By city and country. customs of the peoples of the world and strange superstitions

Every country, every people has its own ancestral customs. But sometimes they seem too strange for modern man. We will tell you about some of them.

Residents of the Republic of Madagascar are distinguished by exceptional affection for their relatives. But sometimes such a relationship becomes abnormal, especially when we're talking about about the already dead. The Malagasy people to this day strictly follow ancient custom periodically dig up the dead from their tombs, dress them in best clothes and take photos together with them. To a modern European this will seem wild, but the inhabitants of Madagascar believe that such behavior is nothing more than a manifestation of love and respect for those who are already in another world.

In India, there is a rather shocking custom associated with strengthening the spirit of a newborn. The newly born child is thrown from the wall of the temple (height 10-15 meters). Below, the newborn is caught; for this, a large piece of material is stretched, which is held by at least 8 people. It is believed that such a procedure with early years will make the child luckier and also give him courage.

In Scotland, in some regions, medieval wedding customs have survived into the 21st century. The bride, dressed in an immaculate white dress, decorated with flowers (and rich in jewelry), is completely covered in mud. Dirt can be spoiled food, soil, flour, honey. In this form, she must walk along the main street, go around the central square, and also ride a horse throughout the city. Today this is done, for the most part, for the sake of entertainment, but previously people believed that through this a girl cleanses her soul from all sorts of earthly sins.

The relationship with death among most peoples has always been original. But in conducting funeral rites, Tibetan monks distinguished themselves most of all. The body of the deceased, according to their belief, was supposed to not only return to the earth, but also bring benefit. And therefore it was not buried, but was divided and carried to the top of the mountain, where wild animals live. Thus, people believed that the spirit of the deceased was reunited with nature in the most naturally: being included in the natural cycle of substances.

Walking on lit coals has been practiced in Japan and Africa since ancient times. But you can still find this custom there today. Fire was called upon to purify a person, to instill in him courage, firmness and perseverance. It was believed that if you walk along the road of fire without fear, then there is nothing more to be afraid of in life.

The Japanese, as practice shows, are quite strange in their customs. And the Japanese spring fertility festival is proof of this. At the beginning of spring, residents of the country rising sun gather on the streets of cities (only some cities, since not everyone takes part in the holiday) to witness the sacred action. The strongest and healthiest men get the opportunity to carry a wooden male reproductive organ weighing 25 kilograms across the city. This tradition involves not only improving the land and increasing the level of productivity, but also bringing “fertility to the family,” increasing the birth rate and strengthening families.

Every nation existing in our world has its own traditions, customs and rituals. And as many of these peoples as there are, so many traditions - very different, unusual, funny, shocking, romantic. But whatever they are, they are honored and passed on from generation to generation.

As our reader might have already guessed, today we will introduce the most unusual greetings of the peoples of the world, as well as their traditions and customs.

Samoa

Samoans sniff each other when they meet. For them, this is more of a tribute to their ancestors than a serious ritual. Once upon a time, in this way, Samoans tried to find out where the person they were greeting was from. The smell could tell how many people walked through the jungle or when last time ate But most often a stranger was identified by smell.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, representatives of the indigenous population, the Maori, touch noses when meeting each other. This tradition goes back centuries. It is called “hongi” and symbolizes the breath of life - “ha”, which goes back to the gods themselves. After this, the Maori perceive the person as their friend, and not just as a stranger. This tradition is observed even when meeting on " top level”, so don’t be surprised if you see on TV the president of some country rubbing noses with a representative of New Zealand. This is etiquette and cannot be violated.

Andaman Islands

A native Andaman Islander sits on another's lap, hugs his neck and cries. And don’t think that he is complaining about his fate or wants to tell some tragic episode from his life. Thus, he rejoices at meeting his friend, and tears are the sincerity with which he meets his fellow tribesman.

Kenya

The Maasai tribe is the oldest in Kenya, it is famous for its ancient and unusual rituals. One of these rituals is the welcome dance to Adam. It is performed only by men of the tribe, usually during wars. The dancers stand in a circle and begin to jump high. The higher he jumps, the more clearly he will show his bravery and courage. Since the Maasai are subsistence farmers, they often have to jump like this when hunting lions and other animals.

Tibet

In Tibet, when meeting, people stick their tongues out at each other. This custom dates back to the 9th century, when Tibet was ruled by the tyrant king Landarma. He had a black tongue. So the Tibetans were afraid that after his death the king might inhabit someone else and therefore decided to stick out their tongues in order to protect themselves from evil. If you also want to follow this custom, make sure that you do not eat anything that stains your tongue. dark color, otherwise misunderstanding may occur. The arms are usually kept crossed on the chest.

Japan

And not only in Japan, but everywhere in the east, you must be prepared for one of the main traditions of the peoples of the east - to immediately take off your shoes. In Japan, you will be offered slippers to bridge the distance between the front door and the living room, where you will again have to remove the slippers before stepping onto the tatami (reed mat). Of course, you need to make sure your socks are spotlessly clean. And when leaving the living room, be careful not to put on someone else’s slippers.

* When you give a gift, it's good to show modesty again by saying something like, “Sorry it's such a small thing,” or, “You might not like the gift.”

* When guests arrive, they are always offered some kind of treat. Even if a person shows up unexpectedly, he will usually be offered a snack, even if it is just a cup of rice with pickled vegetables and tea. If you are invited to a Japanese restaurant, unforeseen situations may arise, from which the inviter will be happy to help you find a decent way out. For example, he will tell you when and where to take off your shoes.

It is not at all necessary to sit in the Japanese manner, with your legs tucked under you. Most Japanese, like Europeans, quickly get tired of this. Men are allowed to cross their legs, but women are subject to stricter requirements: they must sit with their legs tucked under them, or, for convenience, moved to the side. Sometimes a guest may be offered a low chair with a backrest. It is not customary to stretch your legs forward.

* When you are offered a drink, you need to lift the glass and wait until it is filled. It is recommended to return the favor to your neighbors.

* In both the Japanese home and the meeting room, the place of honor is usually located away from the door next to the tokonoma (a wall niche containing a scroll and other decorations). A guest may, out of modesty, refuse to sit in a place of honor. Even if this causes a slight hesitation, it is better to act so that later they will not talk about you as an immodest person. Before sitting down, you must wait until the guest of honor is seated. If he is delayed, then everyone gets up upon his arrival.

* Before starting the meal, oshibori is served - a hot, damp towel; they wipe the face and hands with it. They start the meal with the word “Itadakimas!” and bow slightly, everyone who sits at the table and takes part in the meal says this. This word has many meanings, in this case it means: “I’m starting to eat with your permission!” The first to start the meal is the owner or the one who, say, invites you to a restaurant. As a rule, soup and rice are served first. Rice is generally served with all dishes. If you need to rearrange cups or plates yourself, rearrange them with both hands.

China or Japan

The chopsticks should be leaning against the dish and raised two-thirds up. You should never put food on chopsticks like a spear, cross them over each other on a plate, stack them on different sides of the dish, point chopsticks at people, use chopsticks to pull the dish closer to yourself, or, worst of all, stick them into rice. This is exactly what the Japanese do at funerals, leaving rice with chopsticks stuck vertically into it near the deceased. The traditions of the Japanese people do not allow a frivolous attitude towards death.

Thailand

The head of any person in Thailand, regardless of age, gender and social status considered sacred. According to centuries-old Thai belief, the spirit of a person, which protects his life, is located in the head. Therefore, stroking a person’s head, ruffling his hair, or simply touching a person’s head is perceived as a real insult.

Thai women should generally not be touched without their consent, as most of them have conservative views and may also perceive this gesture as an insult.

You should not point at anything, much less at anyone, with your foot or lower body, which is considered “despicable” here.

For the same reason, you should never sit cross-legged with your feet pointing towards the Buddha statue. Thais revere every image of him, so be careful not to climb or lean on the statues to take photos.

According to traditions in Thailand, before entering a temple or Thai home, you should take off your shoes, even if the owners hospitably assure you that you don’t have to take off your shoes.

A restrained, calm, friendly tone and a constant smile are encouraged in communication. Avoid familiarity and raising your voice.

India

Let's start with a greeting. You can say hello by simply shaking hands, as we are used to. But there are some subtleties. It is considered bad form to shake hands with someone you have not met before. In addition, women should not shake hands with Hindus, as this may be considered an insult. The most respectful greeting among Indians is namaste, which involves joining your palms at chest level.

When meeting a Hindu, you need to remember that their names consist of several parts. It's worth it first given name, then the name of his father, then the name of the caste to which he belongs and the name of the locality of his residence. For women, the name contains her own name and the name of her spouse.

When saying goodbye, Indians raise their palm and wave only their fingers. We also sometimes use a similar gesture, only in India this is how one says goodbye to a girl. If you say goodbye to a man, just raise your palm.

The following gestures should not be used:

* just like with us, it is considered impolite to point somewhere index finger;

* you shouldn't wink at a pretty girl. This gesture is indecent and speaks of a specific proposal. If a man needs a representative of the most ancient profession, he must point to the nostril with his index finger;

* you don't need to snap your fingers to get someone's attention. This is perceived as a challenge;

* vibrating with fingers clenched into a bun - a sign to the interlocutor that he is afraid;

* double clapping of palms is a hint of a different orientation.

IN India exists animal cult. Some representatives of the animal world have been elevated to the rank of sacred. Temples are built especially for monkeys. For example, the famous Palace of the Winds, where monkeys live in such numbers and are so aggressive that tourists are not recommended to even go there! Along the streets settlements other sacred animals - cows - are walking around. They live own life and die a natural death, since they are forbidden to be eaten.

Another animal is the peacock. They literally live happily ever after - they sing their noisy songs everywhere: in churches, on the streets and in the courtyards of private houses.

When visiting the temple, you must take off your shoes when entering and enter barefoot. It is better to completely exclude products made from genuine leather from your wardrobe. This is considered blasphemy.

Vietnam

Vietnamese people never make eye contact when speaking. Perhaps because of their inherent shyness. But main reason is that, following tradition, they do not look into the eyes of those they respect or those of higher rank.

The smiles of Vietnamese people can often cause misunderstanding among foreigners and even lead to awkward situations. The fact is that in many eastern countries a smile is also a sign of sorrow, anxiety or awkwardness. Smiling in Vietnam is often an expression of politeness, but it can also be a sign of skepticism, misunderstanding or failure to recognize a wrong judgment.

Loud arguments and heated discussions are frowned upon and are rare among the Vietnamese. Well-educated Vietnamese are also well-trained in terms of self-discipline. Therefore, the loud voices of Europeans are often perceived with disapproval.

In conversation, Vietnamese very rarely go straight to the goal. To do this is to show a lack of tact and delicacy. Directness is highly valued in Western world, but not in Vietnam. Vietnamese people do not like to say “no” and often answer “yes” when the answer should be negative.

IN Everyday life Vietnamese people have many different taboos. For example, the following:

* Do not praise a newborn baby because evil spirits nearby and may steal the child because of its value.

* When going to work or on business, avoid seeing a woman first. If the first thing you see when you walk out the door is a woman, go back and postpone the event.

* On entrance doors mirrors are often hung outside. If a dragon wants to get into a house, it will see its reflection and think that there is already another dragon there.

* You cannot place one bowl of rice and one pair of chopsticks on the table. Be sure to order for at least two. One cup is for the dead.

* Don't let your chopsticks touch other chopsticks or make noise with them unnecessarily. Don't leave chopsticks in your food.

* Do not hand a toothpick to anyone.

* Never buy one pillow and one mattress, always buy two. * Do not use your relatives' towels.

*Do not turn over musical instruments and do not tap on both sides of the drum at the same time.

* Don't cut your nails at night.

* In a restaurant with a Vietnamese, it is not customary to pay “half”. Let him pay, or pay the bill yourself. The person of higher rank always pays.

Gifts for the bride and groom are always given as a couple. One gift symbolizes the imminent end of the marriage. Two cheap gifts are always preferable to one expensive one.

* Educated people and everyone who is not a peasant does not engage in manual labor. To do this is to take away a job from a poor peasant and is considered undignified.

Tanzania

One of the most important rules behavior for visitors - smoking ban in in public places. Smoking is only allowed in hotel rooms and in a number of restaurants in a special area. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the street, in clubs, cinemas, and beaches, up to several hours of arrest.

The island of Zanzibar is known for its strict nature conservation law, one of the provisions of this law is the ban on the use of plastic bags. All goods here are issued in paper.

In most hotels, even in the most expensive ones, there will be kerosene lamps in the rooms - power outages are the main trouble in modern Tanzania.

Despite the sometimes even too polite treatment of foreigners, the local population has an unspoken tradition of making fun of them. You should not ask the first person you meet for directions; smiling sweetly, he will show you the completely wrong road. Experienced tourists recommend introducing yourself as a journalist in such situations, English language here they understand well, then the chance of deception decreases.

Very important has greeting etiquette. The type of greeting depends on the person’s status and age. A common greeting among Swahili tribes among well-known people is “Khujambo, habari gani” (“How are you?”, “What’s the news?”) or simply “Jumbo!” A group of people is greeted with the word “hatujambo”. The word "shikamu" is used to greet respected people. Young children are taught to greet their elders by kissing their hands or kneeling before them. Friends who meet after a long separation usually shake hands and kiss each other on both cheeks. When communicating with foreigners, they often use a handshake and the traditional English “Hello”.

In Tanzania, as in many other parts of Africa, the right hand is considered "clean" and the left hand "dirty". Therefore, the right hand is used for eating or exchanging gifts. The polite way to accept a gift is to first touch the gift with your right hand, and then right hand giver.

Behavior at the table is also determined by many norms. Typically, a traditional meal takes place on mats on the floor, with food placed on low tables. But in many continental families, meals take place in a European way - at the table. You can take food from a common plate with your hands and put it on your own plate, or you can eat from a common dish. The main thing is to ensure that food crumbs do not fall into the common dish or onto other people’s plates. In Zanzibar, it is customary to give guests fresh clove shoots to flavor the mouth before eating. The sequence of dishes is traditional for East African countries - soup is served first, and then appetizers and main course. The lunch ends with coffee and sweets. Light snacks and greens usually remain on the table throughout lunch.

You cannot walk around those praying in front. Shoes should be removed when entering mosques and houses.

The general lifestyle of Tanzanians can be characterized by two phrases - “hakuna matata” (“no problem”) and “field-field” (“calm”, “take your time”). These phrases can describe the attitude of Tanzanians towards everything around them. Service in a restaurant or travel agency is extremely slow. If a Tanzanian said “one second,” it could mean 15 minutes or half an hour. At the same time, to all attempts to hurry them up, the local residents smile radiantly and continue to act at a leisurely pace. It is useless to influence this in any way; you just need to come to terms with it and try to live in this rhythm yourself.

Superstitions

Lunar eclipses- special days when the evil spirit Rahukin-chan (“Rahu - the Moon-devourer”) eats the moon. It is not recommended to sleep on such a night, but you need to go outside and make a lot of noise in order to drive the scoundrel away from your home. At the same time, good spirits are called for help and must fight Rahukin-chan. Pregnant women must insert a needle into their shirt to protect their unborn child from harm.

Fear of falling stars due to the legend about the spirit of phi phung tai, which is thus trying to return to our world. This spirit collective image all the dead who are trying to return through unborn children. Pregnant women should not look at shooting stars or even talk about it.

Wednesday is the most dangerous day when evil spirits come out into our world. You can’t start a business, you can’t travel, or even go to the hairdresser. Far away from major cities On Wednesday, many people do not work so as not to cause trouble.

Do not drive nails into your home floor, your stomach will hurt.

Thais don't like owls, considering them harbingers of misfortune. Well, if the owl has somehow already flown past the dwelling, then only monks can avert the misfortune, who should be invited into the house and treated well.

Sand accidentally discovered in the house brings good luck.

You can't play the pipe in the house, this irritates evil spirits.

You should cross the threshold of the house so as not to offend good spirits.

Customs of Spain

To express their admiration, people in Spain put three fingers together, press them to their lips and make the sound of a kiss.

The Spaniards express a sign of disdain by waving their hand away from themselves at chest level.

A Spaniard regards touching the earlobe as an insult.

To show someone the door, the Spaniards use a gesture quite similar to our finger snapping.

They use “you” in most situations; even students in schools often address their teachers this way. This is an ordinary story. But calling “you” can even offend a person from time to time.

When they meet, they greet noisily and cheerfully. The most common greeting is “Hola” - “Hello”. When meeting and when parting, they press cheek to cheek, imitating a kiss, and hug. For Spaniards, a short distance when communicating means that you are a pleasant interlocutor for him. But if, for example, as in Germany, you maintain an arm’s length distance during a conversation, then the Spaniard will understand this as a sign of disdain.

Everything always happens later than planned. There is no fixed time for breakfast, it all depends on when the Spaniard arrives for work. They do not have the habit of having breakfast at home, except perhaps a cup of coffee, so the second cup, along with a sandwich, will be drunk at the beginning of the working day. It will soon be time for lunch.

Here we should especially note such a paradox as the Spanish siesta. It starts at 1 pm and lasts until 5 pm. At this time, all shops close, office employees crawl home for lunch and an afternoon nap. Not every tourist is able to understand this when standing in front of the closed doors of a souvenir shop. He is surprised, upset and even angry, but...Siesta!

For Spaniards, there are certain topics that are taboo. They prefer not to talk about death, not to ask people their age. It is also not customary to talk about money, especially when you have it. Nobody says: “I earn a lot” or “I earn enough.” Instead, you will hear: “I can’t complain” or “I live little by little.” Spaniards talk a lot about other topics and, as foreigners note, too loudly.

It is not at all necessary for them to know a person very well in order to chat with him for hours. And from time to time it happens that a long conversation ends, and the name of the interlocutor remains unknown... These are the Spaniards.

Funny wedding traditions of the peoples of the world

It may also seem unusual and even funny to us. wedding tradition some areas India. The fact is that there are places in India (for example, the state of Punjab) where there is a ban on third marriage. You can choose a wife twice, four times is also not forbidden, but three times is absolutely forbidden. However, the ban applies only to marriage with a living person, and therefore those men who did not limit themselves to a second marriage marry... a tree. Yes, on an ordinary tree, but with all the necessary ceremonies and honors (maybe, perhaps, a little more modestly). After the wedding celebration is completed, the guests help the happy groom become a widow by simply cutting down this very tree. And now there are no obstacles to a third marriage!

A similar custom is used in cases where the younger brother decides to marry before the older one does. In this situation, the elder brother chooses a tree as his wife, and then just as easily frees himself from the marriage ties.

IN Greece the young wife is not at all afraid of appearing clumsy by stepping on her husband’s foot while dancing. On the contrary, this is exactly what she tries to do throughout the holiday. If the newlywed succeeds in this maneuver, it is believed that she has every chance of becoming the head of the family.

And in Greece, children are born on their wedding night. No kidding! There is a custom - in order for everything to be safe in the family, it is necessary to let the children into their bed before the newlyweds. Let them run and jump on the bed - and then everything will definitely work out as it should for the young people.

IN Kenya It is customary for an established husband to dress up in women's clothing, which the man must wear for at least a month. It is believed that in this way the husband will be able to fully experience the complex and difficult share of a woman and with more love treat his young wife in the future. By the way, this wedding custom is observed quite strictly in Kenya and no one objects. Especially the wife, who happily takes photos of her husband and saves the resulting photos in the family album.

IN Norway Since ancient times, a mandatory treat for a wedding celebration has been bride's porridge - prepared from wheat with cream. The porridge was served after the bride took off her wedding attire and changed into a suit married woman. There have always been a lot of jokes and fun associated with porridge in Norway; a cauldron with it could even be stolen and demanded a ransom.

On Nicobar Islands, for example, if a guy expressed a desire to marry a girl, he must become a “slave” in the girl’s house, and this can last from 6 months to a year. During this time, the chosen one determines whether she wants such a husband or not. If the girl agrees, the village council declares them husband and wife. Well, if not, the guy returns home.

IN Central Nigeria girls of marriageable age are placed in separate huts for fattening. Only their mothers are allowed to visit them, and for many months, or even whole year(depending on their success) they bring their daughters a huge amount of flour food so that they get fat. Completeness is highly valued in their tribe and is a guarantee of a successful marriage.

And one more article:

If you are heading abroad on holiday or have decided to start new life in a foreign land, then most likely you will encounter customs and superstitions that may seem very strange to you. Many foreign cultures include not only traditions, but also superstitions, as well as certain rules of etiquette. Often, local residents take compliance with certain rules very seriously, so those who want to successfully integrate into their new environment, must be well aware of all cultural differences.

The consequences of ignoring foreign customs can be different: perhaps for a very long time you will be perceived not as one of their own, but as a tourist, ignoring the fact that you already live next to them. But there may be more serious problems, up to the possibility of ending up on the other side of the law. In any case, upsetting the locals is Right way start your journey on the wrong foot in a new country!

Here's a look at other people's customs collected around the world. It is always better to learn in advance about the experience of your predecessors.

Strange customs of the peoples of the world

Thailand– a favorite place for mountaineering for young travelers.

This country is known for many strange customs that must be observed by guests in order not to quarrel with the local population. One such custom that travelers often neglect is to always have the Thai king with them, for example on a banknote. Similarly, in movies, tribute to the king is played before each movie in the form of the Thai royal anthem, with you standing in respect in front of the royalty. It should be kept in mind that insulting the king is considered illegal in Thailand, so the best way to avoid problems on this topic and not to risk appearing in a Thai court is to show respect to the crowned lady along with the locals.

A strange method of attracting money is practiced in Appalachia. Here they believe that onion peels should not be thrown away. It should also be put into the broth, and this will contribute to making a profit.

IN China It is believed that if a man puts on a green headdress, then his wife is cheating on him.

The origin of this custom is often hotly debated. Some believe that in ancient times, if a courtesan (geisha) had a husband, he was forced to wear a green hat. Others, on the contrary, believe that men who used the services of women in the ancient profession used to wear green hats during the Yuan Dynasty. However, the version that sounds most plausible is that when you say the phrase "green cap" in Chinese, it sounds remarkably similar to the Chinese word for "cuckold."

Another interesting Chinese superstition is that one should never give a watch to a friend as a gift. This is, again, due to the similarity of pronunciation. Apparently "send a watch" sounds remarkably similar to "SONG Zhong", which is the name of a Chinese funeral ceremony. Indeed, avoiding all conventions must be quite tiring!

Most of us know and accept that black cats are widely and universally viewed as a sign of impending bad luck. This attitude towards black purrs is found in cultures and communities throughout to the globe, but what about the owl? So, if a black cat crosses your path and an owl hoots outside your window at night, then you might want to take the next day off from work, as this is believed to be a sign of imminent injury, a catastrophic spat, or a terrible failure.

Another animal that is disliked in Egypt, as well as throughout the world, is rats. Many superstitions surround rats, linking these creatures with illness and death. However, one positive sign suggests that if a group of rats suddenly appears in a house, then the owners should get a great fortune. Sounds promising, doesn't it?

Many superstitions Spanish etiquette revolve around sex and love. The Spaniards believe that if you sweep at the feet of a person passing by, then he is doomed to never be found. true love. An incredibly damning sentence for such a minor act! Another popular Spanish belief is that those who raise a pot of water for a toast are doomed to seven years of bad sex. This superstition is found in many other places around the world in one form or another. This is believed to stem from the Greek custom of toasting with water at funerals. Because of this, toasting with water is considered a wish for bad luck, or even death.

IN Japan slurping noodles is not only considered acceptable, but is also actively encouraged.

Another part of Japanese etiquette concerns the appreciation of gifts. If a person receives a gift in Japan and tries to open it right away, this is considered very rude, as it shows a lack of appreciation for the time and effort the giver put into finding and wrapping the gift.

There is one more sign regarding the Japanese gift: it is customary to give and receive a gift with both hands, as a sign of respect for the given object.

With the above customs in mind, it is important to keep in mind that it is very important to research the customs and traditions of the country you are planning to visit before you travel. This will allow you to prevent such a tragic social mistake!

Each country has its own unusual traditions, which may even shock us. In this article we will look at how general information According to traditions, so do New Year's. Some moments may surprise you, some may make you smile, and some may even make you laugh.

General traditions

Denmark

For example, in Denmark it is customary to hang a flag in the window. If you see a flag, it means a birthday is being celebrated in that house.

Thailand

In Thailand there is a festival called Song Kran. On this holiday, everyone pours water on each other. If you are doused with water on this day, it means they wish you good luck. Also in this same country they treat their heads with care, because... It is generally accepted that this is the repository of the human soul.

Advice

If you touch it, you will offend the person, so it is better not to do this.

Eskimo tribe

It is customary among Eskimo tribes to stand in a row to greet a stranger. Next, the first person comes forward a little and spanks stranger on the head, and is also waiting for an answer from a stranger. So, they keep slapping each other until one of them falls to the ground.

South America

Another interesting greeting custom can be observed in South America. They spit on each other. Some African peoples greet each other by sticking out their tongues.

Korea

In Korea, if you want to show that the table is delicious and you really liked it, it is recommended to slurp very loudly. This is exactly what everyone does to please their owners.

Northern Kamchatka

In Northern Kamchatka, among a number of peoples, the host could be shown great honor and respect if the guest had sexual intercourse with his wife. The owner of the house will be incredibly honored by such an act. And the mistress of the house tried her best to make the guest want to have sexual intercourse with her. And it was considered the greatest happiness if a woman became pregnant and gave birth to a child after such a relationship. When a child was born, the whole village celebrated this event.

Philippines

You can’t ignore the island of Luzon (Philippines). This custom has existed since ancient times and continues to this day. Even before their death, the deceased carved out graves in logs, in which they were placed. After this, the deceased were taken to caves far into the mountains. So, some caves already contain a huge number of such unusual coffins. And some of them tear out their ancestors every few years and change their clothes.

New Year traditions

What New Year traditions can be observed in Bulgaria, and even so that they surprise us with their unusualness?

Before the last stroke of the night before midnight, the lights in the houses are turned off for a few minutes and they kiss.

Scotland

In Scotland there is a different tradition, a family one. It is customary here to light a fireplace before midnight, sit down with the whole family and look at its fire. It is believed that at this moment all sorrows and sorrows go away along with the previous year. Everyone also makes secret wishes. When the clock starts chiming last blows, the doors of the house are opened to old year I could leave and come in again. After this ritual, everyone goes to the festive table and has fun.

There is another unusual and vibrant tradition in this country. On New Year's night, it is customary for them to take barrels of tar, set them on fire and roll them along the streets. In this way they burn the old year and celebrate the new year.

Ireland

And in Ireland it is customary to open the doors in all houses. If you want, you can enter any house and you will be the most valuable guest. You will be seated at the table, fed with festive dishes, and you will be part of the holiday of this family. The next day the celebration continues with family and friends.

France

If in the southern part of France the housewife is the first to draw water from a source in the New Year, then she must leave a bun with festive table. And then, the woman who comes for her and takes the pie must leave the pie from her table. So the treats continue until the evening.

Germany

Germany also has an unusual New Year's tradition. In this country, when midnight comes, every person (both old and young) stands on a chair. It can also be a chair or table.

Advice

So, standing on a kind of hill, everyone starts jumping loudly and cheerfully, welcoming New Year.

Italy

Italians also have unusual traditions and customs. So, it is customary for them to throw all unnecessary things and old things out of the windows. At the same time, success and luck in the New Year depend on the number of things that are thrown away. The bigger, the better. In Argentina similar tradition, but in a simplified form. So, from offices you can see flying documents and bills.

Conclusion:

As can be seen from this article, unusual traditions occur not only in in general terms- by type of greeting, hospitality. Also, unusual traditions affected the New Year - the most celebrated holiday in the world. All these traditions are very unusual, funny and interesting. And in some customs you even want to take part yourself.

There are 250 countries in the world, only 197 of which are officially recognized. Each country has its own laws and traditions, and some of them, when read, cause sincere surprise and misunderstanding among residents of other countries. But don’t laugh - these customs are real and very important for the residents of these countries. Let us introduce you to the most unusual customs of the countries of the world.

Japan

• In Japan, holding hands with a person of the opposite sex is considered indecent.
• If you are going to give someone a gift, then you should show modesty when presenting it by saying something like: “Sorry about such a small thing” or “You may not like the gift.”

• It is not customary for the Japanese to celebrate the New Year, as we understand it. Instead of a holiday, they go to bed, and in the morning they all go together to watch the dawn - to celebrate the New Year.
• For the Japanese, steamed rice with natto - soybeans - is considered a favorite breakfast.

• In Japan, they try to avoid the word “no”; instead, it is customary to give vague and non-binding consent, or to politely avoid the topic.
• In the Land of the Rising Sun it is customary to give even number flowers: residents believe that every flower should have its own pair, otherwise it will get lonely. Odd number flowers are brought to the cemetery.

India

• It’s hard to believe, but in the 21st century in India there remains a division into castes - social groups, on which marriage, type of activity, living conditions and other important factors depend.
• The plot of Indian films always includes love relationship, but in life not everything is so colorful. Depending on caste, religious beliefs and even astrological predictions, the girl’s parents, and not herself, choose the future husband for their daughter.

• In India, after the death of a person, instead of burying him, it is customary to cremate him; cremation takes place along rivers, and the ashes of the deceased are scattered along the sacred river - the Ganges.
• In the Indian state of Karnataka, a tradition that gives goosebumps has been going on for more than 500 years. It is customary to throw babies from the roof of the temple onto a stretched piece of cloth held by men. It is believed that this ritual brings health and strength to children.

• The ritual of self-immolation is widespread among Indian widowed women. Within four months after the death of her husband, the widow puts on her best clothes and jewelry, lets down her hair, goes to a river or other body of water and performs this ritual there. For Hindus, this is considered a feat, although such rituals are officially prohibited in the country.

Norway

• Norwegians don’t like to load their brains with unnecessary questions, they especially don’t like to think about who to address as “you” and to whom as “you”. Because of this, Norwegians love to poke, even if it's a stranger.
• In this Scandinavian country, people are not used to giving up their seats to the elderly, because in this way you can offend a person, once again emphasizing your physical superiority.

• Norwegians are very straightforward and never hide what they think about other people. Yes, they will offend someone, but better man know the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
• In Norway, on Christmas Day, it is customary for boys to tell fortunes together with girls.
• Following traditions, every man must make his own knife and sheath. Everything you might need for this can be safely bought in the most ordinary stores.

• The financial topic in conversations is closed for Norwegians and can greatly offend the interlocutor. But in terms of other topics, even the most intimate ones, they are like an open book, the main thing is not to touch upon income.
• Norwegians love to hug and shake hands and do it quite often. But kissing is considered unhygienic, so it is not accepted in this country when greeting.

Spain

• If in our country the 13th of the month is considered to bring misfortune only on Fridays, then in Spain Tuesday the 13th is considered a day when you need to beware of everything. It is not recommended to get married, get a haircut, or even leave the house on such a day.
• In Spain, the production of Caganers, figurines of people who relieve themselves “in a big way,” is widespread. And this is not done for the sake of humor; the Spaniards sincerely believe that such figures can bring good luck.

• If you touch a Spaniard's earlobe, he will consider it an insult.
• Spaniards have double surnames. When girls get married, they will not take their husband's surname, but will leave their own, double one. And the child born in this marriage will also have double surname. The first part of the surname is the first surname of the child's father, and the second part is the first surname of his mother.

• In this country, birthdays are celebrated twice: the first time is the official date of birth when the child was born, and the second is the name day. And often name days are more colorful and are considered more important, because on this day the Spaniards acquire names in honor of saints.

Egypt

• In Egypt, marriages between first cousins ​​are allowed.
• Egypt is a religious country, and this greatly influenced the social foundations of the Egyptians. Locals do not wear revealing clothes, women do not have the right to be alone with men, and the behavior of tourists from European countries considered too loose here.

• If a boy is born in the family, then for a week of the baby’s life they perform the ritual of circumcision, as well as shaving the child.
• Girls are married at an early age - 12-14 years old, and parents choose a partner for their child. It happens that long before the birth of the children themselves, families enter into an agreement according to which they will become related in the future.

• Egyptians treat compliments with great caution and distrust, as they are afraid of the evil eye or damage.
• You should not show the sole of your shoes to another person. This is a sign of bad manners and bad taste.

China

• The Chinese value money very much, both during life and after death. Therefore, the residents of this country even built a special bank that issues money from beyond the grave. It is believed that with such money one can even bribe the lord of hell.

• One Chinese province, Girin, girls are not allowed to wear bras to the exam. This is because students often hide cheat sheets in their bras.
• Chinese police have gotten used to using geese instead of dogs, and they are doing it more and more often. Geese, in their opinion, seem more aggressive.

• In China they really don't like tanning and white skin is valued. That's why girls use sunscreen all year round, and sometimes they even wear masks over the entire face in order to protect it from exposure to sunlight.

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 the spirit will quickly reach afterlife, the body needs to 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 themselves 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.