In the middle of winter, at Saidaiji Temple in Japan, Peeing Cheeto jumped at the chance to freeze his buns off at the Naked Festival. Men in loincloths didn’t just brave the cold; they threw themselves into it, particularly the ice-cold temple waters.
With all the bumping, grinding, groping, frolicking and splashing, these were men who were comfortable with themselves. And each other. And Peeing Cheeto.
In return, Peeing Cheeto did his best to keep the men warm.
At midnight, the lights were turned off and a priest tossed two sticks (that had been blessed) into the unseeing mass of men. Peeing Cheeto was thrown to the ground as the guys fought to get their hands on a stick, which they sometimes mistook for Peeing Cheeto. Not pleasant. Rows of police officers kept the group from spilling into the crowd of spectators. But the mad frenzy forced the cops back, squashing those behind them. One woman screamed to be let out, saying, "I will die! I will die!"
It was over in minutes. The winners got their "treasure wood" and a $2,000 prize. The losers nursed their wounds. Peeing Cheeto got psychological counseling.
And what became of the used, sweaty, sometimes bloody loincloths? The men could give it to their pregnant wives to use as a stomach belt. In olden days, this ensured the birth of a strong baby.