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

Bizarre Cultural Practices: The Eskimo Funerary Ritual

A rather well-known fact about Eskimos is their ritual (albeit incredibly rare and seldom practiced—if at all—anymore) of setting the elderly adrift on a floating iceberg when facing death or old age. Eskimos believe in the afterlife for the dead, and this practice is a way of ensuring the elderly are not a burden on the family by sending them off in a dignified and graceful manner.

Enjoy this look at the world’s most bizarre cultural practices? Then be sure to check out our other posts on fun facts and shocking photographs of pollution in China. Finally, see what life was like inside five of history’s most insane cults. And before you go, be sure to like All That’ss Interesting on Facebook!

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.