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San Fermín - A part of this festival includes the famous and highly controversial Running of the Bulls.

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San Fermín - It is highly opposed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who believe the bulls are mistreated and put under stress during the annual run.

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Calgary Stampede - This 10-day festival, featuring one of the world's largest rodeo shows, is held every July in Calgary, Canada.

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Calgary Stampede - The rodeo show has been targeted by animal rights activists who seek to ban the show's prominent highlight.

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Calgary Stampede - But festival officials have said that animal care is a top priority every year at the Calgary Stampede. 

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Calgary Stampede - Another controversial event that is a part of the popular show is the chuckwagon race.  

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Calgary Stampede - This is the most notable chuckwagon race in the world, which also takes a lot of heat from animal welfare groups.

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Calgary Stampede - Animal rights organizations claim that the horses endure unnecessary suffering during the event. Drivers are also prone to crashing, which has killed animals and participants in the past.

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Nakizumo Festival - In Japan, there is a festival during which the main objective is to make innocent babies cry.

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Nakizumo Festival -

Every April, parents hand off their children to sumo wrestlers who then compete to make their baby cry first.

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Nakizumo Festival -

While the event sounds pretty cruel, Japanese culture actually believes that the ritual scares off evil spirits and that a loud, crying baby is a sign of a long, healthy life ahead.

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Festa do Peão de Barretos - Barretos, Brazil is also famous for their rodeo, which includes bulls and horses.

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Festa do Peão de Barretos - It is the biggest rodeo in the country and all of Latin America. 

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Festa do Peão de Barretos - But of course, it isn't without its controversies as well, similar to those criticisms aimed at the Calgary Stampede.

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Fiestas patronales - During local festivals across many towns in Spain, people participate in an activity called "toro embolado."

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Fiestas patronales - Essentially, flammable balls are attached to a bull's horns and lit on fire.

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Fiestas patronales - The bull is then set free onto the streets and citizens are expected to dodge the bull in the night.  

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Cockfights -

While banned in several countries, in many others, cockfights are completely legal and a part of many festivals.  

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Sun God Festival - In India, the blood sport is considered a temple ritual and police were told not to interfere when the affair is held at a temple, according to Opposing Views.

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Festival of Sankranti - It is also a very popular sport around India's festival of Sankranti.

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Festival of San Antolín - Day of the Geese is an event that takes place during this festival in northern Spain. 

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Festival of San Antolín - Also known as Antzar Eguna, this activity involves ripping the head off a goose which is tied upside down on a rope. 

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Festival of San Antolín - Those in favor of this inhumane game believe its an essential part of Basque culture. 

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Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo -

During this questionable four-day fest, humans wrestle a group of wild horses in an attempt to cut off their manes and tails. It takes place every July in Pontevedra, Spain.

Adversaries call this practice cruel as it causes anxiety for the animals trapped in an enclosed space.

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Yulin Dog Meat Festival - Also known as the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, this is an annual celebration held in Guangxi, China. 

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Yulin Dog Meat Festival - Dogs are killed brutally and then cooked for consumption by festival goers. 

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Yulin Dog Meat Festival -

This, of course, has sparked worldwide outrage, with many people calling for a ban on the festival.

See also: Hillsong: the controversial celebrity church of choice

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