7 Bizarrely Interesting Cultural Practices Still Carried Out Today

By All That's Interesting | Edited By John Kuroski

Published May 14, 2014

Updated March 30, 2018

Interesting Cultural Practices: Self-Flagellation

Image Source: International Business Times

Shiite Muslims are well known for their martyrdom, and Ashura is no exception. Ashura is an event recognized by many Muslims around the world for various reasons. For some Shiites, the day is observed in commemoration of the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the prophet Muhammad, at the 7th century battle of Karbala. Hussein, along with his comrades, was repeatedly struck on the head with daggers.

Today, select men join a procession and flagellate themselves with daggers to the head, among other means, in order to pay tribute and absolve sin; people spill their own blood and those of their relatives to mourn the fact that they were not being present to save Hussein.

Image Source: Freedom Outpost

Image Source: Blogspot

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author

Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.

editor

John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.