Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, saw a mini library in Portland, Oregon, in 2009, he decided to build one of his own. Modeled after a schoolhouse, the container was filled with books and placed on his front lawn as a tribute to his late mother. He went on to place several more around the city, and before long, the Little Free Library program was born.

Today, when people register their micro libraries at his website, they are included on the map of tiny libraries throughout the world. Also available are step-by-step instructions on how to operate your library. If you’re not a construction whiz, you can even buy premade boxes complete with Little Free Library signs.^[10]

If you’d rather strike out on your own, go for it. All you need to do is fill your box with books, set it in a public place, and begin sharing the love of reading with the rest of the world.

A writer by trade and a wanderer by nature, I love to combine the two activities whenever possible. I’m also lucky enough to be a book lover who works in a library. You can find me at: The Library Lady Travels or the Library Lady Writes.

Cycling in the Victorian era meant freedom and independence for a moderate cost. Women wore special cycle wear that allowed them flexibility whilst still preserving their modesty beneath long and heavy skirts. Gentlemen cycled in their top hats, children had tricycles and babies had their pushchairs attached to bicycles with which cycling nannies would perambulate around the park. Even shop boys delivered groceries on bikes with enormous wicker baskets.

See Also: Top 10 Bizarre Modes Of Transportation

Cycling was for everyone, and it became one of the defining Victorian obsessions.

Another thing the Victorians were famous for, was their ingenious, and sometimes wacky inventions. It was only a matter of time before the ever-curious Victorians decided to combine the two.

Here are 10 of the strangest.

10 John Otto Lose and his Monowheel

John Otto Lose’s patent application for the monowheel shows a gentleman in a hat, seated on a bench suspended inside a very large wheel, casually smoking a cigarette, while he pedals a smaller wheel at an angle that looks rather improbable and certainly uncomfortable. The cycle was steered by means of a pair of rudders on either side, almost as if it were a boat.

The bicycle, which looks a little unwieldy, boasts a range of mod cons, including an umbrella fixed over the cyclist’s head in case of inclement weather, and some fancy wrought-iron work which, while certainly decorative, probably added a fair bit to the weight of the machine. However, they did save a fair bit on the unpadded wooden bench, so it probably evened out in the end.

The monowheel was patented in 1885, but, for some reason, never caught on.

9Karl Lange and his Double Bicycle

In 1905, Karl Lang patented his double bicycle, which is, pretty much, one bicycle on top of another, with the top one being upside down. It looked pretty strange, and also rather uncomfortable, as the rider’s head is forced forwards by a padded cushion behind his neck.

However, the cushion, and indeed the bike, had a purpose, being designed, according to Mr Lange, for the benefit of circus performers, to enable them to Loop the Loop.

Which seems reasonable, until you start to think about it.

The ‘normal’ part of the bicycle has two pedals and a handle-bar. The upper bicycle appears to be missing pedals, and shares the handle-bar with the lower bike. In order for the contraption to loop the loop, the loop would need to be so small that all four wheels were in contact with the surface at the same time.

And then it would very likely just get stuck.

In actual fact, despite what it said in the patent application, the bike was not really designed to loop the loop, rather it was a stunt bicycle which allowed the bike to take off on the lower wheels and land on the upper wheels, thus appearing to have completed a full loop.

Instead of pedaling through a full 360 degrees against gravity, the rider of the double bicycle merely had to pedal to the top of the loop on the bottom wheels, take off into the air, land on the top wheels, which he couldn’t see, whilst steering the wrong way up, without pedaling, or presumably, braking. Easy peasy.

There do not appear to be any records of stunt riders or circus performers actually using the bike.

Can’t think why.

8 Etienne Bunau-Varilla and his Torpedo Bicycle

An invention that really worked this time. Etienne Bunau-Varilla was a French engineer and aviation pioneer, who had taken part in the first ever international flying convention in Riems in 1909, when he was only 19.

He also designed racing bikes

One of his most iconic designs was the Velo Torpille, or Torpedo Bike, an aero-dynamically streamlined bike in which the rider sits inside a teardrop-shaped pod.

The bike, ridden by Marcel Berthe, broke the world speed record in 1913, covering 5 km in 5 minutes and 39.3 seconds, an average of 33 miles per hour.

The design was much copied, until the following year, when the enclosed bicycle design was banned in competitive races and, not being very suitable for normal use, the torpedo bicycle was, well torpedoed.

7 Hiram Nickerson and his Aerial Bicycle

Hiram Nickerson’s idea for an aerial bicycle is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t over-complicate things. Instead of two wheels on a metal frame which rides over the existing roads, Nickerson proposed an aerial bicycle which required a whole elevated track to be built.

The rider would sit on a saddle hooked to the track overhead, and would propel themselves along the track by pedaling. The cyclist would only be able to cycle wherever there was track, which would have required some hefty infrastructure investment.

Nickerson’s patent application also left out a few details. Such as, how do you get your bike to and from the track? Do you hook it on to the track yourself, or leave it there like a cable-car seat? What happens if two cyclists are pedaling on the same piece of track? Can they overtake? Can they prevent a collision?

Does it have brakes? (No).

Hiram Nickerson described his idea as ‘a new and useful improvement’ in bicycle design.

Really? An interesting idea, perhaps, but this one never really got off the ground

6 The Bicycle Ambulance

Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, and this must certainly explain the bicycle ambulance. Makeshift ambulances had been used since the 1890’s, but they really came into their own during World War I.

The ambulance consisted of 2 bicycles, fixed together, side-by-side, with a tarpaulin stretcher slung between them. The saddlebags would be filled with medical supplies, and the medics would cycle out to the injured soldiers, load them onto the stretcher and cycle back with them to the nearest field hospital.

The bicycles could move over terrain that other vehicles could not cover, but they gave the medical personnel no protection from gunfire and shells.

At such a time of chaos and destruction, the sight of a couple of men cycling side-by-side across a battlefield must have been a pretty surreal one.

5 Simon Wortmann and his Servant Propelled Bicycle

Simon Wortmann was clearly a man who took the axiom, why keep a bike and pedal yourself, to heart. His invention did away with most of the hard work of cycling, at least for 1 of the 2 riders needed to propel it.

The drawing which accompanied the patent application, shows a man in a flat cap pedaling like mad at the lower end of the bike, while a gentleman in morning coat and top hat sits at the top and steers with a couple of unwieldy poles.

Billed as an Improvement in Velocipedes, the bike seemed to model itself on the old-fashioned horse and carriage, with the servant, of course, being cast in the role of the horse.

Though Wortmann patented the idea in 1869, he never went into full-scale production with his bike. He probably couldn’t get the staff.

4The Quadricyle Fire Engine

In the days when a fire engine was just a hand cart and a bucket, the Quadricycle Fire Engine must have seemed like cutting-edge design.
The machine consisted of 2 tandem bicycles, ridden side-by-side and fixed together by cross-pieces, with a platform built between. The platform housed the hose reel, while a pump was fitted to the rear of the quadricycle, which could be fitted to a household tap and used to supply the hose with water.

Firemen in Australia trained using the contraption, and were able to cycle to the site of the fire, unreel the hose, and fix it to the pump within a few minutes. Then they would jump back onto their bikes to continue pedaling, thus powering the pumping machine, which was capable of spraying 4500 gallons of water an hour over distances of up to 100 feet,

Assuming they pedaled fast enough.

Although the machines may have looked somewhat comic, they were used in remote towns and villages with great success for many years.

3 Edward Burstow and his Hen and Chicks

One invention that was not quite such a success was Edward Burstow’s pentacycle, or, as it came to be known the Hen and Chicks. Invented in 1882, the pentacycle, which was adopted by the Post Office in Britain, had one large wheel, on which the postman sat, with two smaller wheels, front and back, for added stability.

There is no doubt that the pentacycle was a majestic looking vehicle, though perhaps a trifle cumbersome. It did have two handy baskets in which the postie could store the mail on his rounds.

Ultimately, however, the pentacycle was not a success, perhaps because it took ages to climb up on it, only to have to climb off it again at the next house.

2 Georg Pinkert and his Navigating Tricycle

Nothing but a miracle, it is said, can allow a person to walk on water, but there is nothing to stop people cycling on it. Except, perhaps, the laws of nature.

But Georg Pinkert was not the sort of man to be put off with a trifle like that. In 1891, he patented the Navigating Bicycle, which was perhaps a strange title, since it doesn’t quite make clear that what the bicycle is navigating, is the ocean.

He built his tricycle with 3 enormous balloon tires, and so confident was Pinkert in the machine’s capabilities that he set out to cross the English Channel in it. He didn’t make it.

He had cycled about half way over the 20-mile strait, when the tide turned, and he found himself going 2 wheels forwards and 3 wheels back. He realized that he was about to be swept out to sea, so, as he happened to be in one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, he “hailed a passing vessel and was taken on board.”

Though the tricycle had proved its sea-worthiness, it didn’t catch on, but Georg, every inch the Victorian eccentric, vowed to carry with his experiments.

1 Louis S Burbank and his Bicycle Rowing Machine

Cycling is good exercise. It builds up the muscles in the legs. But what if you wanted to exercise your arm muscles at the same time? The ever-inventive Victorians had the solution.

In 1898, Louis S Burbank invented the Bicycle Rowing Machine. Two work-outs for the price of one, with a free trip to the emergency room thrown in.

Burbank’s invention fitted a rowing machine to the top of an ordinary two wheeled bicycle. The machine was propelled forwards not by pedaling, but by the action of the rowing, and steered not with a handle bar, but by manipulating the oars, just as one would in a sculling boat.

Slowly.

Sounds great. Just a few nit-picky questions though. How does it start off? Because, by the time the rider has mounted the bike, put their feet in the stirrups and grabbed the oars, the bike will have toppled over. And how does it stop?

There is no mention of brakes in the patent application.

Of course, they could fix the bike in position so that it was static. But then of course it would just be a rowing machine.

Perched on top of a bike.

Perhaps not.

About The Author: Ward Hazell is a freelance writer and travel writer, and is currently studying for a PhD in English Literature

Almost every town has monuments of some sort—war memorials, statues of people long dead, or pieces of art commissioned to celebrate a momentous national occasion, for example. Sometimes we recognize the names on them. Often we do not.

Most of these monuments have become part of the scenery; we walk past them and barely even notice them. However, there are some monuments that can never fade into the background, either because they are too big, too striking, or because they are just plain weird. Here, we take a look at just a few of them.

10 The Child-Eater Fountain At Bern

In 1545, the town council in the Swiss city of Bern commissioned Hans Gieng to create a statue to replace a 100-year-old one that had fallen into disrepair. What was there previously is not known. What Gieng created was enough to give the citizens of Bern sleepless nights ever since. The statue depicts a giant man eating a baby. He is holding another terrified infant as well as a sack also filled with babies.

It is unclear what the meaning behind the statue was intended to be, except, perhaps, don’t bring your children to Bern if they cry. The giant appears to be relishing his meal greatly as he swallows the head of a child.^[1]

The Kindlifresserbrunnen (which means “Ogre Fountain” or “Child-Eater Fountain”) is said to be cursed. According to local tradition, the fountain flows with wine on Christmas night, but if it is drank, the imbiber becomes possessed by the Devil. And perhaps develops an insatiable appetite for cherubs?

9 St. Wenceslas Riding A Dead Horse Upside Down

Wenceslas Square in Prague contains a statue of St. Wenceslas, the Good King of the popular “Good King Wenceslas” Christmas carol. The statue looks very traditional, though a little military for a saint, with Wenceslas proudly riding his horse, wearing a military uniform and helmet, and carrying a lance. It might be any statue anywhere in the world.

King Wenceslas is an important historical figure in Prague, ruling the nation in the early 10th century. He was said to be a fair king, unlike his brother Boleslaus the Cruel, who eventually murdered him. (Though with a name like that, it is little wonder he turned out to be a wrong ‘un.)

Tucked away in a corner of Wenceslas Square is another statue. Inside Lucerna Pasaz, you will find St. Wenceslas looking equally splendid, riding a horse which is not only dead but hanging upside down and suspended from the ceiling.^[2]

The artist, David Cerny, was believed to have created the piece as an attack, not on a beloved Czech icon so much as on the Czech president, Vaclav Klaus. What exactly he was trying to say is anyone’s guess.

8 Leshan Giant Buddha

There are giant Buddhas, and then there are giant Buddhas. The Buddha at Leshan is an immense 71 meters (233 ft) tall. Carved out of the sandstone cliffs in Sichuan province, China, the Buddha is said to be the largest pre-modern statue and the biggest stone Buddha in the world.

Work began on carving the statue, which overlooks the confluence of three rivers, in the eighth century. The statue remains relatively inaccessible due to the terrain, and this has helped to preserve the Buddha.

The construction was started by a monk named Haitong, who hoped that it would calm the turbulent waters where the three rivers met. When the construction was threatened by local officials, Haitong is said to have gouged out his own eyes to demonstrate his piety and sincerity. He was soon granted permission to continue, possibly because they were worried about what else he would cut off if they refused.

Unfortunately, Haitong did not live to see the completion of the statue, but he would have been pleased to know that the construction of the Buddha caused a buildup of debris in the river, which altered its course and did indeed calm the waters at the point where the Buddha’s eyes gaze.^[3]

Of course, even if he had lived to see it, he wouldn’t have been able to actually see it, so perhaps it was just as well.

7 The Alton Barnes White Horse

In 1812, a farmer named Robert Pile paid the grand sum of £20 to a man named Jack the Painter (who was, fortunately, a painter) to design and cut a horse into the hillside in Wiltshire, England. This was one of nine horses that were cut into the hills in this area during this time. No one seems to know why.

The design was carved out of the hill, with tons of soil scraped out and carted away. It was then packed with chalk so that it stood out in stark white against the green hills and could be seen from a great distance.

Jack the Painter, however, was something of a con man and subcontracted the work to another man who abandoned the job halfway through, after Jack had made off with all the money.^[4] Despite its inauspicious start, the Alton Barnes White Horse was finally completed after Robert Pile paid again for it to be constructed.

The horse measures roughly 55 meters (180 ft) high and 49 meters (160 ft) long. It has been relined with chalk a number of times since it was created and can still be seen galloping across the Wiltshire Downs looking for its companions today.

6 A Giant Thumb

Cesar Baldaccini was a French sculptor and part of the Nouveau Realisme (New Realism) movement. This French art movement created pieces using unusual materials. Baldaccini crafted a number of startling statues from compacted cars and other pieces of junk. One of his most famous works, somewhat undramatically, is a thumb.

Standing 6 meters (20 ft) high, the cast-bronze statue of the artist’s own thumb is the second one he produced.^[5] (The original was 12 meters [40 ft] tall!) Baldaccini famously did not discuss the meaning of his work. However, it seems clear that the meaning of this artwork is, well, thumbs up.

5 The Georgia Guidestones

The Georgia Guidestones were erected in 1980. Commissioned by a man calling himself R.C. Christian, the stones were constructed with fairly elaborate secrecy, and the real identity of R.C. Christian will, in all likelihood, never be known.

However, the stones themselves are a legacy of sorts. Constructed from six huge pieces of granite, the stones have instructions for the survival of the human race carved in eight modern languages. Among the commandments is the edict that population should be controlled, that reproduction should be “guided” to maintain the survival of the fittest, and that disputes between nations should be settled in a world court.

The stones include a few basic astronomical features, such as a hole in the rock through which the North Star can be viewed. The capstone can act as a kind of calendar, should you you need one. The reasons for these features are unspecified. However, perhaps more information is yet to come. The stones are rumored to have a time capsule hidden somewhere at their base, to be opened when Armageddon finally arrives.^[6]

So, watch these slabs.

4 Hand Of The Desert

The Atacama desert is one of the driest and most remote places on Earth. Some parts of the desert have not seen rainfall in decades. It is not the sort of place that would attract a lot of visitors. It was a strange choice of venue, therefore, for sculptor Mario Irarrazabal when choosing where to put his latest artwork—a giant hand measuring 11 meters (36 ft) high poking out of the desert.

The hand is said to represent all the victims of torture and injustice who suffered during the military regime in Chile and symbolize their indomitable spirit and the power of love to triumph over evil. Unfortunately, not everyone sees it that way. Despite its out-of-the-way location, the piece is a regular target for vandals and graffiti artists, which, we might think, also says something about the indomitable spirit of taggers.^[7]

3 The Hanging Man

If you walk down a street in the Old Town district of Prague, you might be startled to see a man suspended one-handed from a flagpole. Emergency services have received several calls from concerned bystanders who believed that they were witnessing a suicide attempt or a man in desperate trouble.

Fortunately, they were not. What they were actually looking at was a statue of Sigmund Freud created by David Cerny (who also made the previously mentioned upside down horse). The piece is said to represent Freud’s pathological fear of death.^[8] The man who spent his life interpreting the fears of others had a morbid dread of death.

Cerny is no stranger to controversy. He was the artist responsible for painting a Soviet tank pink. The tank was part of a memorial installed to celebrate the liberation of Prague after World War II. Cerny was arrested and briefly incarcerated for vandalism.

2 The Dunmore Pineapple

In 1761, the earl of Dunmore decided to build himself a summerhouse. He liked summerhouses. And he also liked fruit. So it seemed natural, to him at least, to build himself a summerhouse in the shape of a fruit.

At the time, the pineapple was the most exotic fruit ever seen in Scotland. The summerhouse’s pineapple stands 11.2 meters (37 ft) high. The structure has four “vases” at the base of the pineapple, which are, in fact, concealed chimneys used for the heating system that was put in for the hothouse below. The hothouse propagated a number of exotic fruits and vegetables, including, of course, pineapples.^[9]

All things considered, it is probably a good thing that bananas were not widely available in Britain until the end of the 19th century.

1 The Sinking Library

Outside the State Library of Victoria, you might be surprised to see what looks like a remnant of an ancient library sinking back into the ground. Constructed from Port Fairy Bluestone, the structure is 7 meters (23 ft) wide.

Created by Petrus Spronk, the piece, named Architectural Fragment, is one of several sunken pieces the artist has installed around the world and is meant to symbolize the fragile and transient nature of all that is human, which is pretty disturbing.

However, the piece is like one of those “glass is half-full” moments. You can see the sinking of the library as the destruction of civilization and the disappearance of knowledge. Or maybe it is a new civilization breaking through the barriers surrounding the old, bringing forward new vistas of learning and hope.^[10]

So, you know, you pays yer money, and you takes yer choice.

Ward Hazell is a writer who travels, and an occasional travel writer.

Museums can be great additions to any travel itinerary, and prominent ones, like the Louvre or the Smithsonian, are visited by throngs of tourists each year. Then there the collections that are perhaps more niche but certainly still of interest to the right audience.

There are plenty of odd museums located around the world, but who would have thought so many were dedicated to celebrities? These shrine-like menageries are devoted to the famous and house memorabilia, props, personal items, and everything else fans want to discover. Check out these celebrity museums from around the world that are strangely unique.

10 The Britney Spears Exhibit At The Kentwood Museum

In the small town of Kentwood, Louisiana, you’ll find the Kentwood Museum. The museum features two permanent exhibits—the Kentwood Military Exhibit and the Britney Spears Exhibit. The second exhibit may sound out of the ordinary, but Kentwood is the hometown of Britney Spears.^[1] After thousands of fans called Kentwood to discover more about the famous pop singer, the museum finally decided to open the exhibit in 2001 for visitors to learn more about the singer.

The exhibit features three sections, with one being devoted to her childhood, another to her years as part of the “New Mickey Mouse Club,” and the third depicting her time as a pop star. Visitors to the museum will be able to enjoy a replica of one of her stages, clothing, platinum records, photographs, and other memorabilia. There is also a gift shop located at the museum that sells Britney Spears merchandise.

9 The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum

One of Austria’s greatest celebrities has his own museum in the small town where he was born. The Arnold Schwarzenegger Museum is located in the Terminator’s childhood home in Thal. Schwarzenegger eventually left Austria to pursue his careers in bodybuilding, acting, and politics.^[2] His many achievements and humanitarian works are all on display at the museum.

Each room of the museum is full of memorabilia and features exhibits focusing on his childhood as well as his film and gubernatorial careers. Visitors to the museum will be able to browse rare movie props, a collection of weights and equipment, and photographs and even take a peek at his governor’s desk. The museum is small compared to Schwarzenegger and his many careers, but it features rare memorabilia that won’t be seen anywhere else in the world. The museum will leave you saying, “I’ll be back.”

8 The Stoogeum

The world’s first and largest museum of the Three Stooges is located in Ambler, Pennsylvania. The Stoogeum contains about 100,000 pieces of “Stoogeabilia,” including props, games, toys, personal belongings, and much more. The 929-square-meter (10,000 ft²), three-story building not only houses artifacts of the legendary comedy team, but it also features an art gallery, research library, and an 85-seat theater used for film screenings, lectures, and presentations.

The Three Stooges Fan Club, one of the largest and oldest fan clubs in the US, is also headquartered at the Stoogeum. They currently have about 2,000 members worldwide. The fan club holds their annual meetings at the Stoogeum and brings together Stooges relatives, supporting actors, impersonators, and fans to enjoy a comedy-filled event.^[3]

7 The L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition

L. Ron Hubbard was an American novelist and the founder of the Church of Scientology. He struggled to gain recognition for Scientology as a legitimate religion, but he gained popularity through his life. Hubbard was respected by many, and his achievements can be recounted at the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition.

The L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition opened in 1991, and it features more than 30 creative displays and multimedia presentations to be walked through. The exhibition is made up of several artifacts, awards, and films about Hubbard and his role in Scientology. Videos that can be viewed include “Introduction,” “A Brief Chronology,” “Early Years,” “University Years,” and “Living the Stories.” The museum is open seven days a week and is conveniently located on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.^[4]

6 The Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast/Museum

In 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found brutally murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts, home. Their daughter, Lizzie Borden, was tried for the ax murders, but she was acquitted in 1893. The case was never solved, and Lizzie continued to live in the Fall River home until her death in 1927. The Borden home is now a bed-and-breakfast and museum that is open year-round.

The house still sits just as it was, and artifacts of the murder case are displayed around the home. Visitors can stay the night if they dare face the alleged paranormal activity. The Lizzie and Emma Suite includes both of their bedrooms, the Andrew and Abby Suite includes their bedroom and Abby’s sewing room, and the John V. Morse Room is where the uncle of Lizzie and Emma stayed the day before Abby was found murdered in the same room. There are also three other rooms in which guests can spend the night.^[5] Those looking to be introduced to the unsolved murders can participate in a day tour, and those brave enough can reserve a tour at night by candlelight.

5 Museu CR7

Located on the picturesque island of Madeira is a shrine-like museum dedicated solely to soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. He was born on the island, located off the coast of Portugal, and he plays soccer for Portugal’s national team and for Serie A club Juventus. He is one of the most decorated soccer players in history, with several awards, championships, and records.^[6] His success led Ronaldo to open the museum of himself to display his trophies for fans to see. Maybe he has an ego as great as his talent; you decide.

Museu CR7 showcases the accomplishments of Ronaldo by displaying four Golden Boot awards, five Ballon d’ors, and several other club trophies. Fans visiting the museum can write, draw, or paint letters to send to Ronaldo after visiting the interactive timeline showcasing the most important points of his career. The fan-favorite activity at the museum is the augmented reality experience that allows fans to take a photo next to the international soccer star.

4 Ava Gardner Museum

One of Hollywood’s most glamorous leading ladies has her own museum in North Carolina. Ava Gardner was an American actress of the 1940s through the 1970s, most notably known for her roles in The Killers, Mogambo, The Night of the Iguana, and Bhowani Junction. The museum in her home state honors the life, loves, and legacy of Gardner.

The 465-square-meter (5,000 ft²) exhibit space showcases Gardner’s successful career in the business. Visitors will find costumes, movie posters, and awards to look at, along with a number of personal items such as jewelry, art, portraits, and more. The museum also features exhibits on Ava Gardner and Gregory Peck’s lifelong friendship and her homes in California, Spain, New York, and England.^[7] The Ava Gardner Festival is held each year at the museum to celebrate the life of the praised actress.

3 Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum

You’ve probably never heard of or traveled to Gibsland, Louisiana, but it is home to a small museum dedicated to one of the most notorious outlaw couples in history. Bonnie and Clyde were known as a sexy, charming couple who enjoyed robbing, stealing, and shooting. Their crime spree captivated the country, and they were considered a modern-day Romeo and Juliet.^[8]

The last place Bonnie and Clyde visited and dined before their death was Rosa’s Cafe, which is now the location of the Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum. The museum takes visitors back to 1934 to experience the bloody ambush in which the outlaw couple met their demise. On display at the museum is a replica of their getaway car, firearms, and other artifacts. A monument located at the actual ambush site where the couple died can be found about 13 kilometers (8 mi) south of Gibsland.

2 The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum

One of the most iconic literary figures, Ernest Hemingway, owned a home in Key West that is now a museum dedicated to the writer. It is nestled in Old Town, and it was one of the first homes in Key West to have indoor plumbing and a pool—the pool cost $20,000 in 1938 and is 18 meters (60 ft) long, 7.3 meters (24 ft) wide, and 3 meters (10 ft) deep. Some of Hemingway’s most famous works, such as For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms, were written in this home.^[9]

Much of the original, elegant furniture is still on display in the home, along with other fancy furnishings. The beautiful gardens and original pool are also available for viewing at the museum. A white six-toed cat was given to Ernest Hemingway, and some of the descendants of that cat still live on the grounds, along with about 40 other polydactyl (six-toed) cats. He named all of his cats after famous people, and that tradition still continues today.

1 Jackie Chan Museum

One of the most famous Chinese people in the world has his own museum in Shanghai. The Jackie Chan Museum, located in a revamped factory, is dedicated to kung fu master and brilliant actor Jackie Chan. After a brief welcome movie from the martial arts legend, visitors are welcome to explore the museum.

The museum is divided into four sections, covering everything from his early film career to his philanthropic contributions. Fans will find several props from his films and can interact with activities and videos about Chan’s life.^[10] Many of his movies are action-packed, just like how you will find many of the props throughout the museum, such as a motorbike crashing through a wall. The end of the museum focuses on his philanthropic work and encourages others to donate. Chan has changed many lives through his career, and he continues to do so through his charity work as well.

I’m just another bearded guy trying to write my way through life.
www.MDavidScott.com

William Tecumseh Sherman once said that “War is Hell”. It certainly can be. But, in a broader sense, it can also be weird and wonderful, unexpectedly hilarious and quite touching. It isn’t all bombs and Rambo, it isn’t all Schindler’s List. This is not to minimise the horror inherent within mass conflict, rather it is to underline the more human and humane aspects, to highlight that, at the end of it all, each soldier is also a human being – good, bad or indifferent… and sometimes on a bike.

Here is a list of the more wacky, strange and unexpected things from the world’s militaries. Enjoy.

Related: 10 Alleged Secret Weapons Of The US Military

10 The Bolivian Navy

Bolivia has a navy, and a decent one, at that. They have a good number of patrol vessels, 3 hospital ships and thousands of well-trained personnel. There is one issue—they don’t have a coastline.

It all started back in the late nineteenth century when Chile defeated a joint Bolivian-Peruvian coalition in the ‘War of the Pacific’. The victory extended Chile’s territory northwards up the South American coastline, cutting off Bolivia’s access to the ocean. When your nation is named after one of the world’s greatest military leaders, it shouldn’t be any surprise that your nation’s institutions should display a supreme level of pluck and stubbornness – and don’t you dare tell them otherwise.

Although they have adapted to turn their naval force into a ‘Lake and River’ force in lieu of access to the sea, neighbouring Peru granted access to Bolivia to the coast back in 2010, albeit on a limited basis.

9 ‘Ji-had’ Joe

In the early 2000s, the CIA developed a doll with former Hasbro exec Donald Levine, famous for inventing another American icon – GI Joe.

It was an Osama Bin Landen action figure with a heat-sensitive plastic ‘skin’ covering the face. When it peeled off, his real face would be revealed – a monstrous, inhuman face with cat-like eyes that looks like a cross between the demon from the first ‘Insidious’ movie and Darth Maul. It was designed to make young people who lived within Al Qaeda’s sphere of influence fearful and disgusted by the man and his band of barbaric terrorists (as though their actions weren’t enough).

It is rumoured that 600 or so of the figures were shipped to and distributed in Pakistan, but only three figures confirmed to have existed.

In 2014, a prototype said to be from the estate of the late Donald Levine was put up for auction and sold to an anonymous bidder for $12,000.

8 Weirdest War Monument

The ‘Portuguese Fireplace’ is, well, a fireplace.

It stands alone in a clearing in England’s New Forest, a really weird sight considering it’s not inside a house. It stands to commemorate the Portuguese soldiers who, aided by the Canadian Timber Corps, filled the labour gap in the timber industry in the area due to the conscription of local workforce. The fireplace was part of the cookhouse which serviced the soldiers.

This quirky commemorative structure serves to remind all who see it that war is more than battles, dogfights, and submarines—Hard work to plug gaps on the home front can be as powerful a weapon as a Vickers machine gun or a slam-fired Winchester 1897.

7 CONOP 8888

Zombies were everywhere for a while. Not literally, but in pop culture. Every graphic novel, carton series, new TV drama and film seemed to want to jump on the slowly chugging Z-train. Sometimes, people take these fads too far, fully absorbed into the fandom, believing that these fictions are real. In 2011, the US Defence Department succumbed to this.

CONOP 8888 was a document drafted as a guide for the US military to combat the undead. But is it really that crazy? The project was designed to obfuscate any chance that the public would believe the plan were ‘real’ should it get leaked. What does this mean? Imagine the defence scenario was a ‘ground operation in Belgium’ or ‘how to gain air superiority in Crimea’ or ‘invasion and reigime change in Mexico’. Even if it was clear that this was just a scenario designed as an exercise, you know the press would have a field day. So, they formulated a totally unbelievable, fictional scenario.

The document covers many aspects of combatting zombie hordes, ending with how to “aid civil authorities in maintaining law and order and restoring basic services during and after a zombie attack.” And then it turned out to be vampires… what a waste of time.

6 The Most Dangerous Biker Gangs Ever

What could be more terrifying to your nation’s enemies than coming upon a platoon of well-armed, well-trained… bicyclists.

Many nations have traditionally had an active unit of bicycle-riding soldiers in their armed forces. Although these specialist units have dwindled over the years, no longer active in many countries they used to be an integral part of many countries’ fighting forces.

Contrary to what may seem like basic common sense (why didn’t opposing armies just reintroduce jousting polls to knock them off?), a lot of militaries used to use bicycle units – Cheap to run and maintain, these units were also able to access hard-to-reach areas twice as quickly as marching units. Quiet and ensuring the recruitment of physically fit soldiers, bicycle-riding soldiers were also perfect scouting units, used well into the 1940s.

Later on, the Viet Cong used bicycles to ferry supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the Tamil Tigers made great use of bikes during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

The Swiss Army maintained their bicycle corps until the early 2000s. the unit had been integral in defending Swiss neutrality during WWII, patrolling the borders in order to deter Nazi invasion. Right up until the end they trained in combat – recruits would have to complete a gruelling 200 km ride through the mountainous countryside, carrying kit that weighed at least 25 kilos.

You may be thinking that an ‘army bicycle’ is a stupid idea. Remember, though, that this is a ‘Swiss Army Bicycle’…it also contains a fighter jet, a tank and, of course, an awl.

5 The British Empire vs The Central Powers vs Mother Nature’s Minions

The First World War was more than just trench warfare in some Belgian fields. It truly was a World War.

Some of the most brutal fighting took place in East Africa, in what is today Tanzania and Kenya. The Battle of Tanga was one such bloody battle. Today, it is mainly remembered for the strange enemy that appeared on the battlefield, attack Germans and British alike.

Swarms of angry bees.

Opposing sides met on palm-oil and coconut plantations in the northern port city of Tanga, engaging in skirmishes. The heavy ordinance raining down across the fields agitated the bee population who were quietly making honey in their hives. The bees attacked scores of soldiers, sending many fleeing from the battlefield.

4 Forgotten Wars

Forgetting where you put your car keys and forgetting that you are at war with another nation are qualitatively different. This has not stopped many conflicts slipping the collective minds of whole nations.

In 2006, Japan finally capitulated to the demands for recognition from Montenegro, ending their brutal, bloody war. No? don’t remember this one? Neither did Japan and Montenegro. Back in the Russo-Japanese War from 1904-05, Montenegro decided to (symbolically) back Russia against Japan. When the war ended with the signing of a peace treaty, Montenegro wasn’t mentioned, thus resulting in the small Balkan state remaining in a state of war with Japan. 100-years passed, and Montenegro decided to split from Serbia towards the end of the Balkan crisis. Japan promptly recognised the nation’s independence, thus ending the war.

Even weirder is the ongoing struggle between Russia and the small town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Due to its position as the northernmost town in England, right on the border with Scotland, whether Berwick-upon-Tweed is part of England or Scotland has been a dispute for centuries. As a result, it was customary for documents such as treaties to be signed ‘King/Queen of England, Scotland/Great Britain, Ireland, Berwick-upon-Tweed and all the British Dominions’. The Treaty of Paris ended the Crimean War, but Berwick-upon-Tweed wasn’t mentioned. So, for the last 150-years or so, the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed has been in a state of war with Imperial Russia. A country that no longer exists. Sort of. Not really.

In 1651, in order to recoup some losses suffered by supporting the losing Royalist faction in England’s civil war, Dutch Admiral Marteen Tromp tried to extract reparations from the Isles of Scilly, a small chain of islands between southern England and France. Tromp declared war on the isles. When the opposing side in the conflict, the Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell, took control of the war, they quickly took control of the isles and the Dutch sailed home. They never rescinded their declaration of war. It took until 1986 for this loophole to be noticed after a local historian uncovered the fact that a peace treaty had never been drafted and, after a 335-year war, the Scilly Isles finally had peace with the Dutch. Nobody cared.

3 Battlefield Blunders And A King’s Last Straw

England and Scotland, the ‘auld enemy’ and, um, “those hairy men in skirts.” These two nations have had their fair share of bust-ups. One of the most inglorious conflicts (for the Scots – don’t worry, guys, just remember Bannockburn) was the time James V of Scotland threw a massive hissy fit and sent his forces down to invade England.

Henry VIII had just legalised every last thing he wanted to do that was previously illegal, even making his own special church. When his nephew, the King of Scotland, turned down his “offer” to follow suit, maintaining the primacy of the Catholic Church in Scotland, Henry sent up some troops to rough up those insolent celts. James didn’t enjoy this, sending his own force across the border.

Bad move.

The large Scottish army of around 15,000 men found themselves quickly corralled into an are between the River Esk and a large peat bog called ‘Solway Moss’. The much smaller English defensive force essentially watched them, only harassing their fringes, causing hundreds of the panicking Scots to drown in the bog or the river. They took over a thousand prisoners as the remaining Scots fled back home.

James, who was busy suffering with a fever and being thoroughly disappointed that his wife had just given birth to a girl, took the news of his loss at Solway Moss quite poorly – he died.

2 Sulu Warrior

There are a lot of awesome things about Fiji – tropical beaches, amazing rugby players and an amazing, multicultural heritage. One thing that is slightly less awesome but very comical is the sight of the Palace Guards wearing the traditional sulu skirts as part of their dress uniform.

The skirt was a cultural import from neighbouring Tonga in the nineteenth century, adopted by Fijians as a sign of their conversion to Christianity (so don’t cry ‘cultural insensitivity’ – it’s a new-ish, Tongan import. *Author’s note* Check out our Welsh national dress, you have my permission to mock us freely, as I do).

It is now part of the national dress, worn proudly by the men and women entrusted with guarding the royal palace The only problem is that once you think “it looks a bit like the bottom of Wilma Flintstone’s dress”, you cannot unsee that mental image.

1 Alternate History IRL

Films, video games and novels that deal with ‘what if the Nazis won’ have been popular for a while – it’s fun to read ‘The Man in the High Castle’ and imagine what you’d do if the Nazis occupied New York… no, not fun… terrifying, I meant terrifying.

In 1942, the city of Winnipeg in Canada got a taste of such an alternate reality in real life.

The ominously named “If Day” occurred on the 19th of February, complete with fake stormtroopers hassling citizens at checkpoints, ‘blown up’ bridges (set-dressed with rubble to render them impassable), a mock aerial blitzkrieg bombing and even fake reichsmarks being issued throughout the city. The reason for the day was printed on the reverse of the banknotes:

“Bonds or bondage, the choice is yours!”

Yes, this was a push to sell victory bonds to aid in the Allied war effort. And it worked – Winnipeg smashed their expected target in Bond sales. Eventually, the Allies smashed the Nazi regime in turn.

Hate and fear aren’t just terrible because of the effect they have on our society—they’re easy, natural even. They’re deeply coded in every one of us, little switches saving us from coiled snakes on branches and the possible diseases brought to our camp by a foreign tribe. In this day and age, however, these once-necessary instincts often cause more trouble than they prevent. Still, it seems that suspicion, animus, and coercive control are an adjacent pandemic running amok all over the globe.

There are examples that, when learned about and kept in mind, offer a different point of view—an inoculation against hate, apathy, and nihilism, if you will. Here are 10 such stories: two jabs and 8 boosters against the darkness.

Happy New Year, Listversians—let’s hope 2022 gives us many more stories like the ones listed here.

Related: 10 Heartwarming Stories To Restore Your Faith In Humanity

10 The Lichfield Legend

“No good deed goes unpunished.” Sardonic cynicism aside, there is a practical method to overcome this possibility—just keep doing the good deed. This seems to be what one absolute gem of a young man in the Midlands of England has decided to do.

Eighteen-year-old Sebbie Hall from Lichfield, Staffordshire, found that the thought of people being unable to communicate during lockdown due to a lack of available tech really bummed him out. His first act of kindness was to donate his iPad to a close friend of his so they could communicate online. This selfless act snowballed, and to date, Sebbie has helped raise around $53,000 for good causes and directly helped around 2,000 people.

There has been an upside for Sebbie, too, aside from the warm glow of helping others; Sebbie has a rare chromosomal alteration that causes physical and learning disabilities—his daily random acts of kindness have boosted his confidence and helped with his verbal communication.^[1]

Some people are just good—and thank goodness for people like Sebbie.

9 Mind-Changer In Chief

People often feel as though they are their opinions, weaving their experience, rationalizations, and second-hand takes into their identity. Extreme, socially gauche/transgressive, and hateful ideologies are often the hardest positions to get away from when one becomes entrenched in such a lifestyle. Such positions, given the social pressure (and even legal status), will create circular logic around the core beliefs to keep individuals “on a side,” so to speak. Cults, for instance, work in a very similar way. That’s what makes Daryl Davis such an exceptional person.

Over the course of the last few decades, Davis has helped reform over 200 KKK members—simply by acknowledging their humanity and showing them that he, in fact, shares that humanity too. And playing a mean piano.

From convincing a “Grand Cyclops” to hand over his robes to working closely with the decentralized social media platform Minds as a consultant on “deradicalization” (as opposed to Twitter, which seems to rely on their executives’ super worldly “experience” in Silicon Valley and Ivy League schools), Davis has dedicated a huge chunk of his life to effecting actual change, not merely virtue signaling.^[2]

8 Lazy Teens? Not So Much

A group of high school kids stop jerking around and band together to do a good deed for someone in need—seems to be a plot from a mid-season episode of an early 1990’s teen sitcom. Thankfully, this kind of stuff does happen IRL…minus the laugh track and attractive 28-year-old woman pretending to be “the nerdy girl” in school.

Students in Bradford, Rhode Island, couldn’t abide the thought of 5-year-old Ryder Killam getting soaked through every school day. You see, little Ryder had to spend about 15 minutes exposed to the elements every morning as he waited for the bus. His dad hitched a patio umbrella at his bus stop, an accouterment that did little to protect Ryder from snow, hail, and rain. Local teens noticed the boy sitting in his wheelchair at the stop every morning (Ryder has spina bifida) and decided to build him a shelter. Ryder now gets to school without sodden clothes and a runny nose, allowing him to focus fully on his studies, really knuckle down, and truly listen to whatever his teacher is droning on about. Well, every story has a downside, I guess.^[3]

7 Generating Not Degradation

This is a nice, short, uplifting entry. Iconic red telephone boxes (and the far less iconic 1980s grey metallic ones) covering the length and breadth of Britain are quickly being repurposed instead of being let to slowly rust and decompose. Some have been turned into comfy little reading rooms for one, mini nightclubs, and even coffee bars. The main repurposing job seems to be defibrillator machine stations, a service that will hopefully save as many lives as the phone boxes did in the pre-cell phone days.

Now, some teens are intent on destroying them before they get reused (not-the-nice ones-from-Rhode-Island-who-build-bus-shelter-types). Who will win? Do-gooders who enrich our lives, or the memester sprogs who will fill the boxes with expanding builder’s foam or inflatable penises (whose exploits enrich some of our lives)? Let the games begin.^[4]

6 Prayers Answered…Very Quickly

One can understand (and obviously condemn) ideologically possessed asshats who burn down churches and cathedrals. One can even understand a group of edgy goths vandalizing a parish church with some black paint daubing of some sub-Hammer-Horror-movie slogans and symbols.

For lulz.

But who in their right mind would desecrate this charming little chapel in rural West Wales? That’s the thing—nobody with a “right mind” could do such an awful thing.

This wanton vandalism to the beautiful Capel y Grog in Mwnt, Ceredigion, in late 2021 shocked the local community. They quickly went about setting up a fundraising goal of £20k online, hoping they could restore their place of worship.

They hit their target after just three days. Senseless hate will never win against kindness and charity.^[5]

5 One Hell of a Tip

An often-overlooked positive facet of everyday life is good service from those who are paid to provide it. So when you encounter a person in a shop or a restaurant who treats you less like a guest or a customer and more like a friend or a family member, really caring that you “have a nice day,” it can be amazing.

That’s what Dunkin’ Donuts server Ebony Johnson did every single day. In a job that can, if seen as just a means to earn money to live, be a repetitive, unfulfilling drudge, Ebony used her time to spread kindness and enquire and learn about the people she served. To care. And one customer reciprocated in a big way.

Suzanne Burke placed an order at the drive-thru with Ebony every morning. They chatted and became friendly over a three-year period. When Ebony fell on hard times, getting evicted from her home in Mount Healthy, Ohio, Suzanne took the chance to pay her back for the years of friendliness, kindness, and joy that Ebony had provided her. She gave her a tip for the ages. Suzanne organized for Ebony to move into a new, fully furnished home with her three kids in time for Christmas.^[6]

4 Spreading the Luck

Playing the lottery is dumb. Unless you win the jackpot, of course. Unbelievable wealth, however, is often a dangerous thing to foist upon an unwitting individual. Almost nobody strategizes and conducts some financial planning while standing in the queue at the grocery store, ready to buy a ticket. Thus, many winners fall into a cycle of excess and squandering, leaving their mental and physical health in tatters.

You’ve probably heard the story before—young man from rough background wins lottery, spends it all on drugs, parties, and gambling, and *enter terrible outcome to end a sad tale*. You may also think it’s unreasonable to expect that a random, normal person should be expected to become a financial whizz simply because they could find themselves in the 1% (or even in the 1% of the 1%).

Hey, there’s always charity.

In 2018, Barbara Wragg of Sheffield, England, passed away. Nearly two decades earlier, she had won the National Lottery, a jackpot of £7.6 million. Over the period of this sudden wealth, she and her husband gave away around 70% of the winnings. She maintained a humble lifestyle (save a bigger house and a nicer car), using the cash as a buffer rather than a means of buying shiny, fast, or intoxicating things. The rest went to numerous charities.

Among many other causes, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Whirlow Hall Farm Trust, the Meningitis Trust, and Help the Aged all benefited from Barbara’s windfall. She also paid for 250 kids from Sheffield’s impoverished inner city to attend the local Christmas pantomime every year. When a group of WWII veterans couldn’t afford to visit Monte Cassino in 2004 for the 60th anniversary of the battle, in came Barbara.

Good things happening to good people will make goodness proliferate: “Winning the lottery changed our lives but not our persons.” May she rest in peace; God knows she deserves it.^[7]

3 The Life Ranger

“I’m the chotto matte man,” retired police officer Yukio Shige told Japan Today in 2014. “Chotto matte” means (roughly) “please wait a moment.” When you consider that this septuagenarian patrols a suicide hotspot on Japan’s coast, this simple, courteous phrase gains a huge weight.

“Please, wait a moment” saves lives. Yukio Shige saves lives.

But it’s more than that; he goes on to extrapolate as to his method in the article. “There’s only one way to deal with this,” Shige emphasizes to Shukan Shincho. “You yourself must help them get back on their feet, work with them to solve their problems. If they’re in debt, I take them to legal aid people; if they’re out of work, I take them to the Hello Work employment agency; if they’re homeless, I take them home with me.” If it’s trouble at work, he goes to the person’s workplace and tries to sort things out.

It’s not just about taking the time to consider waiting for a moment; Shige himself takes the time to actively help desperate individuals. Yukio Shige himself practices what he preaches—”Chotto Matte.” He’s willing to take the time too. He has a team of volunteers that patrol the Tojinbo Cliffs and runs a small hostel nearby. By 2017, it was estimated that 500 lives had been saved by his efforts. By now, many more will have been saved.^[8]

This is a man who holds that life is precious despite the inevitable suffering that occurs during its course.

Arigato gozaimasu, Shige-san

2 Olympic Silver, Kindness Gold

When Olympic athlete Maria Anrejczyk heard of a family who was struggling to raise funds to save their baby, she knew what to do. The Polish javelin chucker grew worried that the family of baby Milosz Malysa wouldn’t hit their goal of 1.5 million zlotych, the amount needed to get the infant life-saving heart surgery in Barcelona, Spain.

In an act of sheer selflessness, the athlete auctioned her Olympic silver medal. Half of the total goal had been reached already, and time was running out for baby Milosz. At the last moment, Polish supermarket chain Zabka offered the outlying amount for the medal. Milosz went on to get his surgery and, moreover, Maria got to keep her medal after all!^[9]

Maria added: “I will be eternally grateful. I have no words to express how happy I am.”

1 Mending Deep Scars

A man who spent a year in prison on a false charge proved himself a hero in 2020. After a jury finally acquitted Daylan McLee of pointing a gun at an officer during a traffic stop in Pennsylvania, he harbored some animus for law enforcement. Who could blame him? This didn’t stop McLee from saving a police officer’s life by pulling him from a burning squad car.

He could have stood and watched; he could have filmed it and posted it online. He could have just called for the emergency services and gone about his day. But Daylan stepped up, put his past experiences aside, and did as good a deed a person can do. Daylan McLee shows us that when we are willing to recognize the basic humanity inherent in all our fellow men, hate cannot prevail.

“I want people to start looking at people as Americans, and not, you know, ‘he’s white, he’s black, he’s Asian’—we’re people, and when we start realizing that, things should get better”—Daylan McLee, 2020. ^[10]

No one is going to be sad to see the back of 2020. Considering that this year lasted at least 30 months and brought extreme mayhem in the form of the ever-persistent Covid-19 pandemic, the vast majority of people worldwide would probably like to give 2020 a hard kick to help it on its way out the door as the clock strikes twelve on December 31.

However, 2020 or no, some traditions will be upheld on New Year’s even if festivities will be largely muted. On this list are just some of the weird (and wonderful) traditions you can partake in, come the last day of 2020, all the while adhering to Covid-19 protocols of course.

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10Bleigiessen

Should you find yourself in Germany on New Year’s Eve, you could take part in Bleigiessen or ‘lead pouring’ with a group of friends and family. Lead pouring is done while standing in a circle or a group and melting a small piece of lead on a spoon over a candle. Once the lead is melted, you drop it in a bowl or glass of cool water. This causes the lead to harden again into whatever shape it takes as it hits the water. The shape is said to predict what the new year holds in store for you.

For instance, if your blob of lead hardens in the shape of an eagle, you will fly and travel more in the upcoming year. If you find that the lead has taken the shape of a horse bit, you will soon have dental troubles. Should you be lucky enough to get the shape of a wheel, you will win the lottery, but if your lead takes on the shape of a cross it could mean death.^[1]

9Let it go

In Argentina, it is customary to see shreds of paper raining down on the streets of Buenos Aires on the last day of the year. This is because office workers have a tradition of throwing out all old documents, calendars, and notepad paper in shredded format, to welcome the new year with a clean desk and less clutter. The act of shredding paper and letting it fly is also believed to symbolize the letting go of all negativity and allowing positivity to enter one’s life. The sheer volume of the paper pieces that land in the city streets litters it for at least two days.

However, while the old paper ‘confetti’ might make the streets of Buenos Aires look a bit strange for a couple of days, it is far less hazardous than the tradition in some other countries of throwing pots, pans, furniture, and large appliances out of high-rise building windows.^[2]

8Hogmanay

From beautiful Scotland comes the tradition of Hogmanay which is also the Scots word for the last day of the year. Throughout the country, people observe New Year’s Eve by visiting the homes of friends and family and exchanging gifts. Special attention is given to the first guest of the New Year, known as the ‘first-foot’, as they are seen to be a bringer of good luck. The first-foot must carry salt, bread, a coin, whiskey, and a lump of coal with them as they enter a home. It is believed that Hogmanay started with the Vikings who celebrated the winter solstice with large parties towards the end of December.

Hogmanay is also celebrated in the form of events such as a torchlight procession in Edinburgh, street parties and firework displays. However, in 2020, Hogmanay is being hosted online with virtual events and parties narrated by a host of celebrities.^[3]

7Grab your suitcase

In Mexico, those who want to spend the upcoming new year travelling to exciting destinations might just try and increase their chances of seeing more of the world by grabbing a suitcase on New Years’ Eve and running around their house while dragging it along. Some believe the suitcase must be packed, so if it becomes a tad heavy, people walk around the house instead of run.

Another quite common tradition in Mexico is the wearing of red or yellow underwear to bring love and money, respectively. As the new year approaches, family and friends gather to enjoy a big dinner after which toasts are made with champagne. People then eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds to ensure their New Years’ wishes come true.^[4]

6Twice the celebration

Greenland is well known for their awesome firework displays that light up the night sky on December 31 as people ring in the new year. The country is autonomous and also part of Denmark, with Self Rule being inaugurated here in 2009.

Because of the link to Denmark, many Greenlanders celebrate New Year’s twice. They wait for the clock to strike 20:00 (which is midnight in Denmark) and then celebrate with fireworks and toasts. Four hours later, they do it all again when midnight strikes in Greenland. Considering what a crappy year 2020 was, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea to celebrate the arrival of 2021 more than once.^[5]

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5Eat a lot for good fortune

In some parts of Poland, the tradition of eating a massive New Year’s Eve dinner lives on. It is believed that eating a lot of food on the last night of the year will ensure that hunger never enters your home. Bread, meat, cake, and cabbage with peas are usually the staples of this special feast. For a truly traditional experience, you should have a bowl of ice-cold water poured over you before eating as it is customary in some regions to wash your whole body before dinner. A silver coin is placed at the bottom of the bowl and if it lands on the head of the person who took the ice shower, it must rest there untouched throughout the meal. This will ensure abundant riches in the coming year.^[6]

4First visitor

For many in Ireland, having a red-headed woman be the first visitor to their home on the first day of the new year is a sign of bad luck. On the other hand, a dark, handsome stranger, could mean good fortune all year ‘round. If you are in Ireland and don’t want to leave your new year fate up to a random visitor, you could create your own good luck by spring cleaning your home and starting the upcoming year with a clean slate. Furthermore, you could take Christmas bread and bang it on the doors and walls of your home to chase away back luck on New Year’s Eve and invite good spirits and good fortune in.

A beautiful Irish New Year’s tradition also sees families set a place at the dinner table for loved ones lost during the past year. They also leave the front door unlocked. This is done in honor and in the memory of deceased friends and family.^[7]

3Polar Bear Swim

Canada’s New Year’s traditions come in the form of ice fishing, ice skating with friends and family while watching a stunning firework display and enjoying live music, or keeping an eye out for the aurora borealis while reflecting on the year gone by.

Some revellers opt for an exciting (and freezing) activity to kick off the new year by jumping into ice cold sea water. At English Bay beach thousands gather on New Year’s Day annually either to partake in the Polar Bear Swim event or watch those brave enough to do so. Participants can take part in a 100-yard dash with the first three people to reach a buoy winning a prize. After the dash, thousands of participants then run into the freezing water of the Pacific Ocean where they splash around for several minutes before getting out and dressing quickly in warm clothing.

This highly popular event started in Vancouver in the early 1900s and will unfortunately not be taking place in 2021 due to Covid-19. However, residents are encouraged to take a dip in bathtubs or kiddies’ pools filled with icy water on 1 January 2021.^[8]

2Mochi pounding

If you are lucky enough to live in Hawaii or vacation there over the festive season, there are several awesome traditions you can observe for New Year’s. These include firework displays, eating sashimi, drinking ozone soup as well as mochi pounding (rice pounding). It is believed that eating sashimi will bring prosperity in the new year and that the round shape of mochi will bring family harmony.

Mochi pounding was done by Japanese plantation workers in the 19th century and involved an intricate ritual that included the rice being soaked for days and ceremonial mallets used to pound it into shape. These sticky rice cakes were once eaten by emperors and were symbolic of long life.

Many Hawaiian families prefer to buy mochi these days, but some still perform the tradition of pounding the mochi with usu and kine as part of their New Year’s celebrations.^[9]

1Joya no kane

Food also plays a big role in New Year’s celebrations in Japan. Noodles in hot broth (Toshikoshi soba) is traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve, while o-sechi ryori is typically enjoyed on New Year’s Day. As in Hawaii, some Japanese families get together to prepare mochi, while others prefer to buy ready-made versions.

As midnight strikes on New Year’s Eve, bells ring out from Buddhist temples all over Japan. The temple bells are rung 108 times as this number represents the number of human desires which lead to pain and suffering. The ringing of the bells is known as joya no kane and is meant to be a ritual in which all negative emotions and experiences are driven away.

Furthermore, people also gather on beaches and mountaintops to observe the first sunrise of the new year and pray for good fortune and joy.^[10]

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