What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
Essentially, Canada accused the European Union factory ships of illegally overfishing Greenland halibut (aka Greenland turbot). Tensions grew when a Canadian Fisheries Patrol vessel boarded a Spanish fishing trawler in international waters, seized it, and arrested the crew.
The Whisky War was a conflict between Canada and Denmark over a territorial dispute of Hans Island. The “war” started in 1973 and didn’t end until 2022.
The Turbot War was a conflict between Canada and the European Union (triggered by Spain) over fishing on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland between 1994 and 1996.
The island is now divided between Nunavut (Canadian territory) and Greenland (Danish constituent country).
The dispute ended with an agreement between Canada and the EU on April 16, 1995. The EU increased the share of how much turbot could be caught, and more robust mechanisms for enforcing international fishing rules were implemented.
The “pseudo confrontation” got its name after a bottle of Danish brandy was left on the island by a minister. How did the Canadians respond? They left a bottle of Canadian whisky there, of course!
It started when India built an observation post on the bank of Sumdorong Chu river. The Chinese then started to build structures in the region. Soon enough, troops from both countries were deployed to the area, but things de-escalated following talks between India’s Minister of External Affairs and Beijing in 1987.
Sources: (Listverse) (The Archive) (The Guardian)
See also: The longest and shortest wars in history
The Pig War was a dispute over the US and British border in the San Juan Islands, between Vancouver Island (modern-day Canada) and the State of Washington, in 1859.
The war was forgotten about, until it officially ended with a handshake between the mayor of Huéscar and the Dutch ambassador on November 11, 1981.
This bloodless conflict started during the Peninsular War (1807–1814), where Spain, Portugal, and Britain fought against Napoleon’s First French Empire.
The war got its name after an American farmer shot a pig that belonged to an Irishman. Things escalated to the point where the militaries from both territories got involved. The conflict was eventually resolved, with both sides agreeing to have joint military occupation of the island.
Though unlike the Peninsular War, the Huéscar-Danish War lasted from 1809 to 1981. Huéscar, a small town in Spain, declared war on Denmark after the country’s decision to support Napoleon.
This conflict existed between the Netherlands and England's Isles of Scilly (pictured), an archipelago off the southwestern tip of Cornwall, for 335 years (from 1651 to 1986)—without any casualties.
This “war” took place in the Sumdorong Chu valley. The dispute was between India and China, and occurred over territorial borders between 1986 and 1987.
The origins of the conflict can be found in the English Civil War, when the Dutch, seeking to maintain their alliance with England, sided with the Royalists, who were eventually defeated by Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarians.
There was no bloodshed and the two countries continued to trade via the island of Hanö. The Treaty of Örebro was signed on July 18, 1812, and dictated the end of the war.
The Brazilian government argued that lobsters crawled and the French argued that lobsters swam, leading to a dispute over how close to the Brazilian coast the French could catch lobster. Navy fleets from both countries were deployed at one point, but Brazil eventually extended its territorial waters and resolved the conflict.
Sweden declared war on Great Britain in November 1810. The conflict lasted until 1812. Following the Treaty of Paris in 1810, Sweden joined the Continental System, which had a trade embargo against Great Britain. Except, the two countries continued to do business. Until France issued an ultimatum forcing Sweden to declare war on Britain.
The conflict known as the Lobster War took place in the waters of Pernambuco, Brazil. The conflict was between Brazil and France, and it occurred between 1961 and 1963. The war was about where the French vessels could catch lobster.
Yes, yet another territorial conflict. This time on the border between Missouri and the Iowa Territory (1838-1846), which occurred in 1839. The wording in the Missouri Constitution on boundaries was unclear and led to a dispute over the boundary between the two territories.
Among other things, the conflict led to a few trees containing beehives being cut, hence the name. Congress resolved the conflict and a border line (the Sullivan Line) was drawn.
The photo of the "Dodge City Peace Commission" taken on June 10, 1883 became a classic Wild West picture. The men in the photo are: (standing from left) William H. Harris, Luke Short, William "Bat" Masterson, and William F. Petillon; (seated from left) Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Michael Francis "Frank" McLean, and Cornelius "Neil" Brown.
The Dodge City War is the name of the conflict between gunfighter Luke Short and Dodge City mayor Lawrence E. Deger. The reason? The mayor tried to force Luke Short to close the Long Branch Saloon.
The Red River Bridge War was yet another bloodless territorial dispute. This conflict was concerning a toll bridge over the Red River, on the border between the states of Texas and Oklahoma, in 1931.
The Kettle War took place on the Scheldt river on October 8, 1784, between the Holy Roman Empire and the Republic of the Seven Netherlands. Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor threatened the Dutch over territorial disputes and sent a ship down the river.
Short and his friends (a bunch of gamblers and fellow gunslingers) were involved in the dispute, which lasted from April 28 to June 7, 1883. The mayor eventually backed down.
A new free bridge was built by both states, though the owners of the old toll bridge (the Red River Bridge Company) obtained an injunction stopping the new bridge from opening. Oklahoma Governor William Murray eventually ordered that the bridge be opened. No blood was shed.
It was intercepted by a Dutch ship, which fired one single shot, hitting a soup kettle. The ship sent by Joseph II surrendered.
The Aroostook War, also known as the Madawaska War or the Pork and Beans War, took place on the Maine (American) – New Brunswick (British) border from 1838 to 1839.
McGowan's feud with the local Vigilance Committee, coupled with clashes between foreigners and indigenous people, fueled the “war.” Until, of course, British troops were sent in to restore order.
McGowan challenged the local authorities and wanted the colony to be removed from the control of the British Crown. The conflict was based on a dispute over gold deposits in the Fraser Canyon area.
McGowan's War took place in Yale, British Columbia, in 1858. It got its name from American lawyer and gold prospector Edward McGowan.
The conflict, which involved both military and civilians, was over the boundary between the British colony and the US state. US Secretary of State Daniel Webster and British diplomat Baron Ashburton managed to resolve the matter, with Maine gaining a great part of the disputed territory.
We all know that wars have been started for a number of reasons. Some of them are pretty common, such as territory, but others really are quite stupid. Luckily, some of these wars went down in history for being bloodless. Yes, there have been conflicts where there were no casualties and not a single drop of blood was shed.
In this gallery, you'll find a list of some of the most famous bloodless conflicts in history. Click on to discover them.
Historical wars with no casualties
Fortunately, nobody died during these conflicts
LIFESTYLE Conflicts
We all know that wars have been started for a number of reasons. Some of them are pretty common, such as territory, but others really are quite stupid. Luckily, some of these wars went down in history for being bloodless. Yes, there have been conflicts where there were no casualties and not a single drop of blood was shed.
In this gallery, you'll find a list of some of the most famous bloodless conflicts in history. Click on to discover them.