Unusual traditions around the world. Amazing customs and traditions of different peoples of the world
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.
Türkiye
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 it lives there great amount 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: 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 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. Bottom part body in this country is considered despicable. 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, it is necessary to inform exact time 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 to know unusual customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, the Andaman Islands cannot be ignored. 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. Talking about concerning children interesting traditions and the 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, 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, one cannot but say about the tradition of the Vietnamese to hang on entrance doors(outside) mirrors. For what? 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 left hand dirty, and the right - 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 is different: the height of the rock depends on the number of relatives future wife- the more of them, the more height you have to jump.
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.
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 tribute 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 walked through the jungle or when last time ate 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 when meeting at " 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. As the Maasai lead natural economy, 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. Such a custom goes on from 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 put writing on sticks like a spear, cross them with each other on a plate, fold them different sides dishes, pointing at people with chopsticks, using chopsticks to pull your food closer, or worst of all, sticking 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 clenched fist with a protruding thumb indicating 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.
IN 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.
IN Kenya it is customary to dress up an accomplished 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 female lot and with more love treat his young wife in the future. By the way, this wedding custom 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.
IN Norway Since ancient times, the bride's porridge has been an obligatory treat of a wedding celebration - it was prepared from wheat with cream. Kasha was served after the bride took off her wedding attire and changed into a suit. 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 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.
IN 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. Worth it at first given 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:
* just like 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, he must point his index finger at the nostril;
* 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.
IN 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, famous Palace Winds, where monkeys live in such numbers and are so aggressive that tourists are not even recommended to go there! Through the streets settlements pacing other sacred animals - cows. They live own life and die a natural death, as they are forbidden to be eaten.
Another animal is the peacock. Live in literally clover - 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 main reason in that, following tradition, they do not look into the eyes of those who are respected or of higher rank.
Vietnamese smiles can often cause foreigners to misunderstand and even lead to embarrassing situations. The point 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.
IN Everyday life Vietnamese have many different taboos. For example, the following:
* Do not praise a newborn baby as evil spirits nearby and may steal a 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 flip musical instruments and do not tap 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 engage in 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, good spirits are called for help, which must fight with Rahukin-chan. Pregnant women should definitely stick a needle into their shirt to protect the unborn child from harm.
Fear of falling stars due to the legend of the spirit phiphungtai, who thus tries 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 and should not even talk about it.
Wednesday is the worst day when evil spirits come 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 essential rules behavior for visitors - a ban on smoking in in public places. Smoking is allowed only in hotel rooms and in some restaurants in special zone. 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 the strictest law on the conservation of nature, 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 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 in such situations to introduce yourself as a journalist, English language here is well understood, then the chance of deception decreases.
Very importance has greeting etiquette. 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, for example, as in Germany, you keep your distance when talking outstretched hand, then the Spaniard will understand this as a sign of neglect.
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 closed doors. 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.
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 it was celebrated by the whole village. What 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 to fish. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else's wife, then the will higher powers and you can't 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 country of the Dalai Lama. But the Brazilians from the Jerusalem artichoke tribe made impressive sacrifices to please their ladies. The fact is that the girls found only huge genitals worthy of their attention. For this, men exposed their penises to poisonous snakes, after the bites of which male dignity met the expectations of discerning Jerusalem artichoke women.
Girls have been training intimate muscles since time immemorial. It is known that the wives and concubines of the Chinese emperor trained the vaginal muscles with the help of jade eggs. According to legend, they were able to control their vaginal muscles so skillfully that they could bring a man to orgasm while remaining still.
The ability to expand the entrance of the vagina made it possible to "absorb" rather large objects, such as apples. And the wave-like contraction of the muscles from the vaults to the entrance made it possible to throw objects inserted into the vagina, sometimes over considerable distances.
In Japan and Korea, there was a curious practice of enhancing the male orgasm. To make it more vivid and memorable, a prick in the groin with a golden needle is enough, they say. oriental traditions. The inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands were very inventive in bed comforts. What is only the habit of biting the eyelashes of a partner, this is considered their traditional caress. I would like to see the teeth of these entertainers, because in order to gnaw through 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" - a male piercing 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.
Sex thrill-seekers from the Batta tribe of Sumatra had a tradition of sticking stones or pieces of metal under the foreskin. They believed that this way they could deliver much more pleasure to their partner. Argentine Indians also had a similar idea in their arsenal. They attached horsehair tassels to the phallus. It is terrible to think about the hygiene of meetings with such fellows.
The residents of Tanzania increased their attractiveness in an interesting way. They did not adorn themselves and did not dress up. They stole from the man they wanted... a hoe and sandals! In those parts, the listed things are of particular value, so the man, willy-nilly, had to go to rescue the property, and there - what the hell is not joking.
And 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 it was celebrated by the whole village. What 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 to fish. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else's wife, then the will of higher powers and it was impossible to resist them.
Japan - crawl and "yobai"
The ancient sexual tradition with the poetic name "yobai" existed in the Japanese outback until the end. 19th century. The essence of the custom “stalking in the night” (approximate translation) was as follows: any young man, under the cover of night, had the right to enter the house of an unmarried young lady, crawl under her blanket and, if the chosen one was not opposed, engage directly in the delicious “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 came across intractable, then an upset young man had to go home. Like any tradition, the yobai custom was governed by strict rules. A potential lover had to go on a romantic date completely naked, since a night visit by a dressed man was considered a robbery and could end badly for him. However, the guy had the right to cover his face and appear before the girl as a beautiful stranger. These are the Japanese role-playing games.
Tibet - one way trip
Once in Tibet, visiting men were greeted with genuine cordiality. IN travel notes famous traveler Marco Polo talks about a local sexual tradition that required all young girls to copulate with at least twenty different men before marriage. Either there were few men in Tibet, or fresh girls, according to custom, were intended exclusively for strangers, but travelers were worth their weight in gold here. And those poor fellows who could not stand up for themselves, sexual swindlers literally "teared slippers like Tuzik." Therefore, the trip to Tibet for some of our brothers became the last.
South America - Indian bab formation
The sexual traditions of the Kagaba tribe can forever discourage a man from conscientiously fulfilling his marital duty and having offspring. Representatives of the strong 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 Kagaba Indian must acquire his first sexual experience with the oldest lady of the family. For this reason, in marital relations the man is inactive, and if the wife hints at closeness, 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 lair 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. Dissatisfied wives scour the jungle until they find the caches and return their faithful to the bosom of the family.
Africa - food preferences
Who is interested in military parades? Only the military, but the common people demand bread and circuses. The king of Swaziland knows exactly how to make a feast of the soul for his subjects, and therefore every year he arranges a grand procession of virgins. Thousands of seductive scantily clad beauties cheerfully march in front of the monarch. It has become a good sexual tradition in Swaziland when the king chooses a new wife from the parade participants, and each failed wife is rewarded with a large bowl of food. And believe me, according to local criteria, this is a royal gift!
In the late 1940s, the German gynecologist Ernst Grafenberg discovered a new erogenous zone in the wards. It was located on the upper wall of the vagina and was the size of a pea. Grafenberg described it in the scientific paper 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 to make the whole world aware of the new source of pleasure. Their book The Ji Point and Other Discoveries in Human Sexuality (1982) became a bestseller and has been translated into 19 languages.
In the Baganda tribe (East Africa), there is a belief that sex directly on agricultural land significantly increases their fertility. By the way, such a sexual tradition was inherent in many peoples. However, the natives did not arrange vulgar orgies in the beds of plantain (the main fodder crop of the Bagandans). For the ritual they chose married couple- Parents of twins. The event was held on 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 without the help of hands, using only the penis. According to the custom, the family of agronomists had to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act only on the leader's field. In the gardens of their fellow tribesmen, it was not necessary to play role-playing games, 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 Valley be considered attractive if she has a mouthful of teeth like a crocodile? To become beautiful, a Batoka girl had to get married. On the wedding night, the satisfied husband turned the “ugly” girl into a beautiful woman, knocking out her front teeth. Such a custom, accompanied by a simple plastic surgery, makes a batoka woman happy and a radiant smile never leaves her face again.
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 down in a conspicuous place and waited 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 especially zealous Babylonians constantly practiced such role-playing games, offering strangers an interesting vacation for money, which later went to the needs of the temple. It was impossible to leave his territory before the end of the ritual, so a pretty girl “shot back” quickly, and an unsightly young lady had to wait for her prince for a long time, sometimes even for years! Housing and food were provided. Similar sexual traditions existed in Cyprus, and Greek girls sacrificed to the goddess Aphrodite.
Russia is a country of councils
Family life in Rus' is not easy! The couple to be married had to feel this statement already at the wedding. All night before the holiday, the bride, according to the ancient Slavic custom, untwisted her braids and sang dreary songs with her bridesmaids. In the morning, a bunch of tiring wedding ceremonies 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 sweet - all the celebration he was obliged to cheerfully gallop around numerous relatives.
And finally, the feast ended. Exhausted young found themselves alone in the bedchamber and were going to have unrestrained sex and fall asleep. Dreaming! The sexual tradition assumed the active participation of relatives on the wedding night of the newlyweds - the guests screamed 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: "Is the ice broken?" In such an environment, the groom soon began to realize that the mission was impossible, and his efforts were in vain, despite the narrowed body immobilized from fatigue. That's why young spouse gave the opportunity to rehabilitate over the next few nights. If the matter still did not go well, then experienced advisers were connected to it: the brother or father of the groom. 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 created an atmosphere of an unusual holiday with his presence.
Micronesia - love with a spark
If you are sure that role-playing games with elements of sadomasochism were invented by the notorious marquis, I hasten to disappoint - this is a common misconception. The natives of Truck Island were addicted to self-mutilation during sex even before the mother of the Marquis de Sade faked an orgasm in a simple missionary position. The custom was as follows: while the partner diligently puffed, making reciprocating movements, the ardent lover set fire to small breadfruit balls on his body. It is rather difficult to imagine how she did this during sex ... It can be assumed that the man did not copulate 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 white 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 the Russians became Russians. There is also controversy over where the word comes from. Russian ancestors are sought among the Normans, Scythians, Sarmatians, Wends and even South Siberian Usuns.
2 Maya
No one knows where these people came from or where they disappeared to. Some scholars believe that the Maya are related to the legendary Atlanteans, others suggest that their ancestors were the Egyptians.
Maya created an efficient system Agriculture and had a deep knowledge of astronomy. Their calendar was used by other Central American peoples. The Maya used a hieroglyphic writing system that has only been partially deciphered. Their civilization was very advanced at the time of the arrival of the conquistadors. Now it seems that the Maya came from nowhere and disappeared into nowhere.
3. Laplanders or Sami
The nationality, which Russians also call Lapps, is 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 Saami are Paleo-Europeans. Their language is believed to belong to the group of Finno-Ugric languages, but there are ten dialects of the Sami language that are so different that they can be called independent. Sometimes the Laplanders themselves hardly understand 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 Prussian since the last native speaker died in 1677. In the 17th century, the history of Prussianism and the Prussian kingdom began, 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 the Sea of Azov or in the west of Turkestan ... Their ancestry may go back to the Scythians, Alans, Circassians, Khazars or Goths. Each version has its supporters and its arguments. The Cossacks today are a multi-ethnic community, but they constantly emphasize that they are a separate nation.
6. Parsis
The Parsis are an ethno-confessional group of followers of Zoroastrianism of Iranian origin in South Asia. Today their number is less than 130 thousand people. The Parsees have their own temples and the 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 with 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 not clear. Some scientists believe that the etymology of the word is connected with the Moldavian "gots" or "guts" ("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 molfarstvo (witchcraft) and who greatly honor their sorcerers.
8. Hittites
The state of the Hittites was very influential on the geopolitical map of the ancient world. These people first created the constitution and began to 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 and where they disappeared. The German scholar 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 origin and 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 who began to use the wheel, who created an irrigation system and a unique writing system. The Sumerians also developed mathematics and astronomy at an impressive level.
10. Etruscans
They entered history rather unexpectedly and that is how they disappeared. Archaeologists believe that the Etruscans lived in the northwest of the Apennine Peninsula, where they created a fairly advanced 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 scholars believe that the 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 the Armenian ethnogenesis.
12. Gypsies
According to linguistic and genetic studies, the ancestors of the Gypsies left the territory of India in an amount that did not exceed 1000 people. Today, there are about 10 million Roma around the world. In the Middle Ages, Europeans believed that the 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 the Jews. At the end of the VIII century BC. five sixths (10 out of 12 of all ethnic groups that make up the race) of the 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 not known how they appeared on the island of Tenerife - they did not have ships and the Guanches did not know anything 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 and 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. Basques
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 the Proto-Indo-European language that does not belong to any language group that exists today. According to a 2012 National Geographic study, all Basques have a set of genes that are significantly different from other peoples living around them.
17. Chaldeans
The Chaldeans lived at the end of II - beginning of I 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 with magic and astrology today. In ancient Greece and Rome, priests and Babylonian astrologers were called Chaldeans. They predicted the future for 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 themselves an egg-shaped head.
19. Kalash
A small ethnic group living in northern Pakistan, in the mountains of the Hindu Kush, is notable for the fact that their skin color is whiter than that of other peoples of Asia. Disputes about Kalash have been subsiding for more than a century. The people themselves insist on their connection with Alexander the Great. Their language is phonologically atypical for the area and has a basic Sanskrit structure. 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 initiated iron age. According to the Bible, the Philistines arrived from the island of Caphtor (Crete). The Cretan origin of the Philistines is confirmed by Egyptian manuscripts and archaeological finds. It is not known where they disappeared, but it is most likely that the Philistines were assimilated by the Eastern Mediterranean peoples.
