Interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world. Unusual traditions in different countries of the world

Russia - multinational country. And we have peoples, very unusual ones, who are almost gone. Their traditions and language are on the verge of destruction, but they continue to exist. Someone has already moved to the cities and is putting on National Costume only for the holidays, others still live in places that can only be reached by helicopter.

Abazins

According to the latest census, 43,341 representatives of this people live in Russia. Most live in 13 villages in Karachay-Cherkessia. Some are moving to neighboring republics and cities. The first mention of them can be found already in the 5th century BC by a Greek historian. They profess Islam.

In the second century they even had their own principality, but the people could not compete with powerful states and constantly fell under their influence. After the Russian-Caucasian War in the 19th century, they became part of Russia. The main occupation of this people is cattle breeding, since mountainous lands are poorly cultivated. They also breed bees and make a sweet, intoxicating drink from honey. The swallow is considered a sacred bird that will save humanity. Now they live using many of the benefits of civilization.

Aleuts

There are only 500 representatives of this people left in Russia. But more than 15 thousand people live in Alaska. Initially this is indigenous people islands, which eventually spread to neighboring continents. They call themselves " unangan." Now they live on the Commander Islands.

This people first encountered Russians in the 18th century. First, anthropologists went there, and then sailors. The Aleuts often clashed with them. Then the Aleuts came under the influence of a Russian-American company, which tried to make money by mining fur seals, and then by mining gold. Aleuts were recruited to work. Russians and Americans married local girls.

Now the Aleuts extract the fur of valuable animals, catch poultry and fish, breed sled dogs and grow turnips, radishes and potatoes. Most likely, soon this people will finally assimilate with the Russians and other peoples, since the Aleut language is not taught in schools.

The population traditionally practiced paganism: shamans connected people with the spirits of their ancestors and helped solve everyday problems. Also, due to the influence of Russians, Orthodoxy is popular here. Now people enjoy the benefits of civilization and live in houses built for them Soviet power.

Besermyane

The Besermyans live in Udmurtia, but in fact they, like the Karelians, are Finno-Ugric. Now the number of people fluctuates around 2 thousand people. There are 10 purely Besermyan villages. The Besermyan language is a dialect of the Udmurt language, in which more eastern influences can be heard.
The religion of the people is a mixture of several beliefs. In the 18th century they accepted Orthodoxy, but retained traditional beliefs and Islam. A mullah was annually invited to the village to pray; his presence at the funeral was considered necessary; The mullah was given flour (cereals) after the first herding of cattle into the field. The cult of ancestors is developed, clearly manifested in funeral and memorial rituals.
Bessermyans are engaged in agriculture. Now the remnants of the people are trying to preserve their traditions and celebrate national holidays. Even Putin came to see them once.

Vepsians

According to official data, now there are just over 6 thousand Vepsians left. Most of them live in Karelia and the village of Sheltozero. Also lives in the Leningrad region.

Until the mid-1930s, Vepsians lived in large families. All economic and ordinary life a large family was led by its head - oldest man. His wife took care of the livestock, the house, cooked food, weaved and sewed clothes. The Vepsians grew rye, barley, oats, peas, beans and a small amount of wheat and potatoes. Later they began to plant onions, rutabaga, radishes, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.

The average farm necessarily had a horse, 2-3 cows, and sheep. Fishing, as well as picking mushrooms and berries, were of great importance. The men's occupation was the manufacture of various products from wood, birch bark, and weaving from willow and spruce roots. They made a wooden one kitchen utensils, handicraft items - weaving mills, spinning wheels, hoops, etc. Wooden handicraft items were usually decorated with carvings. Women were engaged in weaving, sewing clothes and embroidery.

Koryaks

Now there are just over 8 thousand Koryaks left. They know Russian, although they try to preserve their languages. About three thousand speak local dialects. They profess Orthodoxy, but also preserve shamanic traditions. A study of the village of Atargan indicates that the local Koryak tribes were familiar with the use of metal long before the arrival of the Russians, more precisely, in the last century of the first millennium.

Surprisingly, the mythology of the Koryaks is almost no different from the mythology of the Indians Pacific Ocean. Some religious events may have been borrowed, but in general myths usually reflect a state of mind over a long time and even the most distant periods.

The similarities between the lives of the Chukchi and Koryaks are great, although character traits Eskimos tend to disappear. Among the Koryaks and Kamchadals, the number of elements of similarity with the Eskimos gradually decreased, while the number of myths proving the opposite increased. Until now, most Koryaks live without special amenities, adhering to traditions. Young people are gradually leaving for the cities and assimilating.

Nganasans

Nganasany is the most northern people Eurasia. Now there are less than a thousand of them left. Previously, they led a nomadic lifestyle, but due to Soviet rule they switched to a sedentary lifestyle. To hunt wild deer, they had to go deep into the tundra. Women in the village sewing workshops and at home are engaged in tanning deer skins and sewing national shoes, souvenir rugs, crafts from deer skins, and sewing fur clothing for fishermen.

Works of oral folk art almost all men and women know, regardless of age. The Nganasans do not have professional folklore performers; all generally recognized storytellers are simple hunters, fishermen and reindeer herders. Legends are told in long evenings at the end of the working day or on vacation; there were no special national festivals at which storytellers shared their stories, like the already mentioned Yakuts or Kazakhs.

Popular kaingamekumi- a competition between two young men who, sitting on both sides of their chosen one, composed allegorical songs, competing in wit. Anyone who, without understanding the allegorical text of his opponent, was considered defeated and was obliged to give the winner some kind of metal decoration.

Photo: Russian Ethnographic Museum

Nivkhi

A small people who live in Russia and Japan. The first traces of his presence in these territories appeared 10 thousand years ago. Now the population is constantly falling; in the last census, experts counted about 4 thousand people.

It is assumed that the peoples of Polynesia are related to the Nivkhs. It is believed that the earliest mention of the Nivkhs in history is the Chinese chronicles of the early 600s AD. e. Contacts between Russians and Nivkhs began in the 17th century, when Cossack explorers visited here.

Nihvi mostly do fishing. The religious beliefs of the Nivkhs were based on animism and belief in spirits that lived everywhere. Each bear was considered the son of the owner of the taiga. The bear festival was celebrated in January or February, depending on the clan. The bear was caught, raised and fed for several years in a pen. During the celebration, the bear was dressed in a special costume, taken from house to house, and treated to food from carved wooden dishes. After which the animal was sacrificed by shooting from a bow. They placed food at the head of the killed bear, “treating” it. Unlike other peoples of the Amur, the Nivkhs cremated their dead, burning them on a huge bonfire in the taiga accompanied by ritual lamentations, and in ancient times they practiced air burial. The deceased was hung from a tree and left there.

Setu

A small Finno-Ugric people from the Pskov region. There are only 200 of them living in Russia, and about 10 thousand in neighboring Estonia. The origin of the Seto is controversial among scientists. There is also an opinion according to which the Setos represent the remnant of an ethnic group that was once as independent as the other Finno-Ugric peoples.

The Setos, unlike the Lutheran Estonians, are Orthodox. For several centuries, having accepted and observed the rituals of Orthodoxy, the Setos did not have a translation of the Bible. The Russians who lived nearby did not consider the Setos to be full-fledged Christians, calling them “half-believers.”

Seto house-building is characterized by a Pskov closed courtyard with high gates; later, two-chamber (and then multi-chamber) houses with a glazed veranda became widespread. Setu settlers brought this type of house to Siberia. Now the nationality is not much different from ordinary people.

Tofalar

They live on the territory of Tofalaria in the Irkutsk region. Today the Tofalars live mainly in three settlements organized by the Soviet government in the 1920s and 1930s. populated areas: Alygdzher, Upper Gutara and Nerha, where they were forcibly transferred to settled life and settled together with Russian-speaking settlers. It is possible to get there only by helicopter and contact only by radio.

From the end of the 17th century until 1925 (before the start of dramatic changes in the life of the Tofs), their numbers remained virtually unchanged and fluctuated between 400-500 people. Such a small number of individual people is surprising. Neither the chronicles nor the archival data indicate any mass death. Apparently, the Russians had already found these people in a state close to the modern one, and the decrease in their numbers occurred long before the conquest of Siberia.

The people were engaged in hunting and reindeer herding, and led a semi-nomadic lifestyle. But because of the Soviet regime, they had to leave their nomadic lifestyle. At the same time, technology appeared in the villages. Traditions were forgotten and only at the end of the last century they began to be restored.

Japan is generally a strange country, and those who have visited this country talk about the strange sense of humor of the Japanese. So, they have this “prank” - kancho, usually only schoolchildren play with it junior classes, however, adults at a party also like to have a “kancho”. The point of the prank is to perform an “enema” - a person folds his two hands and puts his index fingers forward, which he tries to insert into the anal passage of the person being pranked, who suspects nothing.

2. Sex in the temple

You will be surprised, but this is not even some kind of Hare Krishna temple or a temple of some such conditionally free religion. On the island of Java, in most beautiful place, there is a temple called Gunung Kemukus, which is considered Muslim. Such a strict religion (but only this temple in this place) has a belief that if you have sex with a stranger in its vicinity at night, you will be lucky and rich for the rest of your life. Whether because of the beauty of the temple, or because of basic instinct, thousands of “pilgrims” come here, and the surrounding area is dotted with brothels.

3. Greeting in Eskimo

While some comrades are proud of their handshake strength, the Eskimos have gone further. When a guest comes to their village, they line up and take turns greeting the guest with a slap on the back of the head. The guest must respond in kind, and the turn passes to the next Eskimo, who must strike harder, and so on in increasing order. The welcoming ceremony ends only when someone, either the guest or one of the Eskimo men, does not fall to the ground from the blow.

4. Tears and snot

Kitchen in South Korea famous for its pungency. Some dishes are impossible to eat without your nose hurting or tears coming to your eyes. However, if you are not snotty and tearful enough, you will be considered a callous person who does not respect the laws of hospitality and does not want to please the hostess. To be good guest, and also show the hostess that she is an excellent cook, you will have to emit your physiological fluids from your eyes and nose to the maximum.

5. Sad wake

In India, during the holiday of remembrance of the holy Khoja Moinuddin Chishti, thousands of fakirs and pilgrims walk through the streets of the city of Ajmer. To prove their commitment to religion, and to show how much they grieve, participants in the procession pierce themselves with needles, and especially popular is gouging out their eyes with sharp metal objects.

6. Dolphin Killing

All over the world they admire dolphins and watch their performances in dolphinariums, but in the Faroe Islands the position is completely different. In order for local youths to become men, the following custom is arranged. Boats drive pods of dolphins into the bay, and there, in the shallow waters, the beating of innocent fish with knives, fittings, axes and stakes begins.

The newly minted “men” usually release one dolphin - this is part of the custom, on next year he will “bring in” a new flock. It’s extremely sad, because if earlier this was due to hunger, and the killed dolphins were at least eaten, now this is done only for the sake of the custom itself.

7. Photos of the dead

In Russia at the end of the 19th century, a wild tradition came from Europe - photographing dead children. It is clear that the infant mortality rate was high, the parents grieved greatly, but it was considered good form to take the “last” photograph and keep it as the most valuable. The kids were dressed up in the best clothes, they were seated next to their living brothers, sisters and parents, pets, and in general they tried to create such an environment so that it seemed that the child was alive; they were also often painted with open eyes and a smile.

8. Not a light burden

Let's end on a more or less cheerful note. Japan celebrates a local holiday of spring and labor - the Shinto festival Honen Matsuri. Instead of festive columns with an orchestra and slogans, in Japan a 25-kilogram wooden phallus is carried through the city, which symbolizes the onset of spring and fertility. Carrying this is considered very honorable and volunteers compete for such an honor, so not everyone has the honor of carrying a 2.5-meter-long penis across the entire city.

9. Resourceful Indians

In India there is a ban on having a third wife. Moreover, historically, the custom literally sounds like this - you cannot have a third wife. First, second, fourth and subsequent ones - please. Resourceful lovers of marriage easily get out of this situation and choose a tree for a third marriage.

He is dressed in festive clothes and the wedding ceremony is held, and at the end of the celebration, the groom's witness cuts down the poor tree and announces that his friend is “widowed”, and thus can look for a fourth, “permitted” wife.

Although for many years politicians and sociologists have been talking about inevitable globalization and the unity of cultures and civilizations, states globe still retain their bright individuality, originality and historical flavor. The customs of the peoples of the world are an integral part of this individuality, because in every country people look at the same phenomena through the prism own culture. A traveler will certainly benefit from basic knowledge about the peculiarities of life abroad.

Canada

• Canadians adhere to strict rules of formal politeness even when we're talking about about minor mistakes. If you step on someone's foot or push another person, you should immediately apologize briefly. Although such behavior is expected in Russia, in Canada even the “victim” apologizes. Therefore, if someone accidentally steps on your foot, do not neglect the polite formula “I beg your pardon” - this will show that you intelligent person, not wanting to cause trouble for others (for example, standing in someone else's way and "forcing" others to push you aside).
• Smoking is prohibited in in public places, including restaurants. Smoking at a party is allowed only if the owner has given express permission.
• Many customs of the peoples of the world dictate specific rules of behavior when meeting. In Quebec, for example, shaking a woman's hand (even if it's another woman doing so) means establishing a certain distance and showing that you are in a purely formal relationship. As a sign of friendliness, you should hug each other when you meet and lightly kiss each other on both cheeks.
• In Canada, you must take off your shoes when visiting someone else's home.
• If you are offered coffee late at night at a party, it means that the hosts expect you to go home soon.

USA

• When talking to another person, it is advisable to look him in the eye - otherwise you will be considered secretive and unworthy of trust. This rule stands in stark contrast to most other countries, where eye contact is considered rude.
• Modern customs of the peoples of the world dictate respect for service personnel. So, in an American restaurant you should always tip the waiter - if you don’t, your guests will feel extremely uncomfortable. Waiters' salaries in to a greater extent consists of tips, so your guests will also feel awkward if you leave too little money on the table. Traditionally, visitors leave waiters 15 percent of the order amount; 10 percent is considered a complaint for poor service, and 20 percent is considered a reward for satisfactory or excellent service. Tipping over 20 percent is considered ostentatious generosity, but the waiter will no doubt be pleased.
• You need to leave tips not only in restaurants - additional money is given to taxi drivers, hairdressers and stylists, and delivery couriers. ready food, as well as an occasional handyman (even if you hired the neighborhood teenagers to mow your lawn). So, for pizza delivery they pay from two to five dollars, regardless of the order amount.
• National - countries with the greatest diversity of cultures and peoples - provide due respect to all categories of the population. When meeting a new person, you should not ask him about marital status or the presence of a romantic relationship, as well as about his political views. It is impolite to ask a woman her age or weight.
• Most traditions in America are based on the principle of mutual respect. You cannot violate a person’s personal space, that is, be closer to him than at arm’s length. Exceptions to the rule are being in a crowd or crush, as well as friendly relations.
• If you are invited to visit, take a bottle of wine with you. You can also buy a cake or other sweets, but in this case it is advisable to find out in advance whether the owners prepared the special dessert themselves.

Italy

• If you are interested European customs, you can take a closer look at the traditions of Italy. An interesting fact: in this country it is not customary to take off coats and other outer clothing immediately upon entering a room. You need to wait for a special invitation or ask if you can leave your raincoat or jacket.
• You should not put hats on the bed, as there is an ominous superstition on this topic.
• When visiting stores, you should always greet the sellers, even if you just came to look at the product and do not intend to talk to the consultants.
• It is not advisable to ask for a check immediately after finishing dinner at a restaurant. Better spend a couple of minutes relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere and a cup of cappuccino.
• Men shouldn't wear socks white in public, because, according to popular belief, only “mama’s boys” do this.
• It is not recommended to bite bread with your teeth. It is customary for Italians to tear off small pieces with their hands and place them on them. butter or pate, served in special segments in a separate dish, and in this form immediately put into the mouth. Knives and other cutlery should not be used. Such specific traditions of Italy originate in the Middle Ages, when peasants exhausted by hunger, having barely received bread for food from their masters, devoured it right on the spot, stuffing their cheeks. The noble, intelligent townspeople were always well-fed, and therefore appropriate calm behavior was expected from them.

Spain

• Unlike the customs of many European countries, Spain's traditions are largely based on the supremacy of local culture. Arguments about whose country and which language is better should always be avoided, especially when comparing Spanish with English. Residents of this state speak English relatively poorly and often require tourists to know their language. If you do not speak Spanish, it is better to try to communicate with gestures - local townspeople will perceive such communication more favorably than the persistent use of English expressions.
• Some traditional themes It's better not to discuss it at all. These include fighting bulls (toro), religion, fascism and nationalism. Regarding the latter, even the Spaniards themselves still cannot come to an agreement.
• Always try to appear calm and casual. You can talk loudly, make emotional gestures, joke with owners and use forms of physical contact without any embarrassment.
• It is customary to say hello to all your neighbors, even if you don’t know them.
• When greeting, men shake hands, and women expect kisses on both cheeks.
• Many Spanish traditions are associated with active species sports So, for example, even a practically stranger can be invited to watch together Soccer game. If you receive such an invitation, do not under any circumstances criticize the team that the host of the house supports.

Ireland

• Ireland is a very distinctive state, where even Christian holidays are observed in their own way - such as Easter and Palm Sunday. The customs of this country, however, partly reflect the practices adopted in Great Britain (although Ireland is a sovereign republic). However, you should not publicly attribute this state to the United Kingdom - the indigenous people will instantly be offended, since only part of Great Britain remains. Avoid conversations on topics related to the country's sovereignty.
• In bars and pubs, do not speak to the bartender until he has served the customer who arrived before you.
• If you have a guest, you should definitely offer him coffee or tea.
• It is not recommended to ask other people about their income and business success. Colleagues are not asked about their salaries. In some companies, such questions are officially prohibited.
• If people celebrate Easter or Palm Sunday, it is better to observe customs and religious rituals from the outside. Under no circumstances ask people what religion they adhere to - Catholicism or Protestantism.

Arab countries

• It is customary to perform personal hygiene rituals on the left hand - that is why it is considered dirty. Shaking hands with the left hand is considered an insult. It is also accepted to eat only the right one.
• You should not expose the soles of your feet or touch anyone with your booted foot.
• In Iraq the gesture " thumb up" is taken as a serious insult.
• Customs of the peoples of the world living in Arab countries ah, they dictate honor and respect for elders. This means standing up as soon as elders enter the room and greeting them first if they are already in the room.
• In most Arab countries, holding hands while walking is a sign of politeness and a symbol of friendship. Unlike Western countries, here such a gesture does not carry any hints of romance.
• If a person puts all five fingers of his hand together and points his fingertips upward, this means that he needs to think for five minutes. This sign should not be confused with a fist and threatening gestures.
• Greetings from the peoples of Africa are always associated with a demonstration of sincerity of emotions. In Morocco, for example, after shaking hands, the right hand is placed on the heart. It is impossible to shake hands (for example, if acquaintances are separated by a highway), it is enough to simply put your right hand to your heart.
• Strangers you meet for the first time may invite you to lunch or dinner at their home. If such an invitation bothers you, do not refuse - refusal will be considered rude. Instead, ask to postpone the visit until an unspecified time in the near future.
• The traditions of the peoples of Arab countries require abundant food, so do not be surprised if you are offered food endlessly, over and over again. You can constantly refuse, but the main thing is not to mistake the owner’s insistence for tactlessness. It is better to eat little by little and take a little from the dishes offered in the first rounds, and only then refuse with a clear conscience.

China and Taiwan

• Eastern culture is very original and diverse, so you should not mention in a conversation with Asians that for you the Chinese, Koreans, Thais and Japanese are “all the same.” It's just rude.
• You only need to eat right hand.
• Avoid using the American "thumbs up" gesture - here it is considered indecent.
• If you were invited to visit, and the hosts prepared lunch or dinner themselves, they will certainly report that there is something wrong with the food - for example, that it is too salty. The answer to this remark is that all the dishes are excellent and not at all oversalted.
• Interesting traditions are associated with holidays. If you are given a gift, refuse it. It is customary for the Chinese to offer gifts several times. They should not be opened in the presence of the donor.
• Can't give married men hats. The Chinese expression "wearing a green hat" means that a wife is cheating on her husband. Such a gift will be regarded as an insult to the spouses.
• You should also not give another person a watch - an ancient superstition that people adhere to even in modern world, says: such a donor counts down the moments until the death of the recipient. You should also not give umbrellas (a sign of separation) or white flowers (a ritual symbol of funerals) as gifts.
• Traditions suggest that others will look after you when you are visiting. Therefore, you, in turn, will have to pour drinks into your neighbors’ glasses.
• Pregnant women should not attend funerals - this is a sign that promises misfortune.

India

• Eastern culture differs from Western culture in the priority of modesty over external beauty. Both men and women in India wear covered clothing. Shorts are highly undesirable for both sexes; women should not wear bikinis, short skirts and dresses with bare shoulders. One should also avoid wearing simple white dresses and saris, as these clothes are considered a symbol of widow's mourning.
• In most Indian homes, it is customary to remove shoes in the hallway. Although hosts may be sympathetic to the lack of knowledge of foreign guests, it is better to ask in advance whether it is possible to enter the house without taking off your shoes.
• Unusual ones are associated with spiritual beliefs. If you accidentally touched another person with your feet or stepped on objects of veneration (coins, bills, books, paper, etc.), you will be expected to apologize. A common form of apology in this case is to touch a person or object with your right hand, which you then place on your forehead.
• While you are a guest in an Indian house, you will be offered food several times - you can safely refuse if you are already full.

The strangest national customs

• In Greece, it is customary to throw a child's lost baby tooth onto the roof - according to a widespread superstition, this action brings good luck.
• One of the peoples of Iran has a calendar consisting of nineteen months, each of which has only nineteen days.
• In Sweden, gold and silver coins are placed inside the bride's elegant shoes during the wedding ceremony.
• In a traditional wedding in Norway, the bride wears a silver crown from which dangles long amulets designed to ward off evil spirits.

For the New Year

• In Brazil on New Year definitely prepare a bowl lentil soup, as lentils are considered a symbol of prosperity.
• Traditional life and customs of Latvia at Christmas necessarily involve the preparation of stewed brown beans with pork and cabbage sauce.
• In the Netherlands, Santa Claus has a helper named Black Pete.
• In Austria, Krampus Night is celebrated on December 5th. This event is dedicated to Santa's evil twin brother.

Sun Dance

As you know, the indigenous people of America performed many rituals in honor of the spirits of the earth. All these rituals are needed in order to contact great spirits; they also often sacrifice themselves in order to maintain direct contact with the Tree of Life. Direct contact with the Tree occurs in this way: a skewer attached to a post pierces the skin on the chest. All participants begin to move forward and backward and try to break free, while at this time their skin is still connected to the pole. This dance can last for several hours.

Cannibalism

In India, in the city of Varanasi, there live Aghori Babas who are known for eating dead people. Many of them think that most of all in life a person is afraid of his death, and that this fear prevents him from becoming spiritually enlightened. Aghori Babas believe that if they eat dead man, then this fear disappears and they begin to become enlightened. According to Hindu laws, 5 types of people cannot be cremated: pregnant women, children, saints, unmarried women and people who died due to snakebite or leprosy. These people are first given to the Ganges River, and then the Aghori take them out from there and begin to consume them.

Vine Jumping

Gkol is a ritual that is performed in the village of Bunlap. This ritual is reminiscent of bungee jumping. At that moment, when the men are preparing to jump, all the other residents sing and dance. The jumpers tie a vine around their ankles and then jump from wooden towers that are made especially for this ritual. Apparently, the men are not worried about what this might mean to them, they simply believe that the higher the jump point, the greater the blessing of the gods.

Self-flagellation

During the holy month of Muharram, every year followers of Shia Islam carry out mass self-flagellation. Thus, they commemorate the death of Hussein, as well as the grandson of Muhammad. During the ritual, men torture their bodies with blades attached to chains. Men do not feel pain because they are all in a trance state.

Sky Burials

There is a sacred ritual called sky burial in Tibet. Buddhists believe that there is no need to preserve the body after death, since there is a circle of rebirth. Bodies dead people transmitted to aerial predators. In order for the body to disappear as quickly as possible, it is cut into pieces and given to the surrounding area for consumption.

Voodoo and Spiritual Domains

West Africa is popular with Voodoo followers. One of the rituals is famous for the fact that a person takes a spirit or a friend’s soul into himself, as if into a vessel. Although the person is conscious, it is believed that the spirit takes complete possession of the body, and at the end of the ritual the spirit remains in the person for another 3 days.

Dancing with the Dead

Madagascar hosts the "Twist the Dice" festival. Residents believe that in order for the spirit to reach the afterlife faster, the body must decompose as quickly as possible. Therefore, once every 2 years for 7 years they dig up their loved ones, dance with them around the grave and then they need to be reburied in another place.

Fire Walks

In Malaysia, it is believed that in order to repel evil influences from oneself or to strengthen masculine power and get rid of bad thoughts, one must undergo a cleansing ritual and walk barefoot over burning coals. Hundreds of people believe in this and therefore take part in this festival.

Death rites

Impaling

A very dangerous ritual is performed annually in Phuket, Thailand. Participants pierce their cheeks with swords, spears, knives or even weapons. All this is carried out because the residents believe that the gods put them into a trance during this action, and this helps protect them from evil and brings good luck in the future.

Scarification

The spiritual connection between the tribe is very important in Paula ( New Guinea), so they have an unusual ritual. One of the ceremonies is held in the “House of the Spirit”. The ritual consists of teenagers living alone in the Spirit House for two months. At the end of the isolation, everyone prepares for initiation, after which their transition to maturity is recognized. During the ritual, punctures are made using bamboo shards. All these serrations are very similar to crocodile skin. Tribal people believe that humans are descended from crocodiles. According to legend, the crocodile swallowed the boy and left an adult man in his place, and because of this, all the marks on the body resemble marks from the teeth of a crocodile.