The strangest traditions in the world. Baby Jumping, Spain
Some of the following customs may seem funny and interesting to you, while others, in turn, are quite strange and cruel. Today you will learn about ten of the strangest traditions, one way or another connected with children.
10. Bathing newborns in boiling milk
Karakha Puzhan – strange ritual, which is practiced in several areas of India. According to him, the father must bathe his newborn son in boiling milk. The ritual is usually performed in Hindu temples. The entire ceremony is accompanied by the reading of mantras by Hindu priests. Milk is usually boiled in clay pots, and as soon as it boils, the father puts the child in a pot of boiling milk and pours it from another pot on top. But the ritual does not end there; after dousing the baby, it is his father’s turn. According to the followers of this tradition themselves, its main goal is to appease the gods so that the child grows up happy.
9. Babies sleeping on the streets in sub-zero temperatures
For residents of Sweden it is quite commonplace is to leave your children to sleep outside, even in sub-zero temperatures. And although you and I may think this is a rather risky undertaking, many Swedish parents will disagree with us. On the contrary, they believe that getting used to cold temperatures will harden their children and protect them from many diseases. Moreover, sleep on outdoors considered more useful and strong. This habit is not only limited to parents; many child care centers also practice this activity.
8. Babies should not touch the ground until they are three months old.
In Bali, Indonesia, there is strange custom, according to which infants under three months of age are prohibited from touching the ground. The reason lies in the fact that local residents believe that all this time the child is inextricably linked with the spirit, and touching the earth will definitely desecrate it. Many Bali residents consider this rule sacred. Children spend the entire first three months of life in the arms of the entire family. Moreover, often the entire village helps the young family bear this heavy burden.
7. Cord preservation
In Japanese culture, the umbilical cord is of great importance. It is so large that mothers here keep the umbilical cords of their children in special boxes called Kotobuki Bako. According to ancient legend, this custom originated when the first women wanted to keep something for themselves in memory of childbirth. Inside the box there is usually a doll dressed in a kimono, symbolizing the child, and the umbilical cord is usually hidden inside the doll.
6. Swimming in cold water
In Guatemala, bathing children in cold water is quite common. Mothers believe that this will benefit their children. Such baths usually help get rid of rashes and make babies sleep better. Despite all the advantages of this method, it is probably not very popular with the recipients of care themselves.
5. Children predict their own future.
In Armenia you can often find a rather eccentric ritual called (Agra Hadig). It is usually performed when the child's first tooth emerges. The child is placed on a table on which there are already many objects, such as books, knives, scissors and others. It is believed that the first object that the baby reaches for will determine his future. For example, if a child touches a knife, then he can grow up to be a surgeon; if he touches books, then he will grow up to be a priest or pastor; and if he touches money, then he will grow up to be a banker. Only women participate in the ritual, and during its process only sweets are served on the table.
4. Forcing children to cry
The Japanese Nakizumo Festival is held every April at Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo. During this festival, crying competitions are organized among children. Parents of participating children believe that this ritual will give them health in the future and ward off evil spirits. The competition consists of two sumo wrestlers entering the ring, and each of them is given a child. The first one to make the baby cry is considered the winner. If the children start crying at the same time, then the winner is the one whose child screams the loudest.
3. Spitting on children
Usually, when they see a baby, everyone begins to lisp and admire him, but in Bulgaria things are different. After the welcome praise, the children here are in for a real spit. This is a kind of ceremony of protection against the evil eye, when they try to denigrate the baby in every way so that no one can jinx him.
2. Jumping over children
All parents want the best for their children, but few would dare risk their lives for it. But in the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia they think differently; many parents participate here
Every country, every people has its own ancestral customs. But sometimes they seem too strange for modern man. We will tell you about some of them.
Residents of the Republic of Madagascar are distinguished by exceptional affection for their relatives. But sometimes such a relationship becomes abnormal, especially when we're talking about about the already dead. The Malagasy people to this day strictly follow ancient custom periodically dig up the dead from their tombs, dress them in best clothes and take photos together with them. To a modern European this will seem wild, but the inhabitants of Madagascar believe that such behavior is nothing more than a manifestation of love and respect for those who are already in another world.
In India, there is a rather shocking custom associated with strengthening the spirit of a newborn. The newly born child is thrown from the wall of the temple (height 10-15 meters). Below, the newborn is caught; for this, a large piece of material is stretched, which is held by at least 8 people. It is believed that such a procedure with early years will make the child luckier and also give him courage.
In Scotland, in some regions, medieval wedding customs have survived into the 21st century. Bride dressed impeccably White dress, decorated with flowers (and rich in jewelry) is completely smeared in mud. Dirt can be spoiled food, soil, flour, honey. In this form, she must walk along the main street, go around the central square, and also ride a horse throughout the city. Today it's mostly done for fun, but before people They believed that through this the girl cleanses her soul from all earthly sins.
The relationship with death among most peoples has always been original. But in conducting funeral rites, Tibetan monks distinguished themselves most of all. The body of the deceased, according to their belief, was supposed to not only return to the earth, but also bring benefit. And therefore it was not buried, but divided and carried to the top of the mountain where they live wild animals. Thus, people believed that the spirit of the deceased was reunited with nature in the most natural way: by being included in the natural cycle of substances.
Walking on lit coals has been practiced in Japan and Africa since ancient times. But you can still find this custom there today. Fire was called upon to purify a person, to instill in him courage, firmness and perseverance. It was believed that if you walk along the road of fire without fear, then there is nothing more to be afraid of in life.
The Japanese, as practice shows, are quite strange in their customs. And the Japanese spring fertility festival is proof of this. At the beginning of spring, residents of the Land of the Rising Sun gather on the streets of cities (only some cities, since not everyone takes part in the holiday) to witness the sacred action. The strongest and healthiest men get the opportunity to carry a wooden male reproductive organ weighing 25 kilograms across the city. This tradition involves not only improving the land and increasing the level of productivity, but also bringing “fertility to the family,” increasing the birth rate and strengthening families.
Traditions conceal many interesting and unknown things. different nations of our planet.
And the mysterious, sometimes even forbidden, topic of sex could not remain aside from customs and, accordingly, was reflected in various rituals, sometimes very unusual.
Sexual caresses and partner arousal
1. Among the inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands, one of the sexiest caresses is considered to be nibbling on a partner's eyelashes.
2. In Korea they believed that The best way to enhance a man’s arousal, inject 1-2 cm into the root of the penis with a needle.
3. Men of the Panape tribe, which lives in Micronesia, stimulate their partners with the help of ants, which sting very painfully. The insects are specially kept in boxes and, in the midst of sexual caresses, are planted directly on the clitoris of the beloved.
4. The sexual traditions of some other African tribes are also associated with insects, namely with the same ants. Partners place their buttocks under their stings, which, as a result of poisonous bites, turn into a continuous erogenous zone...
5. Before making love, a couple from the Siron tribe in Eastern Bolivia has long had a tradition of cleaning each other from ticks, lice and fleas. For greater excitement, lovers also swallow these insects.
It was believed that this atavism remained in the Siron tribe from the monkeys. However, upon closer examination, it turned out that one of the varieties of lice that can live on the human body has a pronounced stimulating effect. It continues sexual arousal for hours and makes it more durable. Maybe this is why the Siron Indians can have sex every day for 5-6 hours.
6. But in Zimbabwe they love dry sex. There it is believed that friction should be hard. Therefore, before sexual intercourse, local women rub their intimate organs with special herbs that create increased dryness. And men make special scar cuts on the penis so that the friction is as strong as possible.
Defloration and amputation
7. Men of the Hottentot tribe from South Africa have maintained the tradition of amputating one of their testicles. This is done to prevent twins from being born in the family, the appearance of which is considered a curse for the tribe.
8. In many Islamic countries, for example, in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the custom of ceremonial defloration has been preserved to this day. This is when the hymen is torn index finger right hand, wrapped in a white cloth, which, of course, should be dyed red. This happens publicly during the wedding ritual. And this despite the fact that the bride, and then the wife, can only show her face to her husband.
9. An even more terrible ritual of defloration occurs in certain tribes of equatorial Africa. The girls are sent into the jungle so that the role of the first man will be played by... a male gorilla. And if a girl failed to attract the “monkey,” this cast a shadow on her reputation as a potential spouse: they say even the gorilla didn’t bite! It is clear that most often this ended in an attack, or an imitation of an attack by one of the tribesmen. At the same time, he could literally do whatever he wanted with the unfortunate girl. The more injuries and mutilations a virgin received, the higher position she then occupied in the hierarchy of the tribe. This is the price to pay for sexual disability.
10. In the Zakai tribe (Sumatra island), the bride had to be deflowered by the father, who was helped by the bride’s uncles, i.e. brothers of father and mother (regardless of age). Sometimes up to 25 men aged from 70 to 10 years gathered at the bed of the unfortunate girl.
11. B ancient india The defloration procedure was performed for money by people specially trained in this “skill.” The decision to take the girl to such a specialist was made by her mother. Deflowering took place using the symbol of a phallus made of stone, wood or other materials. After this, the girl was injected into the vagina with a special remedy made from medicinal leaves, which heals and reduces discomfort. At the same time, the blood that the girl lost during the process, by the decision of the parents, could be collected and further used as a love spell.
12. Almost all tribes South America and in some African tribes there was a widespread tradition of deflowering oneself with a wooden dildo. After which the torn hymen was covered with pieces of antiseptic plants.
13. And in Papua New Guinea, the right to deflower a girl belonged exclusively to the high priest. This happened with the help of a wooden knife. And the groom was obliged to invite other men to “test” the newly-made bride. Only after this was the wedding celebrated and the wife had to remain faithful in the marriage.
14. Quite the opposite was done in some tribes in Africa. There they fought to “save” the bride. And they solved this matter radically - the girl’s vagina is simply sewn up early age and “reveal” it only before the wedding at a special council of elders.
15. In the 19th century, it became popular in Europe to feign virginity, and the art was passed down from mothers to daughters. The girls created bleeding using a fish bladder, a sponge soaked in blood, or other tricks. Even then, the vaginal opening was sometimes stitched together, and sometimes special drugs were used to narrow it. Well, today feigning innocence is a well-established surgical operation.
16. And in Japan, virginity can only be proven by heavy bleeding, so special balls filled with a liquid similar to blood were inserted into the vagina to simulate it.
Traditions of polygamy and substitution
17. But if you think that virginity is a value, then you have never heard of the customs of the Tibetans. In this mountainous region, marriage with an untouched girl was considered a disgrace. And if the village found out about this fact, the couple could be expelled altogether... Therefore, the mothers literally ordered the girl to give herself to at least twenty men. Moreover, Tibet has never been a nearby populated place, which made the process particularly extreme. However, telling your husband about the number of partners was considered unethical. The lists of those who were blessed were kept by the mother-in-law and mother-in-law.
18. Similar traditions still exist on the island of Mangaia in Oceania. Mothers there approve of their daughters having multiple sexual partners. It is believed that this way the girl has a chance to choose best groom. Therefore, after her 18th birthday, if a girl stays away from men, then 20-30 peers and other single men are literally driven through her bed. Group sexual violence is also not prohibited, so girls prefer to be very sociable with the opposite sex.
19. And here is how researcher Jacques Marciro describes a wedding in the Marquesas Islands: “All the men invited to the wedding stand in line, singing and dancing, and in turn, in order of seniority, perform sexual intercourse with the bride.”
20. But in the Shilluk tribe, which lives in Central Africa, it's the other way around. There is a tradition there of marrying the king to several dozen beauties (up to 77). But this is the case when the harem is sorrow, not joy. Essentially, harem slaves condemn their master to death. As soon as ten and more women they begin to complain that the person does not satisfy them, the poor fellow is threatened not only with overthrow from an honorable post, but also with death in terrible agony. For, as the Shilluk belief goes, an impotent person cannot betray the power of the earth's fertility. The worst thing about this is the death penalty. Here's who Viagra probably saves lives
21. In Kamchatka, for many centuries, it was considered a great honor if a guest entered into an intimate relationship with the host’s wife. Accordingly, the latter made every effort to look as seductive as possible in front of the guest. If a child appeared in a hospitable hostess as a result of such contact, the event was celebrated by the entire settlement... This blessed time ended at the beginning of the 20th century, but its echoes have survived to this day in the form of anecdotes. By the way, the Kamchadals do not have the concept of adultery in their language, and they treat adultery much more calmly than other peoples.
22. A similar custom was in the everyday life of the Australian aborigines from the Arunta tribe. True, they shared their wives with each other. Therefore, modern swingers are not innovators at all. The Alaskan Eskimos and Chukchi reindeer herders observed the tradition of loaning their wives to men from a stronger clan.
23. Also in the valleys of mountainous Tibet, they also believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then such higher will gods, and we must let him “use” it. In Mongolia, the owner of a yurt in which there is a guest will, as a matter of course, offer to spend the night with his wife.
24. Few people know, but some temples in southern India can give a head start to brothels. For example, in the Saundatti temple, the tradition of sacred prostitution has flourished for hundreds of years. During festivals and when there is a large flow of pilgrims, "jogamma" and "jogappa" - young women and boys - copulate with the pilgrims in exchange for their donations to the temple. These acts of love are dedicated to the "mother of the world" goddess Yellama, her husband Yamadagni and their son Parazuram, who, as the myth tells, cut off his mother's head.
It happens something like this: before entering the chambers, they pronounce a mantra, leave donations to the temple and the gods, and hide behind a heavy drapery. There, believers and ministers of the Yellama cult fall into a trance and, half-oblivious, perform the ritual of “maituna” - “saving intercourse.” After some time, they, “purified and enlightened,” come out of the door on the opposite side of the hall. At the same time, “jogamma” and “jogappa” look quite exotic - as a sign of piety, they never take care of their hair. There are practically no parishioners near the temple.
29. Imagine a wedding procession: at the altar there is a fifteen-year-old bride and five brother grooms, from six to twenty-six years old. Among the Tibetan Ning-ba tribe in northwestern Nepal, the land - the main local treasure - is inherited by a woman. By giving one of his daughters in marriage to several men, Ning-ba is actually hired labor and avoid crushing the land. Others are destined for the fate of novices in the monastery.
Men share a woman among themselves very simply: the one who happens to spend the night in the matrimonial bedroom leaves his shoes at the entrance, thereby warning others that “the place is occupied.”
Flirting
30. An interesting concept was flirting in Tanzania. To lure a man, Tanzanian women steal his hoe and sandals. It’s just that these items are of particular value by local standards. The man will have to come for them, willy-nilly. And there already...
31. Another interesting custom that indirectly relates to the Aborigines of North-Eastern Australia before 1945 - they were engaged in... penis-sucking. Every stranger, coming to a local village, had to give his penis to the inhabitants of the village of the stronger sex...
32. But during the Renaissance, sex became more open and acquired new rituals. So, for example, during a wedding, one of the guests climbed under the skirt of a girl sitting at the table and stole her garter (note that underwear was not worn then). The girl had to pretend that nothing was happening, and then the groom bought the bandage.
33. On the occasion of Worso, an annual festival marking the end of the rainy season and the awakening of nature, young men from the Bororo tribe in Niger carefully paint and dress up. Make-up is an important part of the ceremony, which can last six days and six nights. A thick layer of ocher is applied to the face, and then rubbed with fat for shine. During the holiday itself, young men with massive masks (sometimes the layer of makeup reaches 3-5 cm) on their faces participate in a beauty contest, the jury of which consists of the 10 most beautiful girls of the tribe. Moreover, they must be completely naked, and the dancers’ faces must be painted identically, so that their masterly mastery of the art of makeup does not interfere with the girls’ impartial assessment manhood. The eerie smile frozen on their faces is needed to show the whiteness of their teeth, and their bulging eyes are needed to show off the brightness of the whites. The one who wins can choose any number of girls and be with them for the next month. Those remaining on the panel of judges are divided among the closest rivals of the lucky winner. Another 4-5 guys get the right to go with one of the young beauties to the nearest forest and become a real man. Well, the rest will wait until next year.
34. Among the Nuba people, from Sudan, the main day of the year is considered the “holiday of choosing husbands.” At sunrise, the potential newlyweds begin their love dances and dance until all the brides choose one of their fellow tribesmen. Moreover, when a woman places her hand on her chosen one’s shoulder as a sign of her affection, he does not even dare to raise his eyes to his future wife. Perhaps because the bride, while decorating herself the night before, slightly overdid it with ritual wounds and incisions. However, future family life is by no means a decided fact. Even after public erotic games, the future of marriage remains under big question. Even if the young warrior managed to please the beauty, until he builds a house for her, he will live among the cattle and will be able to visit his beloved only at night, secretly sneaking into the house of future relatives.
Sexy accessories
35. On the island of Sumatra, men of the Batta tribe inserted small sharp pieces of metal or pebbles under the foreskin, believing that this would give their partner special pleasure. In this case, the “decorations” injured both partners.
36. Argentine Araucan Indians loved to attach a tassel made of horsehair to the male penis, and sometimes the woven jewelry reached 1.5-2 meters in length, and then they were elegantly tied around the neck.
37. The Indians of the Brazilian Topinamba tribe believed that the main thing was size. In their opinion, a woman can only like the reproductive organ big size. Therefore, they not only lengthened their penis in every possible way, but also tried to substitute their male organ poisonous snakes, spiders and other insects to bite, and then bandaged in an attempt to contain the swelling.
38. The Indians turned out to be even more inventive! Indian treatises prescribed the use of intimate piercings for men made of gold, silver, iron, wood or buffalo horns to enhance sensitivity. After these tortures, the phallus became literally impaled on a rod and pierced in several places. A slightly more humane device was the “yalaka” - a hollow tube with a surface covered with knobs. Compared to it, modern condoms with pimples are nonsense. But the main difference between this accessory and a condom is that sometimes it remained in an intimate place forever. In some cases, by accident, and a little later, on purpose.
39. But on the island of Bali, women tried to decorate themselves. They inserted various small objects into intimate places - rings, stones, nuts. On the one hand, this, in their opinion, helped fertility, on the other hand, they managed to bring more pleasure to men.
40. Interesting sexual traditions still exist in Japan. For example, at fertility festivals, men wear costumes that include huge penises made from papier-mâché. Calm in usual time they are having fun and running screaming through the streets after women.
41. In Japan, not only male genitals are celebrated, but also female ones - at the so-called “vagina festival”. Then there is a parade during which a huge model of a vagina is shown. It is carried along the street and sometimes opened. Then the girl sits inside and throws away the rice cakes that people catch on the streets.
42. Well, every five years in this country there is a special ceremony during which images of both male and female genital organs are shown. It takes place in Inuyama. The phallic deities are brought here from the Temple in Taga, and the image of the female vagina is brought from Ogata. During these phallic festivals, the sexual act itself may be demonstrated. For example, in Chibi, near Tokyo, a huge wooden phallus is inserted into a giant female vulva made of straw. For greater clarity, spectators pour strong, milky sake called “frill” over the image of the female genital organ.
Other
43. To avoid getting pregnant out of wedlock, the Slavs used very unusual positions. For example, sex was very common while standing, or when a girl was held in her arms. Another method, the “rider” pose, which is still popular today, was also intended specifically to reduce the risk of getting knocked up. Another option - sex in water - was also considered a purely Slavic option and, in addition to hygiene, in the opinion of our ancestors, contributed to a decrease in the birth rate. Later, the authorities and the church introduced a ban on the “standing” and “riding” positions - it is difficult to get pregnant with it, which means it is “not for childbearing, but only for the sake of weakness,” that is, for pleasure. Those who performed sexual acts in water were declared sorcerers and witches. The norms of Christianity dictated only one position for a woman during sex - face to face, lying motionless from below. Kissing was prohibited. Back then, a “good wife” was considered an asexual wife who had an aversion to sex.
45. In Colombia, in the city of Cali, a woman can only have sex with her husband, and when this happens for the first time, the bride's mother must be nearby to witness what happened.
46. In Guam, a virgin is prohibited from getting married. That's why there is a special profession there - deflorator. Such a specialist travels around the country and, for a fee, provides girls with the service of deflowering.
47. In Libya, men are officially allowed to have sex with animals. However, there is an important limitation: the animals must be female. Relationships with male animals are punishable by death. In general, in most countries of the Middle East one of the fundamental laws Islam: Under no circumstances should you eat the sheep with which you had sexual intercourse. A person who decides to eat such a sheep commits a mortal sin and will never go to heaven.
48. In some African tribes there is a custom: before getting married, the chosen one must prove his perseverance to the parents of his bride. The groom comes to his father, who examines him, feels his muscles, looks into his mouth. After which the sentence is heard: “17 times.” That’s how many times a guy will satisfy the bride’s mother! Moreover, the number can go far beyond a hundred, and the guy will be forced to do this almost continuously! Some cannot stand it and run away, and whoever passes the test will become a husband and will be respected by the entire tribe. This is such a difficult test.
49. The tribes of North-West Africa hold a monthly sex lottery. Each man draws lots with which woman he will spend the night. All women present throw their erotic talismans into the basket. The man who pulls out the woman’s talisman will be her sexy gentleman at this celebration of love. Joy and happiness illuminate those men who got the most beautiful and sexy women. Instantly they drag their prey into the surrounding bushes and disappear there until the morning. And those who had to spend the night with ugly women are upset. But that's the custom. If you refuse your lot, you will be forever barred from further participation in such competitions. But how happy the old women are! They drag the healthy and strong men, like stubborn donkeys: And you can’t escape your fate - after all, it’s a lottery!
50. The African pygmies practice the following custom: the bride is taken to the groom’s house, after which she runs away from there and tries to hide in the forest. Friends of the future spouse find her, take her to the house of the chosen one’s mother and have sex with her for five days! But that's not all. For three days, all the men of the tribe who wandered into the house of the groom’s mother can make love with the girl, and only after that she remains forever with her husband. I wonder what condition...
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 the streets settlements. 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, tourists are not recommended 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 off. 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. The lower part of the body is considered despicable in this country. By the way, it is for this reason that you should not sit with one leg crossed 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, you must provide the exact time of 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 interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot help but say about 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.
They say local traditions and about the number of flowers that can be given. Unlike Russia, where they give only odd number Flowers in Japan are given only in 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 doesn't 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 The king had a 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 evil spirit, who is nearby, may hear about the value of the baby and steal it.
It is not customary in this country to argue loudly. Vietnamese people are self-disciplined and good upbringing, and therefore heated discussions among guests from Europe cause local residents disapproval. 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 customary to consider the left hand to be dirty and the right hand to be 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 right hand touch the gift, 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.
A wedding tradition that is observed in some parts of India may seem funny. 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 the 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. Over the course of several months (or even years), mothers bring their daughters a large number of flour food to make them fat. 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.
