Unusual traditions in different countries of the world. Amazing customs and traditions of different peoples of the world
How are all the countries of the world different from each other? Of course, geographical location and national composition. But there is something more. Today we will talk about the most interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world.
Türkiye
A Turkish man cannot get 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 his financial solvency and prove his ability to support several wives.
It is not very civilized to talk at the table without asking permission from the owner of the house, and you should not choose pieces of food from the common dish too carefully. And if you decide to use a toothpick, then you should do it with your hand over 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. It's worth starting with a greeting. Of course, you can just shake hands when you meet. But there are some subtleties here. For example, shaking hands with a person you have not previously met is bad manners. Women should not shake hands either - this is considered an insult in India. How to greet your interlocutor without offending him? Bring your hands together at chest level.
Without a 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. They are the ones who calmly walk along the streets of populated areas. Cows die naturally, usually from old age, because eating their meat is prohibited in India.
But not only artiodactyls have the status of sacred animals. Monkey temples are being built 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 it lives there great amount monkeys that can be aggressive. Another animal revered in India is the peacock. They literally live happily here - they sing their songs everywhere: in churches, 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 when entering. And in general, for the duration of your 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: offended person came to the house (or yard) 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 house of the offender and brings various misfortunes to him and his family.
Once upon a time in China there was a widespread tradition of foot binding. It appeared in the 10th century. Six-year-old girls had their feet tightly tied with bandages. This was done in order to prevent the leg from growing. The fact is that in China, small feet are the standard of beauty; girls with miniature feet are easier to marry. Due to the fact that girls experienced terrible pain and had difficulty moving, foot binding was officially banned in 1912. But in some regions of the country this is still practiced.
Today in the Celestial Empire there are also interesting traditions. 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 food intake. China is no exception. Here, for example, slurping is not a sign of uncivil behavior, but quite the opposite. If you don't slurp at the table, it can offend both the owners of the house where you are invited for lunch or dinner, and the cook in the restaurant. Residents of the Middle Kingdom consider quiet eating to be eating without pleasure. There is no need to worry about stains accidentally placed on the tablecloth. You should even deliberately stain it, thereby making it clear that the food brought 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 usually held 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 an entire army of monkeys helped God Rama defeat his enemies.
There are other traditions. For example, it is not recommended to point at something (let alone someone) with your foot. Bottom part the body in this country is considered despicable. By the way, it is for this reason that you should not sit with one leg crossed over the other and pointing your feet towards the Buddha statue. When traveling 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 is to be sure to take off your shoes before entering someone's house or temple.
Norway
The lifestyle of the Norwegians occupies a special place among the customs and traditions of the peoples of the world. For example, in this country it is not customary to give up seats on public transport to older people. The fact is that here it is perceived as a demonstration of physical advantage. What else should you not do in Norway? Ask about how you are feeling. It's considered too personal.
It is not customary in Norway to hug when meeting. Usually people just shake hands or barely touch their fingertips. When parting, you can pat each other on the back. Another interesting tradition concerns visiting people: you should not go to someone without warning. In addition, it is imperative to inform exact time departure. It will not be possible to leave later than this time - the owners will show you the door at the appointed hour without a twinge of conscience.
Denmark
If you are interested in unusual traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, we recommend paying 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 men and girls whose age has reached 25 years. They are usually sprinkled with cinnamon. This is done so that the pleasant smell helps representatives of the opposite sex understand that this person is lonely and would not mind getting to know each other.
Japan
Discussing the interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot help but mention Japanese rituals. It is not customary here to leave work until the manager leaves. It is also not customary to greet each other with a handshake; usually they just make a polite bow.
Local traditions also talk about the number of flowers that can be given. Unlike Russia, where they give only odd numbers of flowers, in Japan they give only even numbers. The Japanese say: a flower without a mate feels lonely and quickly fades. An odd number of flowers is suitable for mourning ceremonies.
Andaman Islands
Getting to know unusual customs and the traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot ignore the Andaman Islands. When meeting, one native sits on the lap of another native, puts his arm around his 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. This is how he simply expresses his joy at meeting 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 meeting. This custom appeared in the 9th century. Then Tibet was ruled by King Landarm, who was particularly cruel. The main sign of the king was his black tongue. The Tibetans were afraid that the king (or his soul) might inhabit someone after death, and therefore, for safety reasons, they began to stick out their tongues at each other.
If you also decide to join this tradition, make sure that you have not eaten anything before that could turn your tongue a dark color.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, it is not customary to look your interlocutor in the eyes. There are two reasons for this: the first is the inherent shyness of the Vietnamese, the second is that the interlocutor may be a more respected person and may have a higher rank. Talking about relating to children interesting traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, it is worth noting the Vietnamese ban on praising a newborn child. In this country, it is believed that an evil spirit nearby may 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 heated discussions of guests from Europe cause disapproval among local residents. If we talk about rather mysterious national customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot help but say about the Vietnamese tradition of hanging on entrance doors(from the outside) mirrors. For what? It's very simple - a dragon who wants to get into a house will see its reflection and think that a dragon already lives in this house.
Tanzania
In Tanzania, as well as in other regions of Africa, it is generally accepted left hand dirty, and the right one clean. That is why it is not customary here to eat or give gifts with the left hand. The method of receiving gifts is also interesting: first you need to touch the gift with your right hand, and then you need to hold the giver by his right hand.
USA
In the United States of America, it is customary to celebrate almost any event. This list includes birthdays, weddings, the birth of children or pregnancy, and much more. For the hero of the occasion, for example, guests usually arrange a procedure called showering.
What gifts are they showering? 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 even slightly self-respecting resident of Andalusia is simply obliged to jump from a cliff headfirst before their wedding. It’s just that ancient traditions say: only a man with a strong skull can marry. But the most interesting thing is different: the height of the rock depends on the number of relatives future wife- the more there are, the higher the height you will have to jump from.
It may seem funny wedding tradition, which is observed in some parts of India. Some states prohibit third marriages. It is possible to lead a woman to the altar twice, four times too, but three times is strictly prohibited. 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 wedding celebrations are over, the invitees help the newly made spouse become a widower - all together they cut down the bride. Problem solved, you can get married again.
When talking about 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 strives to step on her husband’s foot. The best way to do this is through 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 about everything and give an answer. If she agrees to marry, the village council declares the couple man and wife. If he refused, the man was forced to return home.
One of the most interesting wedding traditions and customs of the peoples of the world can be safely 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), mothers bring their daughters large amounts of starchy food to make them gain weight. The fact is that in these places curvaceous women are highly valued, which means that it is easier for fat women to get married successfully.
It is customary for Vietnamese newlyweds to give two gifts. Here it is believed that one gift symbolizes an imminent divorce. Therefore, it is better to give two inexpensive gifts rather than one expensive one.
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.
Customs
Samoa
Samoans sniff each other when they meet. For them it's tribute soon 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 and 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. Because the Maasai lead natural economy, 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 still coming from IX, 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 turns your tongue a dark color, otherwise a misunderstanding may occur. The arms are usually kept crossed on 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 - 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.
China or Japan
The chopsticks should be leaning against the dish and raised two-thirds up. You should never put food on sticks like a spear, cross them over each other on a plate, stack them different sides dishes, pointing chopsticks at people, using chopsticks to pull the dish closer to yourself, or worst of all, sticking them into the 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
In countries where the majority of the population professes Buddhism, the human head is considered the sacred repository of the soul, and touching it is considered a serious offense even for a baby. Another well-known gesture in the tradition of these peoples is pointing at some object with a finger - this is considered rude in Malaysia; for this purpose, Malaysians use clenched fist with thumb extended to indicate direction. Filipinos are even more restrained and modest in indicating an object or direction of movement, they are more likely to show you the direction with a movement of their lips or eyes.
Funny wedding traditions of the peoples of the world
The wedding tradition of some areas 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 third marriage. You can choose a wife twice, four times is also not forbidden, but three times is absolutely not prohibited. 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 to dress up an established husband in women's clothing, 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 complex and difficult share of a woman and with more love treat his young wife in the future. By the way, this wedding custom 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 - made 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, who for many months, or even a whole year (depending on their success), 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.
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 with your 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, famous Palace Vetrov, 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. Live in literally happily - 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.
Japan
* 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 in such a way 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.
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 the 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.
* Outside mirrors are often hung on entrance doors. 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.
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, 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.
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, who 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 from large cities, many people do not work on Wednesday 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.
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 some restaurants in special zone. Smoking is strictly prohibited on the street, in clubs, cinemas, and beaches, up to several hours of arrest.
The island of Zanzibar is famous for its the strictest law on nature conservation, one of the points of this law is a 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 the right hand of the 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, followed by 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.
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, like in Germany, you keep your distance when talking arm's length, 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 closed doors. gift 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’m living small.” 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.
In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then so be it. higher powers and there is no way to resist them.
About quirks
For example, in Tibet, a girl was considered an enviable bride only when she changed a dozen or two partners. Virgins, as you can see, were not held in high esteem in the Dalai Lama’s country. But the Brazilians from the Jerusalem artichoke tribe made impressive sacrifices to please their ladies. The fact is that girls found only huge genitals worthy of their attention. To do this, men exposed their penises to poisonous snakes, after whose bites manhood met the expectations of discerning Jerusalem artichoke women.
Girls have been training their intimate muscles since time immemorial. It is known that the wives and concubines of the Chinese emperor trained their vaginal muscles using jade eggs. According to legends, they knew how to control their vaginal muscles so skillfully that they could bring a man to orgasm while remaining motionless.
The ability to expand the vaginal opening made it possible to “absorb” fairly large objects, such as apples. And the wave-like contraction of the muscles from the arches to the entrance made it possible to throw out objects inserted into the vagina, sometimes over considerable distances.
In Japan and Korea, there was an interesting practice of enhancing male orgasm. To make it more vivid and memorable, an injection into the groin with a golden needle is enough, they say eastern traditions. The inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands were very inventive in bed pleasures. Just look at the habit of nibbling your partner’s eyelashes; this is considered their traditional caress. I would like to see the teeth of these entertainers, because in order to gnaw an eyelash, the teeth must be at least sharp.
But the Indians, experienced in love, had much more options extreme entertainment of such kind. For example, their treatises on the art of love taught the use of "apadravia" - male piercings made of gold, silver, iron, wood or buffalo horns! And the great-grandfather of the modern condom “yalaka” - an empty tube inside with pimples on the outside - was also invented in India.
The sex-seekers of the Batta tribe of Sumatra had a tradition of inserting pebbles or pieces of metal under the foreskin. They believed that this way they could give their partner much more pleasure. The Argentine Indians also had a similar idea in their arsenal. They attached horsehair tassels to the phallus. It’s scary to think about the hygiene of meetings with such fellows.
Tanzanian women increased their attractiveness in an interesting way. They did not decorate themselves or dress up. They stole from the man they desired... a hoe and sandals! In those parts, the things listed are of particular value, so the man, willy-nilly, had to go and rescue the property, and then - who knows?
What about our compatriots? In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then it was the will of higher powers and there was no way to resist them.
Japan - crawl up and "yobay"
An ancient sexual tradition with the poetic name “yobai” existed in the Japanese outback until the end XIX century. The essence of the custom “sneaking in the night” (approximate translation) was as follows: any young man, under the cover of darkness, had the right to enter the house of an unmarried young lady, crawl under her blanket and, if the chosen one did not mind, directly engage in the delightful “yobai” . In Russian, however, it does not sound like the name of a tradition, but more like a call to action.
If a Japanese girl turned out to be intractable, then the upset young man had to go home. Like any tradition, the Yobai custom was regulated by strict rules. A potential lover had to go on a romantic date completely naked, since a night visit from a clothed man was considered robbery and could end in disaster for him. However, the guy had the right to cover his face and appear before the girl as a beautiful stranger. That's how Japanese they are role-playing games.
Tibet - a one-way journey
Once upon a time in Tibet, visiting men were greeted with genuine cordiality. IN travel notes famous traveler Marco Polo tells of a local sexual tradition that required all young girls to have intercourse with at least twenty different men before marriage. Either there were few men in Tibet, or, according to custom, fresh girls were intended exclusively for foreigners, but travelers were worth their weight in gold here. And those poor fellows who could not stand up for themselves were literally “torn like Tuzik’s slippers” by sex swindlers. Therefore, the trip to Tibet for some of our brothers was the last.
South America - Indian Babformation
The sexual traditions of the Kagaba tribe can forever discourage a man from conscientiously fulfilling his marital duty and having offspring. Representatives of the stronger half of the tribe are terribly afraid of women. It's all about the strange ritual of initiation of young men into men: a young Indian Kagaba must have his first sexual experience with the oldest lady of the family. For this reason in marital relations the man is lacking initiative, and if his wife hints at intimacy, then he prefers to cowardly hide in the jungle in a bunker pre-equipped for such purposes (like he went hunting).
It happens that several fugitives are hiding in a bachelor's den at the same time. Then the female half of the tribe equips a search expedition. Role-playing games of slave and mistress always end predictably. Unsatisfied wives comb the jungle until they discover the cache and return their faithful to the bosom of the family.
Africa - food preferences
Who is interested in military parades? Perhaps only to the military, but the common people demand bread and circuses. The King of Swaziland knows exactly how to make a holiday of the soul for his subjects, and therefore every year he organizes a grand procession of virgins. Thousands of seductive scantily clad beauties cheerfully march in front of the monarch. In Swaziland, it has become a good sexual tradition when the king chooses a new wife from the participants in the parade, and each failed wife is rewarded with a large bowl of food. And believe me, by local standards this is a royal gift!
In the late 1940s, German gynecologist Ernst Grafenberg discovered a new erogenous zone in his patients. It was located on the upper wall of the vagina and was the size of a pea. Grafenberg described it in the scientific article “The Role of the Urethra in the Female Orgasm” (1950). Either the circulation of this publication was too small, or the title did not inspire the general public, but until the early 80s, even Cosmopolitan stubbornly ignored Grafenberg's discovery.
It took the writing talent of sexologists Alice Ladas, Beverly Whipple and John Perry for the whole world to know about a new source of pleasure. Their book, The G-Spot and Other Discoveries in Human Sexuality (1982), became a bestseller and was translated into 19 languages.
In the Baganda tribe (East Africa), there is a belief that sex directly on agricultural land significantly increases its fertility. By the way, such a sexual tradition was inherent in many nations. However, the natives did not organize vulgar orgies in the plantain beds (the main food crop of the Bagandans). For the ritual they chose married couple- parents of twins. The event was held in the field of the tribal leader and consisted of the following: the woman lay on her back, a plantain flower was placed in her vagina, and the husband had to get it out without using his hands, using only his penis. According to custom, the family of agronomists had to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act only in the leader’s field. There was no need to play role-playing games in the gardens of their fellow tribesmen; it was enough to dance a little.
The sexual traditions of the peoples of the world are different, as are the standards of beauty. How can a woman from the Zambezi River valley be considered attractive if her mouth is full of teeth like a crocodile? To become beautiful, a Batoka girl had to get married. On their wedding night, the satisfied husband turned an “ugly” girl into a beautiful woman by knocking out her front teeth. This custom, accompanied by simple plastic surgery, makes the Batok woman happy and the radiant smile never leaves her face.
Mesopotamia - temple prostitution
Every inhabitant of ancient Babylon had to make a sacrifice to the goddess of love Ishtar. To perform the ritual, the lady went to the sanctuary of the goddess, sat in a visible place and waited for her to be chosen unknown man. The client gave the chosen one a coin, after which they went to some secluded corner, where they made a generous sacrifice.
Once was enough. However, some particularly zealous Babylonians constantly practiced such role-playing games, offering strangers an interesting vacation for money, which then went to the needs of the temple. It was impossible to leave his territory before the end of the ritual, so the pretty girl “shot back” quickly, and the unsightly young lady had to wait for her prince for a long time, sometimes even years! Housing and food were provided. Similar sexual traditions existed in Cyprus, and Greek girls made sacrifices to the goddess Aphrodite.
Russia is a country of Soviets
Family life in Rus' is not easy! The getting married couple had to feel this statement already at the wedding. All night before the holiday, the bride, according to ancient Slavic custom, unbraided her braids and sang sad songs with her bridesmaids. In the morning, a bunch of tedious wedding rituals awaited her, which continued until late in the evening and on an empty stomach. Even during festive feast the bride was not allowed to eat. The groom was also not happy - throughout the celebration he was obliged to cheerfully jump around his numerous relatives.
And finally the feast ended. The exhausted young people found themselves alone in the bedchamber and were about to have unbridled sex and go to bed. Let's daydream! The sexual tradition assumed the active participation of relatives in the first wedding night of the newlyweds - guests shouted obscene ditties under the bedroom windows until the morning, and one of them (specially chosen for this purpose) periodically knocked on the door and asked: “Has the ice broken?” In such a situation, the groom soon began to realize that the mission was impossible, and his efforts were in vain, despite the body of his betrothed, immobilized from fatigue. That's why young spouse were given the opportunity to rehabilitate over the next few nights. If things still didn’t work out, then experienced advisers were involved: the groom’s brother or father. It is known that in some villages in Ukraine, an authorized prompter sat comfortably under the bed, from where he helped the newlyweds with good advice on how to do everything right, and at the same time, with his presence, created the atmosphere of an unusual holiday.
Micronesia – love with a sparkle
If you are sure that role-playing games with elements of sadomasochism were invented by the well-known marquis, I hasten to disappoint you - this is a common misconception. The natives of Truck Island were into self-mutilation during sex even before Marquise de Sade's mother faked an orgasm in a simple missionary position. The custom was as follows: while the partner diligently puffed, making back-and-forth movements, the ardent lover set fire to small breadfruit balls on his body. It is quite difficult to imagine how she did this during sex... One can assume that the man copulated not with the whole lady, but with a distant part of her (for example, the heel). These natives are such pranksters!
Despite all the attempts of historians and ethnographers to create a clear picture of the development of some peoples, there are still many secrets and blind spots in the history of the origin of many nations and nationalities. Our review contains the most mysterious peoples of our planet - some of them have sunk into oblivion, while others live and develop today.
1. Russians
As everyone knows, Russians are the most mysterious people on Earth. Moreover, there is a scientific basis for this. Scientists still cannot come to a consensus about the origin of this people and answer the question of when Russians became Russians. There is also debate about where this word comes from. Russian ancestors are sought among the Normans, Scythians, Sarmatians, Vends and even the South Siberian Usuns.
2. Maya
Nobody knows where these people came from or where they disappeared to. Some scientists believe that the Mayans are related to the legendary Atlanteans, others suggest that their ancestors were the Egyptians.
The Mayans created an effective system Agriculture and had deep knowledge of astronomy. Their calendar was used by other peoples of Central America. The Mayans used a hieroglyphic writing system that has only been partially deciphered. Their civilization was very advanced when the conquistadors arrived. Now it seems that the Mayans came from nowhere and disappeared into nowhere.
3. Laplanders or Sami
The people, which Russians also call Lapps, are at least 5,000 years old. Scientists are still arguing about their origin. Some believe that the Laplanders are Mongoloids, others insist on the version that the Sami are Paleo-Europeans. Their language is believed to belong to the Finno-Ugric group of languages, but there are ten dialects of the Sami language that are different enough to be called independent. Sometimes the Laplanders themselves have difficulty understanding each other.
4. Prussians
The very origin of the Prussians is a mystery. They were first mentioned in the 9th century in the records of an anonymous trader, and then in Polish and German chronicles. Linguists have found analogues in various Indo-European languages and believe that the word “Prussians” can be traced back to the Sanskrit word “purusha” (man). Not much is known about the Prussian language, since the last native speaker died in 1677. The history of Prussianism and the Kingdom of Prussia began in the 17th century, but these people had little in common with the original Baltic Prussians.
5. Cossacks
Scientists do not know where the Cossacks originally came from. Their homeland may be in the North Caucasus or on the Sea of Azov or in western Turkestan... Their ancestry may go back to the Scythians, Alans, Circassians, Khazars or Goths. Each version has its supporters and its own arguments. Cossacks today represent a multi-ethnic community, but they constantly emphasize that they are a separate nation.
6. Parsis
Parsis are an ethno-religious group of followers of Zoroastrianism of Iranian origin in South Asia. Today their number is less than 130 thousand people. The Parsis have their own temples and so-called “towers of silence” for burying the dead (the corpses that are laid out on the roofs of these towers are pecked by vultures). They are often compared to the Jews, who were also forced to leave their homeland, and who still carefully preserve the traditions of their cults.
7. Hutsuls
The question of what the word “Hutsul” means is still unclear. Some scientists believe that the etymology of the word is related to the Moldovan “gots” or “gutz” (“bandit”), others believe that the name comes from the word “kochul” (“shepherd”). Hutsuls are most often called Ukrainian highlanders, who still practice the traditions of molfarism (witchcraft) and who greatly honor their sorcerers.
8. Hittites
The Hittite state was very influential on the geopolitical map of the ancient world. These people were the first to create a constitution and use chariots. However, not much is known about them. The chronology of the Hittites is known only from the sources of their neighbors, but there is not a single mention of why or where they disappeared. The German scientist Johann Lehmann wrote in his book that the Hittites went north and assimilated with the Germanic tribes. But this is only one of the versions.
9. Sumerians
This is one of the most mysterious peoples in ancient world. Nothing is known about their origins or the origin of their language. A large number of homonyms allows us to assume that it was a polytonic language (like modern Chinese), that is, the meaning of what was said often depended on tone. The Sumerians were very advanced - they were the first in the Middle East to use the wheel, to create an irrigation system and a unique writing system. The Sumerians also developed mathematics and astronomy at an impressive level.
10. Etruscans
They entered history quite unexpectedly and that is how they disappeared. Archaeologists believe that the Etruscans lived in the north-west of the Apennine Peninsula, where they created a fairly developed civilization. The Etruscans founded the first Italian cities. Theoretically, they could move to the east and become the founders of the Slavic ethnic group (their language has much in common with the Slavic ones).
11. Armenians
The origin of the Armenians is also a mystery. There are many versions. Some scientists believe that Armenians descended from the people ancient state Urartu, but in the genetic code of the Armenians there is a component not only of the Urartians, but also of the Hurrians and Libyans, not to mention the proto-Armenians. There are also Greek versions of their origin. Most scientists, however, adhere to the mixed-migration hypothesis of Armenian ethnogenesis.
12. Gypsies
According to linguistic and genetic studies, the ancestors of the Roma left Indian territory in numbers that did not exceed 1,000 people. Today there are about 10 million Roma people worldwide. In the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that Gypsies were Egyptians. They were called the "tribe of the pharaoh" for a very specific reason: the Europeans were amazed by the gypsy tradition of embalming their dead and burying with them in crypts everything that might be needed in another life. This gypsy tradition is still alive.
13. Jews
This is one of the most mysterious peoples and many secrets are connected with Jews. At the end of the 8th century BC. five-sixths (10 out of 12 of all ethnic groups that form the race) of Jews disappeared. Where they went is a mystery to this day.
Connoisseurs of female beauty will definitely like it.
14. Guanches
The Guanches are the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands. It is unknown how they appeared on the island of Tenerife - they did not have ships and the Guanches knew nothing about navigation. Their anthropological type does not correspond to the latitude where they lived. Also, many disputes are caused by the presence of rectangular pyramids in Tenerife - they are similar to the Mayan and Aztec pyramids in Mexico. Nobody knows when or why they were erected.
15. Khazars
Everything that people know about the Khazars today was taken from the records of their neighboring peoples. And practically nothing remained of the Khazars themselves. Their appearance was sudden and unexpected, just like their disappearance.
16. Basque
The age, origin and language of the Basques are a mystery modern history. The Basque language, Euskara, is believed to be the only remnant of a Proto-Indo-European language that does not belong to any language group existing today. According to a 2012 National Geographic study, all Basques have a set of genes that is largely different from other peoples living around them.
17. Chaldeans
The Chaldeans lived at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st thousand years BC in the territory of Southern and Central Mesopotamia. In 626-538 BC. The Chaldean dynasty ruled Babylon, founding the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The Chaldeans are still associated today with magic and astrology. In Ancient Greece and Rome, priests and Babylonian astrologers were called Chaldeans. They predicted the future of Alexander the Great and his successors.
18. Sarmatians
Herodotus once called the Sarmatians “lizards with human heads". M. Lomonosov believed that they were the ancestors of the Slavs, and the Polish nobles considered themselves their direct descendants. The Sarmatians left behind many secrets. For example, this nation had a tradition of artificial deformation of the skull, which allowed people to make their heads ovoid.
19. Kalash
A small people living in the north of Pakistan, in the Hindu Kush mountains, is notable for the fact that their skin color is whiter than that of other Asian peoples. The debate about Kalash has been subsiding for centuries. The people themselves insist on their connection with Alexander the Great. Their language is phonologically atypical for the area and has the basic structure of Sanskrit. Despite attempts at Islamization, many adhere to polytheism.
20. Philistines
Modern concept"Philistines" comes from the name of the area "Philistia". The Philistines are the most mysterious people mentioned in the Bible. Only they and the Hittites knew the technology of steel production and it was they who laid the foundation iron age. According to the Bible, the Philistines came from the island of Caphtor (Crete). The Cretan origin of the Philistines is confirmed by Egyptian manuscripts and archaeological finds. It is unknown where they disappeared to, but it is most likely that the Philistines were assimilated into the Eastern Mediterranean peoples.
