Amazing customs and traditions of different peoples of the world. The strangest and most terrible sexual traditions of the peoples of the world

Some festive customs of the peoples of the world can plunge into a state of shock any person who is uninitiated in the subtleties of their national culture. What is worth only a crowd of people in costumes of the devil, jumping over babies during the Spanish festival "El Colacho", or old sofas flying from the windows of the houses of the South African city of Johannesburg on New Year's Eve! Native customs will seem to you just a childish prank compared to what people in other countries do. Today we will remember the strangest traditions from around the world and find out how they appeared.

Ukrainian Christmas and web

In most countries, one kind of spider or web will become a good reason to panic and run out of the house screaming in horror. But this does not apply to Ukraine, where the multi-legged "monster" will only be welcome. Especially at Christmas! After all, spiders, according to Ukrainians, bring happiness and good luck. According to an ancient legend, it was these creatures who helped save the Christmas of a certain poor widow with children. They decorated the pinecone that served as her Christmas tree with their silvery cobwebs and returned the atmosphere of the holiday to the house.

The legend, unequivocally, brought a couple of notes of Halloween horror to the Ukrainian version of the Christmas tale. Indeed, in memory of the miracle performed by spiders, the inhabitants of this country began to decorate the festive tree with artificial cobwebs.

New Year's chaos in South Africa

There are hundreds of ways to celebrate the New Year in an original way. You can, for example, watch the descent of the crystal ball in Times Square or set off giant fireworks. Have you heard that not so long ago, on the eve of this holiday, South Africans threw old furniture out of the windows of their own houses?

This tradition became widespread in one of the criminal districts of Johannesburg in the 90s of the XX century after the end of the apartheid era. However, it was not given to exist for a long time for objective reasons. A few years ago, a refrigerator flying from the upper floors caused serious injuries to an innocent pedestrian.

Police officers joined the fight against the dangerous tradition. To maintain law and order, they cruised the streets of the troubled area in armored vehicles. The police action met with some success. In 2013, not a single piece of furniture flew out of the windows of local houses, although an incredible number of fights took place on New Year's Eve, fireworks were launched everywhere, and a peaceful pedestrian could fall under a flurry of glass bottles.

Fast food at Christmas in Japan

There are strange traditions in Japan as well. And they concern the Christmas menu of its inhabitants. The Japanese do not want to see traditional dishes like turkey or goose on their festive table. They prefer trivial fried chicken from the KFC fast food chain to all culinary delights of the world. How did it happen that a banal fast food originally from America became a local national tradition?

Although for many years politicians and sociologists have been talking about the inevitable globalization and unity of cultures and civilizations, the states of the 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 of their own culture. The traveler will certainly need basic knowledge about the peculiarities of life abroad.

Canada

• Canadians adhere to strict rules of formal courtesy even when it comes to small gaffes. If you step on someone's foot or push another person, you should immediately apologize briefly. Although such behavior is also expected in Russia, in Canada even the "victim" apologizes. Therefore, if you accidentally stepped on your foot, do not neglect the politeness formula "I'm sorry" - this will show that you are an intelligent person who does not want to cause trouble to others (for example, stand in someone's way and "force" others to push you).
• Smoking is prohibited in public areas, including restaurants. Smoking at a party is only allowed if the host has given express permission to do so.
• Many customs of the peoples of the world dictate specific rules of conduct when meeting. In Quebec, for example, shaking a woman's hand (even if it's another woman's handshake) means establishing a certain detachment and showing that you're in a purely formal relationship. As a sign of friendliness, one should hug each other at a meeting and kiss lightly on both cheeks.
• In Canada, you must take off your shoes when visiting someone else's home.
• If you are offered coffee late in the evening at a party, it means that the hosts expect you to go home soon.

USA

• When talking with another person, it is advisable to look into his eyes - otherwise you will be considered secretive and unworthy of trust. This rule contrasts sharply with most other states, where eye contact is considered rude.
• Modern customs of the peoples of the world dictate respect for the service personnel. So, in an American restaurant, you should always leave a tip to the waiter - if you do not, your guests will feel extremely uncomfortable. Waiters are paid a lot of tips, so your guests will also feel embarrassed if you leave too little money on the table. Traditionally, visitors leave 15 percent of the order to the waiters; 10 percent is considered a complaint of poor service, and 20 percent is an award for satisfactory or excellent service. Tips above 20 percent are considered ostentatious generosity, but the waiter will no doubt be pleased.
• Tipping isn't just for restaurants - extra money is given to taxi drivers, hairdressers and stylists, food delivery couriers, and random handymen (even if you've hired neighborhood teens to mow your lawn). So, for pizza delivery they give from two to five dollars, regardless of the amount of the order.
• National - countries with the greatest diversity of cultures and peoples - provide due respect to all categories of the population. When meeting a new person, he should not be asked about his 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. It is impossible to violate the personal space of a person, that is, to 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, bring 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 if the hosts have prepared a special dessert themselves.

Italy

• If you are interested in 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 outerwear immediately upon entering the premises. 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 goods and are not going to talk to the consultants.
• It is undesirable to ask for a check immediately after finishing dinner in a restaurant. It is better to spend a couple of minutes relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere and a cup of cappuccino.
• Men should not wear white socks in public, because, according to popular belief, only "mama's boys" do this.
• It is not recommended to bite off bread with your teeth. It is customary for Italians to tear off small pieces with their hands, put butter or pate on them, served in special segments in a separate dish, and immediately send them to the mouth in this form. Do not use a knife or other cutlery. Such specific traditions of Italy originate in the Middle Ages, when the peasants, exhausted by hunger, having barely received bread from the masters for food, ate it right on the spot, stuffing their cheeks. Noble intelligent townspeople were always full, and therefore they were expected to have appropriate calm behavior.

Spain

• Unlike the customs of many European countries, the traditions of Spain are mostly based on the supremacy of local culture. Arguments about which country and which language is better should always be avoided, especially when comparing Spanish with English. The inhabitants 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 explain yourself with gestures - local citizens will perceive such communication more favorably than the persistent use of English expressions.
• Some traditional topics are best not discussed 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 look calm and relaxed. You can talk loudly, gesticulate emotionally, joke with your hosts, and use forms of physical contact without any embarrassment.
• It is customary to say hello to all neighbors, even if you do not know them.
• When greeting, men shake hands, and women wait for kisses on both cheeks.
• Many Spanish traditions are associated with active sports. So, for example, even a practically stranger can be invited to watch a football match together. If you received such an invitation, in no case do not criticize the team that the owner of the house is rooting for.

Ireland

• Ireland is a very distinctive state, in which even Christian holidays are observed in their own way, such as, for example, Easter and Palm Sunday. The customs of this country, however, partially reflect the practices adopted in Great Britain (although Ireland is a sovereign republic). You should not, however, publicly attribute this state to the United Kingdom - the natives will instantly be offended, since only part of the UK remains. Avoid talking about topics related to the sovereignty of the country.
• In bars and pubs, do not speak to the bartender until he has served the customer who came before you.
• If a guest comes to you, you must definitely offer him coffee or tea.
• It is not recommended to ask other people about their income and business success. Colleagues are not interested in salary. In some companies, such questions are officially prohibited.
• If people celebrate Easter or Palm Sunday, customs and religious rituals are best observed from the outside. In no case do not ask people what religion they adhere to - Catholicism or Protestantism.

Arab countries

• It is customary to perform personal hygiene rituals on the left hand - therefore it is considered dirty. Shaking hands with the left hand is considered an insult. There are also taken only right.
• Do not expose the soles of your feet or touch anyone with your shod foot.
• In Iraq, the "thumbs up" gesture is taken as a serious insult.
• The customs of the peoples of the world living in Arab countries dictate honor and respect for elders. This means standing up as soon as the elders enter the room and greet 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 states, here such a gesture does not carry any hints of romance.
• If a person puts all five fingers of his hand together and points upward with his fingertips, this means that he needs to meditate for five minutes. This sign should not be confused with a fist and threatening gestures.
• Greetings of the peoples of Africa are always associated with a demonstration of the sincerity of emotions. In Morocco, for example, after shaking hands, the right hand is placed over the heart. It is impossible to shake hands with each other (for example, if acquaintances are separated by a highway), it is enough just to 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 indefinite time in the near future.
• The traditions of the peoples of the Arab countries require plentiful treats, so do not be surprised if you are offered food endlessly at a party, over and over again. You can constantly refuse, but the main thing is not to take the persistence of the owners for a manifestation of tactlessness. It is better to eat 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 distinctive 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 impolite.
• You only need to eat with your 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 on their own, they will certainly report that something is wrong with the food - for example, that it is too salty. To such a remark, it should be answered that all the dishes are excellent and not at all oversalted.
• Interesting traditions are associated with the 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.
• Hats should not be given to married men. The Chinese expression "wearing a green hat" means that the wife is cheating on her husband. Such a gift will be regarded as an insult to the spouses.
• It is also impossible to give another person a watch - an ancient superstition, which people adhere to even in the modern world, says: such a donor counts the moments before the death of the donee. Umbrellas (a sign of parting) and white flowers (a ritual symbol of a funeral) should also not be presented as a gift.
• Traditions suggest that others will look after you when visiting. Therefore, you, in turn, will have to pour drinks into the glasses of your neighbors.
• 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 beauties. Both men and women in India wear closed clothing. Shorts are highly undesirable for both sexes; women should not wear bikinis, short skirts and off-the-shoulder dresses. Plain white dresses and saris should also be avoided, as these garments are considered a symbol of widow's mourning.
• In most Indian homes, it is customary to take off your shoes in the hallway. Although the hosts may favor the ignorance of foreign guests, it is better to ask in advance if it is possible to enter the house without taking off your shoes.
• Unusual are associated with spiritual beliefs. If you accidentally touch another person with your feet or step on objects of veneration (coins, banknotes, books, paper, etc.), you will be expected to apologize. The generally accepted form of apology in this case is to touch the person or object with the right hand, which then needs to be placed on one's forehead.
• While you are visiting 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 common superstition, this action brings good luck.
• One of the peoples of Iran has a calendar of nineteen months, each of which has only nineteen days.
• In Sweden, gold and silver coins are placed inside the bride's elegant shoes at the wedding ceremony.
• At a traditional wedding in Norway, the bride wears a silver crown from which hang long amulets designed to ward off evil spirits.

For the New Year

• In Brazil, a bowl of lentil soup is a must for New Year's Eve, as lentils are considered a symbol of prosperity.
• The 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.
• On December 5th, Austria celebrates Krampus Night. This event is dedicated to Santa's evil twin brother.

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

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

customs

Samoa

Samoans sniff each other when they meet. For them, it is rather a tribute to their ancestors than a serious ritual. Once upon a time, in this way, the Samoans tried to find out where the person they greeted was from. The smell could tell how many people had walked through the jungle or when they had last eaten. But more often than not, a stranger was identified by smell.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the indigenous people, the Maori, touch each other with their noses when they meet. This tradition goes back centuries. It is called "hongi" and symbolizes the breath of life - "ha", ascending to the gods themselves. After that, the Maori perceive the person as their friend, and not just as a visitor. This tradition is observed even at meetings at the "highest level", so do not be surprised if you see on TV how the president of a country rubs his nose with the representative of New Zealand. This is etiquette and should not be broken.

Andaman Islands

A native of the Andaman Islands sits on the knees of another, hugs his neck and cries. And do not think that he is complaining about his fate or wants to tell some tragic episode from his life. Thus he rejoices in meeting his friend, and tears are the sincerity with which he meets his fellow tribesman.

Kenya

The Maasai tribe is the oldest in Kenya and is famous for its ancient and unusual rituals. One of these rituals is the welcome dance to Adam. It is performed only by the men of the tribe, as a rule, these are wars. The dancers stand in a circle and begin to jump high. The higher he jumps, the brighter he will show his courage 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 they meet, they show each other their tongue. This custom has been going on since the IX, when Tibet was ruled by the tyrant-king Landarma. He had a black tongue. So the Tibetans were afraid that the king, after his death, might settle in someone else, and therefore they decided to show their tongue in order to protect themselves from evil. If you want to follow this custom as well, make sure you don't eat anything that turns your tongue dark, or misunderstanding may occur. The arms are usually held crossed over the chest.

Traditions

In 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 cover the distance between the front door and the living room, where you will again have to remove your slippers before stepping onto the tatami (reed mat). Of course, you need to make sure that your socks are spotlessly clean. And when leaving the living room, be careful not to put on other people's slippers.

China or Japan

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

Thailand

In those countries where the majority of the population professes Buddhism, the head of a person is considered a sacred repository of the soul, and touching it is considered a serious insult even for a baby. Another well-known gesture in the tradition of these peoples - pointing at some object with a finger - this is considered rude in Malaysia, for this purpose the Malaysians use a clenched fist with a protruding thumb to indicate the direction. The Filipinos are even more restrained and modest in pointing out an object or direction of movement, they are more likely to indicate the direction to you with the movement of their lips or eyes.

Funny wedding traditions of the peoples of the world

The wedding tradition of some regions may also seem unusual and even funny to us. India. The fact is that there are places in India (for example, the state of Punjab) where there is a ban on a third marriage. You can choose a wife twice, four times is also not forbidden, but three times you can’t. However, the prohibition 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 to be "widowed" by simply cutting down this very tree. And now there are no obstacles to the third marriage!

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

AT Greece the young wife is not at all afraid to seem incompetent, stepping on her husband's foot during the dance. 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 appear on their wedding night. No kidding! There is a custom - in order for everything to be safe in the family, it is necessary to put children into their bed before the newlyweds. Let them run, jump on the bed - and then the young people will definitely have everything right.

AT Kenya It is customary to dress an accomplished husband in women's clothes, in which a man must walk for at least a month. It is believed that in this way the husband will be able to fully experience the difficult and difficult female lot and treat his young wife with more love in the future. By the way, this wedding custom is observed in Kenya quite strictly and no one objects. Especially the wife, who takes a photo of her husband with pleasure and saves the resulting photos in a family album.

AT Norway Since ancient times, the bride's porridge has been an obligatory treat for a wedding celebration - it was prepared from wheat with cream. Porridge was served after the bride took off her wedding attire and changed into a suit of a married woman. Many jokes and amusements have always been associated with porridge in Norway, a boiler with it could even be stolen and demanded a ransom.

On the 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 is determined 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.

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

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 manners to shake hands with someone you have never met before. In addition, women should not shake hands with Indians, as this may be considered an insult. The most respectful greeting among Indians is namaste - these are joined palms at chest level.

When meeting a Hindu, one must remember that their names consist of several parts. First is his own name, then the name of his father, then the name of the caste in 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 palms and wave only their fingers. We also sometimes use a similar gesture, only in India they say goodbye to a girl like that. If you say goodbye to a man - just raise your palm.

The following gestures should not be used:

* as well as with us, it is considered impolite to point somewhere with the index finger;

* Don't wink at a pretty girl. This gesture is indecent and speaks of a specific proposal. If a man needs a representative of an ancient profession, it is necessary to point the nostril with the index finger;

* No need to snap your fingers to get someone's attention. This is taken as a challenge;

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

*double clapping is a hint of a different orientation.

AT India exists animal cult. Some representatives of the animal world are 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 even recommended to go there! Other sacred animals, cows, walk the streets of settlements. They live their own lives and die a natural death, as they are forbidden to be eaten.

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

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

Japan

* When you're giving a gift, it's good to be humble again by saying something like, "I'm sorry it's such a trifle" or "You might not like the gift."

* When guests arrive, they are sure to be offered some kind of treat. Even if the person showed 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-style restaurant, unforeseen situations may arise from which the invitee will be happy to help you find a decent way out. For example, tell you when and where to take off your shoes.

It is not necessary to sit in the Japanese manner with your legs tucked under you. Most Japanese, as well as Europeans, quickly get tired of this. Men are allowed to cross their legs, while women are subject to more stringent requirements: they must sit with their legs tucked under them, or, for convenience, moving them to one side. Sometimes a guest may be offered a low chair with a back. Stretching your legs forward is not accepted.

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

* In both a Japanese home and a conference room, the place of honor is usually located further away from the door next to the tokonoma (wall niche with a scroll and other decorations). A guest may, out of modesty, refuse to take a seat of honor. Even if this causes a slight hitch, it is better to do so that later you will not be spoken of as an indiscreet person. Before you sit down, you have to wait until the guest of honor sits down. If he is delayed, then everyone rises upon his arrival.

* Before the start of the meal, an oshibori is served - a hot, damp towel, they wipe their face and hands. Meals begin with the word "Itadakimas!" and bow slightly, this is said by everyone who sits at the table and takes part in the meal. 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 host 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, use both hands to rearrange them.

Vietnam

The Vietnamese never make eye contact when talking. Perhaps because of their inherent shyness. But the main reason is that, following tradition, they do not look into the eyes of those who are respected or who have a higher rank.

Vietnamese smiles can often cause foreigners to misunderstand and even lead to embarrassing situations. The fact is that in many eastern countries a smile is also a sign of grief, anxiety or awkwardness. Smiling in Vietnam is often an expression of politeness, but it can also be a sign of skepticism, misunderstanding, or rejection of a misjudgment.

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

In a conversation, the Vietnamese very rarely go straight to the goal. To do so is to show a lack of tact and delicacy. Straightforwardness is highly valued in the Western world, but not in Vietnam. The Vietnamese do not like to say "no" and often answer "yes" when the answer should be no.

There are many different taboos in the daily life of the Vietnamese. For example, the following:

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

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

* Mirrors are often hung on the front doors from the outside. If the dragon wants to get into the house, he will see his own reflection and think that there is already another dragon there.

* Do not put one bowl of rice and one pair of chopsticks on the table. Be sure to put at least two. One bowl is for the dead.

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

* Do not give anyone a toothpick.

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

* Do not turn musical instruments upside down or hit both sides of the drum at the same time.

* Do not cut your nails at night.

* In a restaurant with a Vietnamese, it is not customary to pay "in 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 marriage. Two cheap gifts are always preferable to one expensive one.

* Educated people and all who are not peasants do not do manual labor. To do so is to take away a job from a poor peasant and is considered unworthy.

Thailand

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

In principle, Thai women should not be touched without their consent, since most of them hold conservative views, and may also take this gesture as an insult.

You should not point at anything, and even more so at someone with your foot, the lower part of the body, which is considered “despicable” here.

For the same reason, in no case should you sit cross-legged with your feet pointing towards the Buddha statue. Thais honor every image of him, so beware of climbing or leaning on statues to take pictures.

According to the traditions in Thailand, before entering a temple or a Thai dwelling, you should take off your shoes, even if the hosts hospitably assure you that you can keep your shoes on.

In communication, a restrained, calm, friendly tone and an unchanging smile are welcome. Avoid familiarities and raising your voice.

superstition

Lunar eclipses- special days when the evil spirit Rahukin-chan ("Rahu - eating the moon") eats the moon. Sleeping on such a night is not recommended, but you need to go outside and make a lot of noise to drive the bastard away from the home. At the same time, they call for the help of good spirits, who must fight with Rahukin-chan. Pregnant women should definitely stick a needle in a shirt in order to save the unborn child from trouble.

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

Wednesday is the worst day when evil spirits come out into our world. You can’t start business, you can’t travel and even go to the hairdresser. Away from major cities, on Wednesday, many do not work, so as not to bring trouble.

You can't drive nails into your home floor your stomach will hurt.

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

Sand accidentally found in the house brings good luck.

You can not play the pipe in the house, it irritates evil spirits.

Cross the threshold of the house so as not to offend the good spirits.

Tanzania

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

The island of Zanzibar is known for its strictest conservation law, one of the points 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 rooms, there will be kerosene lamps - power outages are the main trouble of modern Tanzania.

Despite sometimes even too courteous 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 a completely wrong path. Experienced tourists recommend introducing yourself as a journalist in such situations, English is well understood here, then the chance of deception decreases.

Greeting etiquette is very important. The type of greeting depends on the status of the person and his age. A common greeting among Swahili tribes among well-known people is “Khujambo, habari gani” (“How are you?”, “What's the news?”) Or simply “Jambo!”. A group of people are 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. In 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 is considered "dirty." Therefore, the right hand is used for eating or for exchanging gifts. The polite way to receive a gift is to first touch the gift with the right hand, and then the right hand of the giver.

Behavior at the table is also determined by many norms. Usually a traditional meal is held on mats on the floor, food is placed on low tables. But in many continental families, the meal is held 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 a common dish and 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 hot dishes. Lunch ends with coffee and sweets. Light snacks and greens are usually on the table for the entire lunch.

You can not bypass the worshipers 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” (“calmly”, “slowly”). These phrases can describe the attitude of Tanzanians to everything around them. Service in a restaurant or travel agency is extremely slow. If a Tanzanian said "one second", then it could mean 15 minutes or half an hour. At the same time, local residents smile radiantly at all attempts to hurry them up and continue to act at a leisurely pace. It is useless to somehow influence this, you just need to put up with it and try to live in this rhythm yourself.

Spanish customs

To express their admiration, the people of Spain fold three fingers, press them to their lips and play the sound of a kiss.

Spaniards express a sign of disdain with a hand that is waved away from themselves at chest level.

Touching the earlobe is regarded by the Spaniard as an insult.

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

The appeal to "you" is used by them in most situations, even students in schools often refer to their teachers this way. This is an ordinary story. But the appeal to “You” can even offend a person from time to time.

When they meet, they greet each other noisily and cheerfully. The most common greeting is "Hola" - "Hi". When meeting and parting, they press cheek to cheek, imitating a kiss and embrace. For Spaniards, a short communication distance means that you are a pleasant conversationalist for him. But if you, for example, as in Germany, keep an arm's length distance while talking, 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 comes to work. They do not have the habit of having breakfast at home, except for a cup of coffee, because the 2nd cup, together with a sandwich, will be drunk at the beginning of the working day. Soon it will be time for lunch.

Here it is necessary to emphasize such a paradox as the Spanish siesta. It starts at 1pm and lasts until 5pm. At this time, all the shops are closed, office staff crawling home for lunch and afternoon naps. Not every tourist is able to understand this, standing in front of the closed doors of the gift shop. He is surprised, upset and even angry, but... Siesta!

For the Spaniards, there are certain topics - 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. No one says: “I earn a lot” or “I get enough”. Instead, you will hear: “I can’t complain” or “I live small.” On other topics, the Spaniards talk a lot and, as foreigners say, too loudly.

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

How are all countries of the world different from each other? Of course, the geographical location and national composition. But there is also something else. Today we will talk about the most interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world.

Turkey

A Turkish man cannot have a second wife until he gives the first one gold jewelry worth at least ten thousand dollars. It is generally accepted that this is how a man can confirm financial viability and prove his ability to feed several wives.

It’s not very civilized to talk at the table without asking permission from the owner of the house, and you shouldn’t choose pieces of food from a common dish too carefully. And if you decide to use a toothpick, then you should do it with your hand covering your mouth, as if you were playing a harmonica.

India

Among the interesting traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, the rituals of India occupy a special place. Let's start with a greeting. Of course, you can just shake hands when meeting. But there are some subtleties here. For example, shaking hands with someone you didn't know before is bad form. Women should not be greeted by the hand either - this is considered an insult in India. How to greet the interlocutor, so as not to offend him? Connect the hands at chest level.

No doubt, many people know about the cult of the animal that exists in Wonderland, as India is also called. The main animal here is the cow. It is they who calmly roam the streets of settlements. Cows die of their own death, usually from old age, because it is forbidden to eat their meat in India.

But not only artiodactyls have the status of sacred animals. Temples for monkeys are erected in this country. The most famous is the Palace of the Winds, which, by the way, is not recommended for tourists to enter. Why? Yes, because there is a huge number of monkeys that can be aggressive. Another animal revered in India is the peacock. They live here literally in clover - they sing their songs everywhere: in temples, in the courtyards of houses and just on the streets.

If you decide to visit a temple in India, be sure to take off your shoes at the entrance. And in general, for the duration of the trip, exclude genuine leather shoes from your wardrobe.

Kenya

If we talk about funny and funny customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, you should pay attention to this African country. Here, the young spouse is obliged to wear women's clothes for a whole month after the wedding and perform all women's duties.

China

Once upon a time in China, such a method of revenge was practiced as revenge through suicide: an offended person came to the house (or courtyard) of his offender and killed himself. In this case, the Chinese said, the soul of the suicide does not ascend to heaven, but remains in the offender's house and brings various misfortunes to him and his family.

Once upon a time in China, such a tradition as bandaging the feet was common. It appeared in the X century. Six-year-old girls had their feet tightly tied with bandages. This was done in order to prevent the growth of the leg. The fact is that in China a small foot is the standard of beauty, girls with miniature legs are easier to marry. Due to the fact that the girls experienced terrible pain and had difficulty moving, in 1912 footbinding was officially banned. But in some regions of the country it is still practiced.

There are also interesting traditions in China today. For example, when going on a visit, you should not take flowers with you. The owners of the house take this as a hint that the house is so uncomfortable and unattractive that the guest decided to decorate it himself.

Many customs and traditions of the peoples of the world are associated with eating. China is no exception. Here, for example, champing is not a sign of uncivilized behavior, but quite the opposite. If you do not champ at the table, this can offend both the hosts of the house where you are invited for lunch or dinner, and the chef in the restaurant. The inhabitants of the Celestial Empire consider a quiet meal a meal without pleasure. Do not worry about accidentally put on the tablecloth stains. You should even deliberately stain it, thereby making it clear that the food gave you incredible pleasure.

Thailand

Speaking about the most unusual customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, it is worth noting the so-called monkey banquet, which is customary to arrange in the province of Thailand called Lopburi. This happens as follows: literally thousands of kilograms of fresh vegetables and fruits are brought to the local temple and about two thousand monkeys are invited. These animals are loved here because once a whole army of monkeys helped the god Rama to defeat his enemies.

There are other traditions as well. For example, it is not recommended to point at something (and even more so someone) with your foot. The lower part of the body is considered despicable in this country. By the way, it is for this reason that you should not sit with one leg crossed and pointing your feet towards the Buddha statue. When going to Thailand, it is important to know that the Thais honor absolutely every image of a deity, and therefore you should not lean, step on or climb on the statues to take an unusual photo. Another local tradition says: be sure to take off your shoes before entering someone's house or temple.

Norway

A special place among the customs and traditions of the peoples of the world is occupied by the way of life of the Norwegians. For example, in this country it is not customary to give up seats in public transport to people of age. The fact is that here it is perceived as a demonstration of physical advantage. What else should not be done in Norway? Ask about well-being. It is considered too personal.

It is not customary in Norway to hug when meeting. Usually people just shake hands or barely touch fingertips. When parting, you can pat each other on the back. Another interesting tradition concerns visits: you should not go to someone without warning. In addition, you must definitely inform the exact time of departure. It will not work to leave later than this time - the owners, without a twinge of conscience, will point to the door at the appointed hour.

Denmark

If you are interested in unusual traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, we advise you to pay attention to Denmark. A flag hung in the window means that there is someone in this house who is celebrating a birthday.

A very interesting tradition applies to young people and girls whose age has reached 25 years. They are sprinkled with cinnamon. This is done so that a pleasant smell helps members of the opposite sex understand that this person is lonely and would not mind meeting you.

Japan

Discussing the interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot but mention the Japanese rituals. It is not customary to leave work until the leader leaves. It is also not customary to greet each other with a handshake, usually they just make a polite bow here.

Local traditions are also spoken about the number of flowers that can be given. Unlike Russia, where only an odd number of flowers are given, in Japan only an even number is given. The Japanese say: a flower without a pair feels lonely, quickly fades. An odd number of flowers is suitable for mourning ceremonies.

Andaman Islands

Getting acquainted with the unusual customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot ignore the Andaman Islands. At a meeting, one native sits on his knees to another native, hugs him by the neck and begins to cry. No, no, he does not complain about his sad life and is not going to tell tragic episodes from his biography. So he simply expresses the joy of meeting with a fellow tribesman.

Tibet

Among the strangest customs and traditions of the peoples of the world is the Tibetan ritual of showing each other their tongue when they meet. This custom appeared in the 9th century. Then King Landarm ruled Tibet, distinguished by particular cruelty. The main sign of the king was a black tongue. The Tibetans were afraid that the king (or his soul) might move into someone after death, and therefore, for security reasons, they began to show each other tongues.

If you also decide to join this tradition, make sure that you have not eaten anything before that that could stain your tongue in a dark color.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, it is not customary to look into the eyes of your interlocutor. There are two reasons for this: the first is the shyness inherent in the Vietnamese, the second is that the interlocutor may be a more respected person, may have a higher rank. Speaking about the interesting traditions and customs of the peoples of the world concerning children, it is worth noting the Vietnamese ban on praising a newborn child. In this country, it is believed that an evil spirit, located nearby, can hear about the value of the baby and steal it.

It is not customary in this country to argue loudly. The Vietnamese are distinguished by self-discipline and good upbringing, and therefore the heated discussions of guests from Europe cause disapproval among the locals. If we talk about rather mysterious national customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, we can’t help but mention the tradition of the Vietnamese to hang mirrors on the front doors (from the outside). What for? Everything is very simple - a dragon who wants to get into the house will see his reflection and think that the dragon already lives in this house.

Tanzania

In Tanzania, as, indeed, in other regions of Africa, it is customary to consider the left hand dirty, and the right hand clean. That is why it is not customary to eat or give gifts with the left hand. The method of accepting gifts is also interesting: first you need to touch the gift with your right hand, and then you need to hold the donor by his right hand.

USA

In the United States of America, it is customary to celebrate almost any event. This list includes birthdays, weddings, childbirth or pregnancy, and more. For the heroes of the occasion, for example, guests usually arrange a procedure called shedding.

What gifts are showered? It all depends on the occasion. These can be items useful in the household (towels, pancake pans or vases), but you can also receive very frivolous gifts.

wedding customs

Well, and as a bonus - wedding traditions and customs of different peoples of the world. For example, every inhabitant of Andalusia with even a little self-respect before the wedding is simply obliged to jump from a cliff upside down. It's just that ancient traditions say: only a man with a strong skull can marry. But the most interesting thing lies elsewhere: the height of the rock depends on the number of relatives of the future wife - the more of them, the higher the height you have to jump.

It may seem funny wedding tradition, which is observed in some parts of India. Some states prohibit third marriages. You can lead a woman to the altar twice, four times, too, but three times is strictly forbidden. Moreover, only marriage with a living person is prohibited. Therefore, men who decide not to stop at two marriages are forced to marry a tree for the third time. The wedding ceremony is usually not so magnificent, but there are guests and gifts. After the completion of the wedding celebrations, the invitees help the newly-made spouse become a widow - all together they cut down the bride. Problem solved, you can get married again.

Speaking about the wedding traditions and rituals of the peoples of the world, one cannot lose sight of the Greek traditions. Here, during the entire wedding celebration, the young wife seeks to step on her husband's foot. The best way to do this is to dance. Such a maneuver, according to local beliefs, suggests that a woman has every chance of becoming the head of the family.

In the Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, a man who expressed a desire to marry a girl had to become her slave for some time (usually from six months to a year). During this time, the girl had to think it over and give an answer. If she agrees to marry, the village council declares the couple husband and wife. In case of refusal, the man was forced to return home.

One of the most interesting wedding traditions and customs of the peoples of the world can safely be called the rituals of Central Nigeria. Here, girls of marriageable age are locked in separate huts and fattened. Only the mothers of these girls are allowed into these huts. For several months (or even years), parents bring their daughters a large amount of starchy foods to make them stout. The fact is that curvy women are highly valued in these places, which means that it is easier for fat women to successfully marry.

It is customary for Vietnamese newlyweds to give two gifts. Here it is believed that one gift symbolizes a quick divorce. Therefore, it is better to present two inexpensive gifts than one expensive one.

In Denmark, a flag hung in a window indicates that someone is celebrating a birthday in this house.

In Thailand, on the Song Kran holiday, it is customary to pour water on passers-by, this is considered a wish of good luck. Also in Thailand, where most of the population professes Buddhism, the head of a person is considered a sacred repository of the soul and touching it is considered a serious insult.

Men from some Eskimo tribes line up to greet a stranger. Whereupon the first of them steps forward and gives the stranger a good slap on the top of the head, and expects a similar response from the stranger. Slaps and kicks continue until either side falls to the ground. The natives of South America greet each other by spitting. And among some peoples of Africa, a protruding tongue serves as a sign of greeting.

In Korea, to show that the feast turned out good and that everything is very tasty, you need to slurp as loudly as possible.

For many centuries, the peoples of Northern Kamchatka have understood that if a guest has sexual contact with the host's wife, then by doing so he does him a great honor. The mistress of the house made every effort to make the guest want to share the bed with her. And it was considered a special success for this house if a woman became pregnant from this connection. The birth of a child was celebrated by the whole village.

A unique burial custom has existed for two thousand years in the depths of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. The dead are buried in logs hollowed out by themselves, and then carried to caves high in the mountains. In some caves, there are up to several hundred original coffins.

We eat with a spoon and fork, the peoples of East Asia often use chopsticks for this, the Eskimos get by with a knife, and the Central Asian dish besh-barmak is called so because they eat it "besh" - five, "barmak" - fingers.

To enter a Christian church in a headdress is to commit sacrilege. The one who enters the synagogue or mosque with his head uncovered also blasphemes.

In some places in the East, women still hide their face and body under ridiculous shapeless clothes. Many Africans still believe that a short apron is the height of what they can afford to wear to the detriment of ancient customs that prescribe complete nudity.

To rest in the middle of the day, we sit on a chair. A Tajik or an Uzbek would prefer to sit on the carpet with their legs folded in Turkish style. The Zulu will think that his European and Central Asian friends simply do not know how to relax and are completely devoid of imagination. There are so many ways to sit! Moreover, they are their own, special, for Zulu men and women. And representatives of one of the North Australian tribes most of all like to relax in a surprisingly uncomfortable, in our opinion, position. They stand on one leg, resting the foot of the other leg on the knee.

Greeting, the European extends his hand, the Japanese crouches, and the kamba in Kenya, as a sign of high respect, spits at the oncoming one. A Maasai man solemnly spits at a meeting, then wets his own hand with saliva, and only after that allows himself to shake hands with a friend. Mangbettu in the north of the Congo greet quite in a European way, by the hand, but at the same time they politely crack the knuckles of the middle fingers.

If you are not tired of the enumeration, you can continue it. In Tanganyika, to say hello, they get down on one knee, take a handful of earth and pour it crosswise on their chest and arms. On the Zambezi, under similar circumstances, they clap their hands and make a curtsy, and when meeting a white man, it is also considered necessary to shuffle your foot: why not the European 18th century?

Greeting a friend, the Chinese ask: "Have you eaten?", the Iranian wishes: "Be cheerful!", the Zulu says: "I see you" ...

It turns out that kissing is by no means as common as even someone who knows that wild chimpanzees are good at kissing might think. So, since ancient times, the Chinese rubbed their noses instead, and so did the Eskimos. The ancient Egyptians kissed from time immemorial, and among the ancient Greeks, according to Herodotus, this fascinating pastime took root relatively late.

In the Masai tribe of Africa, people greet each other by jumping. The higher you jump, the more respect you will show.

Aborigines of the Maori tribe from New Zealand rub their noses against each other when they meet, this is such a greeting. By smell, they distinguish fellow tribesmen from strangers.

In Latin America, hugs and kisses are accepted at every meeting and acquaintance.

It is better to greet the Japanese with a bow in the same way as he does you. Now modern Japanese are no longer surprised by the outstretched hand of a foreigner.

In China, there is one ancient tradition - to avoid the number four. Because "four" sounds the same as "die." If you need to get to the fourth floor, you simply will not find it, even if the house has five floors.

In the East, guests are traditionally treated to tea. The bowl is not poured full, but little by little. A guest who stays too long will be poured a full bowl, which will mean "Drink and go away."

If in Greece you were invited to visit, do not praise the decoration of the house, because according to the old tradition, everything that the guest liked, the hospitable host should give him.

In Spain, breakfast is at 2 pm and lunch is at 10 pm. At the table, they try to avoid topics such as personal life, bullfighting and the period of Franco's rule.

In Malaysia, men are greeted with a bow, and it is forbidden to take married women by the hand.