The strangest rules of behavior in different countries. The strangest rules of behavior (9 photos)

Friends, the holiday period is already in full swing, and if you are planning to go on vacation abroad, I advise you to be sure to familiarize yourself with the list of unusual rules and laws in various countries and cities of the world. Next, you will learn several strange and interesting facts that every tourist going on vacation should know.

Feeding pigeons in St. Mark's Square is punishable by a fine. A large population of birds after a large and continuous meal greatly damages historical monuments.
Who would have thought that in Venice you wouldn’t even be able to feed the birds?

Tourists in Canada will have to spend most of their time listening to Justin Bieber or Celine Dion - local radio stations are required to give 35 percent of their airtime to national artists.
But we’re not going to Canada to listen to the radio, right?

In Denmark, before starting the engine, you need to look under the car and check for children. You should also always have a blanket with you. If a horse pulling a cart gets scared of a passing car, the driver must pull over to the side of the road, stop and cover it.
This is so cute! And strange..

Be careful with chewing gum in Singapore! You can carry it in your pocket, but under no circumstances chew it.

Driving in flip-flops on Spanish roads is a criminal offence.
I wonder what incident prompted the introduction of such a strict penalty for “wearing beach shoes” while driving?

In Germany, a motorist needs to be as focused and prudent as possible. If the driver runs out of gas while driving on the autobahn, the driver has already broken the law, and if he walked along the road, he has broken the law twice.
Perhaps there is a commandment introduced in the traffic rules: “Fuel up prematurely and you will not be punished.” I'll have to read it.

In Japan, the homeland of sumo, obesity is prohibited by law. The maximum waist size for men 40 and older should be 80 centimeters. Violators are put on a strict diet.
It is strange that this law does not apply to women. The more of them, the better?

The incredibly tasty durian is prohibited from being brought into public places (buses, subways, hotels and airports) in several countries - Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
It may be tasty, but it is slightly hallucinogenic. You can understand the legislators here!

The museum country of Greece prohibits wearing high-heeled shoes in historical sites such as the Acropolis of Athens. Women in combat gear destroy priceless archaeological sites while walking.
Are there really those who will deliberately tramp to the Acropolis in heels?

The longest city beach in the world, Virginia Beach, has banned swearing since the 1990s.
It’s just not clear who is monitoring this and how?

Men with perennial facial hair should stay away from Eureka County, Nevada. You will definitely want to kiss some beauty, but this is prohibited by law. If you want to kiss, shave your mustache.
Bearded guys, have you heard everyone? Never set foot in Eureka County!

In Switzerland, it is better to skip dinner and even evening tea. It is prohibited to flush toilets in apartment buildings at night - you may wake up your neighbors.
But how did the ubiquitous “importance” come about?

Spitting is frowned upon by the public in many countries around the world, but in Barcelona you can pay a fine of 120 euros for it.
“Paying” for spitting is already interesting!

In puritanical France, men are allowed into the water of public swimming pools only in loose pants. Tight-fitting swimming trunks seem too provocative to the French.

Most of us would never think of forgetting a loved one's birthday, or we don't see anything illegal about flushing the toilet at night, but in some parts of the world such situations are considered illegal. The article presents the most bizarre laws and customs of different countries of the world. It’s always good to be aware of all the “oddities” of a foreign country when there is customs in front of you and there is no turning back.

It is illegal to change light bulbs - Victoria, Australia

In this state, it is illegal for an ordinary person to change a light bulb. Anyone caught doing this will be fined $10. In Victoria, only electricians are allowed to change burnt out light bulbs. Probably, in this place, electricians do not complain about the level of wages and lack of work.

Elderly Law - China

In 2013, China passed a new law requiring all adult children to visit their elderly parents regularly to take care of their spiritual needs. Those who fail to do so may end up in court, and the proceedings may result in either detention or a fine.

Royal Pets - UK

The law was approved while George I was king. The law has not been repealed to this day, and it states that a pet of a member of the royal family is prohibited from mating with the pets of other members of the royal family without their permission.

You can't frown - Milan, Italy

The Italian government has decreed that you should always smile in the capital of Italy, and this is an official law. The exception is visiting a hospital or funeral. Apparently, if you frown, you can easily get a fine from the police.

Keep quiet - Switzerland

If you live in an apartment building in Switzerland, then there are many things that are illegal to do at certain times of the day, so as not to disturb the peace of your neighbors. For example, after 22:00 it is forbidden to flush the toilet, fill the bathtub, or even urinate while standing.

Wedding between mediators - Montana, America

Those serving in the military who are unable to attend their own wedding ceremony in person may delegate to a friend or relative to take their place. Such a wedding is considered absolutely legal, despite the fact that one of the spouses was not present. In some cases, both the bride and groom may be absent. Friends-intermediaries can replace either spouse at the wedding.

Autobahn - Germany

Some areas of the German Autobahn have a speed limit of 130 km/h, but on most highways there is no such speed limit, so drivers are prohibited from getting out of the car and walking on the Autobahn.

Husband's Duty - Samoa

In Samoa, a husband is not allowed to forget his wife's birthday. Although, being married, you hope that the husband really knows and never forgets about his wife's birthday. I also really want to hope that my husband remembers the wedding date.

You can't spoil the air - Florida, America

The need to release gas is natural, especially if you consumed foods that cause gas in the body the day before. However, in Florida this is absolutely not allowed after 6:00 pm. And if a person is caught doing this obscene activity, then in addition to the fact that his behavior will cause general discontent, he may also be arrested. You should carefully monitor what you eat throughout the day.

Talents and more talents - Canada

The Canadian Broadcasting Commission has ruled that by law, at least one in five songs broadcast on Canadian radio must be sung by a Canadian singer. In fairness, it should be noted that not only Justin Bieber, whose songs appear on the radio with enviable frequency, is from Canada, but also Celine Dion, as well as Drake and Michael Bublé and a huge number of great and talented singers, were born in this country.

When traveling to other countries and interacting with locals, you are likely to get not only a lot of amazing experiences, but also a couple of awkward situations. After all, even in a world that strives for globalization, cultural differences are still strong. And sometimes they are completely different from our habits. But we know which place they don’t go to with their own rules. Therefore, we propose to “protect” yourself from at least nine oddities by voicing a selection of these strange (from our point of view) rules of etiquette in different parts of the world.

“Rudeness” No. 1: slurping and smacking while eating

From the very first years, our mothers teach their children to “eat with their mouths closed.” It would seem that everyone does this. But no. In Japan, China and Taiwan, your unusually quiet eating will be considered rude. After all, here slurping, loudly sucking a drink from a straw and other bouquet of “anti-etiquette” behavior at the table are considered a compliment to the cook. It's simple: if you slurp, it means it's delicious. Keep in mind.

Rudeness #2: Being late for dinner or a date

They say that precision is the courtesy of kings. But leave this wisdom to the British and other Europeans. In India, it is considered normal to arrive at an informal meeting 15-30 minutes later than agreed upon. Even with strangers. And no one is angry about it. After all, the attitude towards time is a little different here. So, if you are going on a date or a friendly lunch in India, do not rush to express dissatisfaction when your counterpart is half an hour late. The culture is like that.

“Rudeness” No. 3: emptying a glass of wine in one go

Okay, it’s probably difficult to surprise our person with any peculiarities in his relationship with alcohol. And yet, downing a glass of wine in one sip is somewhat exotic even for us. But when going to Georgia, be prepared to drink wine to the bottom and immediately. But only after you finish listening to the toast!

“Rude” No. 4: not offering to pay for a girl in a cafe or restaurant

It’s prosaic, but what often gets in the way of great love between girls from our latitudes and European-American princes is not geography, but a trip to a restaurant. After all, our beauties will easily perceive a logical offer to split the bill as an insult and stinginess. But in vain. You just need to remember that in most European countries and the United States, a man’s peremptory decision to pay for a woman after eating is perceived as an infringement of her rights or a signal of bad intentions. So offering to split the bill is a sign of respect and etiquette. And then decide for yourself.

Rudeness #5: Feeding another person with your hands

Fu and fi. Only if you are not a couple of lovers in the midst of the candy-bouquet period. But this is not the case in Ethiopia. Here the owner is simply obliged to treat the guests literally from his own hands. According to locals, this is the only way to build trust. And to refuse, even politely, is to offend a person with the best intentions. So decide what is more important: hygiene or politeness?

“Rudeness” No. 6: not thanking the hosts for the warm welcome and dinner

“Thank you” is always good and pleasant, right? It turns out that not always and not everywhere. In many regions of India, if you are invited to visit, then thanking the hosts for their warm welcome is the height of indecency. So it’s as if you are “buying yourself off” from further contacts. Instead, you should invite your host to your place or to dinner at a cafe. And at the same time, under no circumstances try to surpass them in dishes and entertainment.

“Rudeness” No. 7: when visiting, do not eat everything that the hosts put on the plate.

Everyone knows that you only need to visit after working up a good appetite. But in most Asian countries, a completely empty plate is a hint to the host that he is not treating the guest enough. So they will put it on you and put it on again. To avoid falling into this vicious circle of gluttony, be sure to leave a small amount of food untouched. This will show that you are full and satisfied. And everyone will breathe a sigh of relief.

“Rudeness” No. 8: do not use a knife at the table

If you go to Germany, order a dish of potatoes in a restaurant and start purposefully cutting them with a knife, everyone will immediately realize that this is a tourist. After all, cutting potatoes is a hint to the cook that they are not cooked well enough. And to chop food, use a fork.

Rudeness #9: Invite to a celebration or party at the last minute

Yes, we know that you need to prepare in advance for visiting and other “outings in public.” But not in Israel. They don’t really like to plan here, but spontaneity is second nature to the locals. So don’t be particularly surprised if you are invited to a “mesiba” (party) or a friend’s birthday party two hours before it starts. This is the norm. Relax and allow yourself to have a little fun. Even on Monday.

British etiquette is considered the most complex and sophisticated. For example, it is unacceptable to start a conversation with an unfamiliar guest before you have been introduced to each other. In general, it is not customary to quietly conduct a separate conversation: the conversation should be general. The handshake should be brief, or even just a nod of the head as a sign of greeting, and women only imitate a kiss among themselves. No unnecessary gestures, feelings are expressed with a smile. Hands are kept under the table, but not in the pockets. It is not recommended to boast at the table, but it is customary to give compliments. It is unacceptable to interrupt the speaker, even if he is clearly wrong. We need to let him speak to the end.

Even in ordinary English families, in everyday life it is customary to set the table according to the rules, and this is done in the evening. In the morning, ready-made dishes and plates are displayed - chilled or heated, depending on what dish they are intended for.

Members of the English royal family have even more complex etiquette: for example, they never eat crustaceans and mollusks. No invited lady should have a brim larger than the Queen's. You cannot shake hands with members of the royal family, you are not supposed to touch them at all. You cannot start eating before the queen or finish later than her. At the same time, the queen always knows how to smooth out any awkwardness that arises. For example, when Yuri Gagarin appeared at the reception, he could not understand the complex intricacy of different-sized instruments, and in order to insure himself from sidelong glances, he immediately turned to the queen with the words that he grew up in a peasant family and was accustomed to using only one spoon. Then Her Majesty Elizabeth ordered all unnecessary cutlery to be removed from the table. There is also a legend that the astronaut caught and ate a piece of lemon from his tea, which shocked the distinguished guests, but the queen did the same, and all the invitees followed her example.

But during the Middle Ages, English etiquette was completely different. Rude king-knights rode horses through the straw-lined halls of their castles. They adopted the custom of clinking mugs so that their contents splashed out and mixed: in this way, the diners proved that they had not poured poison into their neighbor’s glass.

Meal of the Tatar-Mongols

The complete opposite of the high English style is the dining etiquette of the Tatar-Mongols, as they are commonly called in Rus'. The most honorable dish was a boiled horse's eye, given to the guest personally from the host of the feast. It was supposed to be eaten in such a way that no one would have any doubts about the high quality of the dishes served: loudly burping and slurping. This was a sign of politeness and gratitude for the delicious treat. They ate with their hands from leather, metal or ceramic dishes. Weapons were always left outside the yurt.

Customs of the peoples of the Far North

Among the Chukchi, Evens and other peoples who roamed in small groups, in addition to food, back in the 20th century, the custom of handing over a wife to a guest for the night was practiced. The purpose of this practice was to avoid degeneration: after all, the peoples of the far north lived in small communities and had virtually no contact with the outside world. Most marriages were related, and a child from a random guest added “fresh blood” to the tribe.

Table customs in Germany

The Germans are characterized by a love for a thorough and enjoyable meal. They do not create unnecessary piles of etiquette, but follow the rules: the oldest person sits down at the table first. The interlocutor can be called by title or profession. While eating they talk about pleasant and insignificant things, joke and laugh. It is customary to keep your hands above the table. Holding back gas or burping is considered unhealthy. The louder the sound, the more fun it causes; in such a situation, it is customary to exchange the dialogue “bitte schön” - “danke schön”

French rules

The French are big fans of delicious food. You don't have to take off your street shoes in someone else's house. Guests are seated alternating men and women. The dish must be eaten to the end, and it is not customary to add salt or pepper to it: this will mean that the guest is dissatisfied. Bread is eaten by breaking off small pieces. Cheese is a separate dish and is served after the hot dish. Serving alcohol at the table is a signal that you can get ready to go home.

Chinese etiquette

During feasts, the principles of Feng Shui are applied, so a joint meal usually takes place at a round table. Quite a few superstitions are observed: it is not customary to turn the fish over after eating one side, and chopsticks are not stuck into a pile of rice.

It's no secret that the Chinese are masters of drinking. It is customary for them to clink glasses, but the glass must be held with both hands, and the one with the higher status holds it higher. If a more significant dinner companion wishes to show respect, he lowers his glass to the level of the one with whom he is clinking glasses. In general, dishes that are received or passed must be held with both hands. The focus of the entire feast is the guest of honor: he is the first to take a seat and begin the meal. While eating, it is not customary to do anything else: talk about extraneous things or watch TV. All attention is only to food, taking supplements is welcomed and encouraged. At the end of the feast, as a sign of gratitude, you need to knock on the table with two fingers.

Japanese etiquette

When entering a house, it is customary to take off your shoes, and instead of shaking hands, you need to bow. Before eating, be sure to say “Itadakimas,” which means “bon appetit.” They eat with chopsticks, and they must be handled carefully: do not stick them into the food, do not wave them in all directions: this will be regarded as a sign of low culture. You can't sit cross-legged. Loud slurping is a compliment, not a sign of bad taste. Empty sake glasses are immediately refilled.

Nepal Rules

In Nepal, the left hand is considered unclean and is not involved in eating. The food base is rice, which is served with various additions of vegetables and peas; this dish is called “dalbat”. Nowadays two spoons are served for it, and the older generation traditionally eats with their hands. Cucumbers are a delicacy, and only recently they were served to the table only in the fully ripe stage, and this was considered a valuable and rare dish.

Customs of Greece

In Ancient Greece, people ate lunch lying on couches around a low table. In rich houses, the meal was accompanied by singing, playing the flute or reciting poetry. It was a sign of good manners to invite philosophers or rhetoricians to the table. Good, aged wine, which was diluted with water, was highly valued.

Nowadays, the host of a feast can deliberately stain the tablecloth so that the guests do not worry if the same incident occurs.

Ancient Rome and Italy

The Romans adopted the custom of eating while lying down from the Greeks. But these warlike people preferred other table entertainments: for example, in rich houses it could be a battle of gladiators, poetic praise of the exploits of the owner, flogging of a slave, or even an orgy. Triclinium - dining hall, decorated with mosaics and frescoes. The Romans were lovers of extremely refined cooking: they developed methods for feeding domestic animals, as well as eels and lampreys, and sometimes fed them to offending slaves.

The dish could consist of some very small elements like nightingale tongues.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, morals changed, but it is still not customary to have a meal hastily. Italians can sit at the table for two hours, or even more. A lot of time is spent on communication. At official receptions, pizza is eaten with a knife and fork, in a narrow circle - with hands, but it is not customary to bend it.

Russian table customs

In Rus' they began to use a two-pronged fork at a time when all of Europe still ate with its hands. There were two types of spoons: large ones, which were used as a bowl, scooping from a common cauldron; or small ones, like modern ones, for which individual dishes were served. The men had their own knife for cutting meat.

A relic of paganism was the custom of kissing: the hostess kissed the lips of a lonely male guest who entered and brought him a glass of intoxicating drink on a platter. At parting, guests were given “plantains”: pies from the table.

In Russia, the custom of clinking glasses originally appeared to ward off evil spirits. The one who is older in age or rank holds the glass higher; a woman is always a priority over a man.

During the Soviet era, when cooking was greatly simplified and the set of ingredients for salad was minimal, it was considered a sign of respect for guests to cut vegetables as small as possible. This was a sign that the hostess was working day and night in anticipation of her dear guests. In general, labor-intensive and multi-step dishes were in fashion: jelly, herring under a fur coat. Dishes that took little time to prepare were considered disrespectful to the guests.

Currently, etiquette is changing: food is rising to the status of food that is not plentiful, but healthy. Guests may wonder what to bring to the table. These could be homemade “specialty” dishes, drinks, or something that is a specialty of your favorite establishment.