In Japan There Is a Festival Dedicated to Crying Babies
A massive sumo wrestler gently holding a tiny crying baby in a traditional Japanese shrine setting
Naki Sumo is a 400-year-old Japanese festival where sumo wrestlers hold babies and try to make them cry. The baby who cries first — or loudest — is believed to be blessed with good health and a strong spirit.
Why It’s Interesting
It completely inverts the Western instinct to soothe a crying baby. The festival reflects a deep cultural belief that a powerful cry signifies vitality and wards off evil spirits, turning distress into celebration.
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