Interesting rituals of peoples. Customs and traditions of different peoples of the world

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

As you might have guessed, today we will introduce the most interesting traditions of peoples, as well as their customs.

Samoa

Samoans sniff each other when they meet. For them, this is more of a tribute to their ancestors than a serious ritual. Once upon a time, in this way, Samoans tried to find out where the person they were greeting was from. The smell could tell how long a person had walked through the jungle or when they last ate. But most often a stranger was identified by smell.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, representatives of the indigenous population, the Maori, touch noses when meeting each other. This tradition goes back centuries. It is called “hongi” and symbolizes the breath of life - “ha”, which goes back to the gods themselves. After this, the Maori perceive the person as their friend, and not just as a stranger. This tradition is observed even at meetings at the “highest level”, so do not be surprised if you see on TV how the president of some country rubs noses with a representative of New Zealand. This is etiquette and cannot be violated.

Andaman Islands

A native Andaman Islander sits on another's lap, hugs his neck and cries. And don’t think that he is complaining about his fate or wants to tell some tragic episode from his life. Thus, he rejoices at meeting his friend, and tears are the sincerity with which he meets his fellow tribesman.

Kenya

The Maasai tribe is the oldest in Kenya, it has its own ancient and unusual rituals. One of these rituals is the welcome dance to Adam. It is performed only by men of the tribe, usually during wars. The dancers stand in a circle and begin to jump high. The higher he jumps, the more clearly he will show his bravery and courage. Since the Maasai are subsistence farmers, they often have to jump like this when hunting lions and other animals.

Tibet

In Tibet, when meeting, people stick their tongues out at each other. This custom dates back to the 9th century, when Tibet was ruled by the tyrant king Landarma. He had a black tongue. So the Tibetans were afraid that after his death the king might inhabit someone else and therefore decided to stick out their tongues in order to protect themselves from evil. If you also want to follow this custom, make sure that you do not eat anything that turns your tongue a dark color, otherwise a misunderstanding may occur. The arms are usually kept crossed on the chest.

In Japan

And not only in Japan, but everywhere in the east, you must be prepared for one of the main traditions of the peoples of the east - immediately take off your shoes. In Japan, you will be offered slippers to bridge the distance between the front door and the living room, where you will again have to remove the slippers before stepping onto the tatami (reed mat). Of course, you need to make sure your socks are spotlessly clean. And when leaving the living room, be careful not to put on someone else’s slippers.

China or Japan

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

Thailand

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

The wedding tradition may also seem unusual and even funny to us. some parts of India. The fact is that there are places in India (for example, the state of Punjab) where there is a ban on third marriage. You can choose a wife twice, four times is also not forbidden, but three times is absolutely forbidden. However, the ban applies only to marriage with a living person, and therefore those men who did not limit themselves to a second marriage marry... a tree. Yes, on an ordinary tree, but with all the necessary ceremonies and honors (maybe, perhaps, a little more modestly). After the wedding celebration is completed, the guests help the happy groom become a widow by simply cutting down this very tree. And now there are no obstacles to a third marriage!

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

In Greece the young wife is not at all afraid of appearing clumsy by stepping on her husband’s foot while dancing. On the contrary, this is exactly what she tries to do throughout the holiday. If the newlywed succeeds in this maneuver, it is believed that she has every chance of becoming the head of the family.

And also 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 let the children into their bed before the newlyweds. Let them run and jump on the bed - and then everything will definitely work out as it should for the young people.

In Kenya It is customary for an established husband to dress up in women's clothing, which the man must wear for at least a month. It is believed that in this way the husband will be able to fully experience the complex and difficult share of a woman and treat his young wife with more love in the future. By the way, this wedding custom is observed quite strictly in Kenya and no one objects. Especially the wife, who happily takes photos of her husband and saves the resulting photos in the family album.

In Norway Since ancient times, a mandatory treat for a wedding celebration has been bride's porridge - prepared from wheat with cream. The porridge was served after the bride took off her wedding attire and changed into the costume of a married woman. There have always been a lot of jokes and fun associated with porridge in Norway; a cauldron with it could even be stolen and demanded a ransom.

In the Nicobar Islands, for example, if a guy expressed a desire to marry a girl, he must become a “slave” in the girl’s house, and this can last from 6 months to a year. During this time, the chosen one determines whether she wants such a husband or not. If the girl agrees, the village council declares them husband and wife. Well, if not, the guy returns home.

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

That's how they are interesting traditions of peoples, many of which may seem funny, amusing, and some even ridiculous to us. Tell your friends about this and surprise them with the unusual traditions and customs of the peoples of the world.

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

Samoa

New Zealand

Andaman Islands

Kenya

The Maasai tribe is the oldest in Kenya, it is famous for its ancient and unusual rituals. One of these rituals is the welcome dance to Adam. It is performed only by men of the tribe, usually during wars. The dancers stand in a circle and begin to jump high. The higher he jumps, the more clearly he will show his bravery and courage. Since the Maasai are subsistence farmers, they often have to jump like this when hunting lions and other animals.

Tibet

Japan

* When you give a gift, it's good to show modesty again by saying something like, “Sorry it's such a small thing,” or, “You might not like the gift.”

* When guests arrive, they are always offered some kind of treat. Even if a person shows up unexpectedly, he will usually be offered a snack, even if it is just a cup of rice with pickled vegetables and tea. If you are invited to a Japanese restaurant, unforeseen situations may arise, from which the inviter will be happy to help you find a decent way out. For example, he will tell you when and where to take off your shoes.

It is not at all necessary to sit in the Japanese manner, with your legs tucked under you. Most Japanese, like Europeans, quickly get tired of this. Men are allowed to cross their legs, but women are subject to stricter requirements: they must sit with their legs tucked under them, or, for convenience, moved to the side. Sometimes a guest may be offered a low chair with a backrest. It is not customary to stretch your legs forward.

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

* In both the Japanese home and the meeting room, the place of honor is usually located away from the door next to the tokonoma (a wall niche containing a scroll and other decorations). A guest may, out of modesty, refuse to sit in a place of honor. Even if this causes a slight hesitation, it is better to do so so that later they will not talk about you as an immodest person. Before sitting down, you must wait until the guest of honor is seated. If he is delayed, then everyone gets up upon his arrival.

* Before starting the meal, oshibori is served - a hot, damp towel; they wipe the face and hands with it. They start the meal with the word “Itadakimas!” and bow slightly, everyone who sits at the table and takes part in the meal says this. This word has many meanings, in this case it means: “I’m starting to eat with your permission!” The first to start the meal is the owner or the one who, say, invites you to a restaurant. As a rule, soup and rice are served first. Rice is generally served with all dishes. If you need to rearrange cups or plates yourself, rearrange them with both hands.

China or Japan

Thailand

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

Thai women should generally not be touched without their consent, as most of them have conservative views and may also perceive this gesture as an insult.

You should not point at anything, much less at anyone, with your foot or lower body, which is considered “despicable” here.

For the same reason, you should never sit cross-legged with your feet pointing towards the Buddha statue. Thais revere every image of him, so be careful not to climb or lean on the statues to take photos.

According to traditions in Thailand, before entering a temple or Thai home, you should take off your shoes, even if the owners hospitably assure you that you don’t have to take off your shoes.

A restrained, calm, friendly tone and a constant smile are encouraged in communication. Avoid familiarity and raising your voice.

India

Let's start with a greeting. You can say hello by simply shaking hands, as we are used to. But there are some subtleties. It is considered bad form to shake hands with someone you have not met before. In addition, women should not shake hands with Hindus, as this may be considered an insult. The most respectful greeting among Indians is namaste, which involves joining your palms at chest level.

When meeting a Hindu, you need to remember that their names consist of several parts. First comes his own name, then the name of his father, then the name of the caste to which he belongs and the name of the locality of his residence. For women, the name contains her own name and the name of her spouse.

When saying goodbye, Indians raise their palm and wave only their fingers. We also sometimes use a similar gesture, only in India this is how one says goodbye to a girl. If you say goodbye to a man, just raise your palm.

The following gestures should not be used:

* just like with us, it is considered impolite to point somewhere with your index finger;

* you shouldn't wink at a pretty girl. This gesture is indecent and speaks of a specific proposal. If a man needs a representative of the most ancient profession, he must point to the nostril with his index finger;

* You don't need to snap your fingers to get someone's attention. This is perceived as a challenge;

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

* double clapping of palms is a hint of a different orientation.

IN India exists animal cult. Some representatives of the animal world have been elevated to the rank of sacred. Temples are built especially for monkeys. For example, the famous Palace of the Winds, where monkeys live in such numbers and are so aggressive that tourists are not recommended to even go there! Other sacred animals - cows - walk along the streets of populated areas. They live their own lives and die their own deaths, since they are forbidden to be eaten.

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

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

Vietnam

Vietnamese people never make eye contact when speaking. Perhaps because of their inherent shyness. But the main reason is that, following tradition, they do not look into the eyes of those they respect or those of higher rank.

The smiles of Vietnamese people can often cause misunderstanding among foreigners and even lead to awkward situations. The fact is that in many eastern countries a smile is also a sign of grief, anxiety or awkwardness. Smiling in Vietnam is often an expression of politeness, but it can also be a sign of skepticism, misunderstanding or failure to recognize a wrong judgment.

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

In conversation, Vietnamese very rarely go straight to the goal. To do this is to show a lack of tact and delicacy. Directness is highly valued in the Western world, but not in Vietnam. Vietnamese people do not like to say “no” and often answer “yes” when the answer should be negative.

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

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

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

* Outside mirrors are often hung on entrance doors. If a dragon wants to get into a house, it will see its reflection and think that there is already another dragon there.

* You cannot place one bowl of rice and one pair of chopsticks on the table. Be sure to order for at least two. One cup is for the dead.

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

* Do not hand a toothpick to anyone.

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

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

* Don't cut your nails at night.

* In a restaurant with a Vietnamese, it is not customary to pay “half”. Let him pay, or pay the bill yourself. The person of higher rank always pays.

Gifts for the bride and groom are always given as a couple. One gift symbolizes the imminent end of the marriage. Two cheap gifts are always preferable to one expensive one.

* Educated people and everyone who is not a peasant do not engage in manual labor. To do this is to take away a job from a poor peasant and is considered undignified.

Tanzania

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

The island of Zanzibar is known for its strict nature conservation law, one of the provisions of this law is the ban on the use of plastic bags. All goods here are issued in paper.

In most hotels, even in the most expensive ones, there will be kerosene lamps in the rooms - power outages are the main trouble in modern Tanzania.

Despite the sometimes even too polite treatment of foreigners, the local population has an unspoken tradition of making fun of them. You should not ask the first person you meet for directions; smiling sweetly, he will show you the completely wrong road. Experienced tourists recommend introducing yourself as a journalist in such situations; English is well understood here, then the chance of deception is reduced.

Greeting etiquette is very important. The type of greeting depends on the person’s status and age. A common greeting among Swahili tribes among well-known people is “Khujambo, habari gani” (“How are you?”, “What’s the news?”) or simply “Jumbo!” A group of people is greeted with the word “hatujambo”. The word "shikamu" is used to greet respected people. Young children are taught to greet their elders by kissing their hands or kneeling before them. Friends who meet after a long separation usually shake hands and kiss each other on both cheeks. When communicating with foreigners, they often use a handshake and the traditional English “Hello”.

In Tanzania, as in many other parts of Africa, the right hand is considered "clean" and the left hand "dirty". Therefore, the right hand is used for eating or exchanging gifts. The polite way to accept a gift is to first touch the gift with your right hand, and then the right hand of the giver.

Behavior at the table is also determined by many norms. Typically, a traditional meal takes place on mats on the floor, with food placed on low tables. But in many continental families, meals take place in a European way - at the table. You can take food from a common plate with your hands and put it on your own plate, or you can eat from a common dish. The main thing is to ensure that food crumbs do not fall into the common dish or onto other people’s plates. In Zanzibar it is customary to give guests fresh clove shoots to flavor the mouth before eating. The sequence of dishes is traditional for East African countries - soup is served first, and then appetizers and main course. The lunch ends with coffee and sweets. Light snacks and greens usually remain on the table throughout lunch.

You cannot walk around those praying in front. Shoes should be removed when entering mosques and houses.

The general lifestyle of Tanzanians can be characterized by two phrases - “hakuna matata” (“no problem”) and “field-field” (“calm”, “take your time”). These phrases can describe the attitude of Tanzanians towards everything around them. Service in a restaurant or travel agency is extremely slow. If a Tanzanian said “one second,” it could mean 15 minutes or half an hour. At the same time, to all attempts to hurry them up, the local residents smile radiantly and continue to act at a leisurely pace. It is useless to influence this in any way; you just need to come to terms with it and try to live in this rhythm yourself.

Superstitions

Lunar eclipses- special days when the evil spirit Rahukin-chan (“Rahu - the Moon-devourer”) eats the moon. It is not recommended to sleep on such a night, but you need to go outside and make a lot of noise in order to drive the scoundrel away from your home. At the same time, good spirits are called for help, who must fight Rahukin-chan. Pregnant women must insert a needle into their shirt to protect their unborn child from harm.

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

Wednesday is the most dangerous day when evil spirits come out into our world. You can’t start a business, you can’t travel, or even go to the hairdresser. Far from large cities, many people do not work on Wednesday so as not to cause trouble.

Do not drive nails into your home floor, your stomach will hurt.

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

Sand accidentally discovered in the house brings good luck.

You can't play the pipe in the house, this irritates evil spirits.

You should cross the threshold of the house so as not to offend good spirits.

Customs of Spain

To express their admiration, people in Spain put three fingers together, press them to their lips and make the sound of a kiss.

The Spaniards express a sign of disdain by waving their hand away from themselves at chest level.

A Spaniard regards touching the earlobe as an insult.

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

They use “you” in most situations; even students in schools often address their teachers this way. This is an ordinary story. But calling “you” can even offend a person from time to time.

When they meet, they greet noisily and cheerfully. The most common greeting is “Hola” - “Hello”. When meeting and when parting, they press cheek to cheek, imitating a kiss, and hug. For Spaniards, a short distance when communicating means that you are a pleasant interlocutor for him. But if, for example, as in Germany, you maintain an arm's length distance during a conversation, then the Spaniard will understand this as a sign of disdain.

Everything always happens later than planned. There is no fixed time for breakfast, it all depends on when the Spaniard arrives for work. They do not have the habit of having breakfast at home, except perhaps a cup of coffee, so the second cup, along with a sandwich, will be drunk at the beginning of the working day. It will soon be time for lunch.

Here we should especially note such a paradox as the Spanish siesta. It starts at 1 pm and lasts until 5 pm. At this time, all shops close, office employees crawl home for lunch and an afternoon nap. Not every tourist is able to understand this when standing in front of the closed doors of a souvenir shop. He is surprised, upset and even angry, but...Siesta!

For Spaniards, there are certain topics that are taboo. They prefer not to talk about death, not to ask people their age. It is also not customary to talk about money, especially when you have it. Nobody says: “I earn a lot” or “I earn enough.” Instead, you will hear: “I can’t complain” or “I’m living small.” Spaniards talk a lot about other topics and, as foreigners note, too loudly.

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

Funny wedding traditions of the peoples of the world

The wedding tradition of some areas may also seem unusual and even funny to us. India. The fact is that there are places in India (for example, the state of Punjab) where there is a ban on third marriage. You can choose a wife twice, four times is also not forbidden, but three times is absolutely forbidden. However, the ban applies only to marriage with a living person, and therefore those men who did not limit themselves to a second marriage marry... a tree. Yes, on an ordinary tree, but with all the necessary ceremonies and honors (maybe, perhaps, a little more modestly). After the wedding celebration is completed, the guests help the happy groom become a widow by simply cutting down this very tree. And now there are no obstacles to a third marriage!

IN Greece the young wife is not at all afraid of appearing clumsy by stepping on her husband’s foot while dancing. On the contrary, this is exactly what she tries to do throughout the holiday. If the newlywed succeeds in this maneuver, it is believed that she has every chance of becoming the head of the family.

And in Greece, children are born on their wedding night. No kidding! There is a custom - in order for everything to be safe in the family, it is necessary to let the children into their bed before the newlyweds. Let them run and jump on the bed - and then everything will definitely work out as it should for the young people.

IN Kenya It is customary for an established husband to dress up in women's clothing, which the man must wear for at least a month. It is believed that in this way the husband will be able to fully experience the complex and difficult share of a woman and treat his young wife with more love in the future. By the way, this wedding custom is observed quite strictly in Kenya and no one objects. Especially the wife, who happily takes photos of her husband and saves the resulting photos in the family album.

IN Norway Since ancient times, a mandatory treat for a wedding celebration has been bride's porridge - prepared from wheat with cream. The porridge was served after the bride took off her wedding attire and changed into the costume of a married woman. There have always been a lot of jokes and fun associated with porridge in Norway; a cauldron with it could even be stolen and demanded a ransom.

On Nicobar Islands, for example, if a guy expressed a desire to marry a girl, he must become a “slave” in the girl’s house, and this can last from 6 months to a year. During this time, the chosen one determines whether she wants such a husband or not. If the girl agrees, the village council declares them husband and wife. Well, if not, the guy returns home.

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

And one more article:

If you are heading abroad on vacation or have decided to start a new life in a foreign land, then most likely you will encounter customs and superstitions that may seem very strange to you. Many foreign cultures include not only traditions, but also superstitions, as well as certain rules of etiquette. Locals often take certain rules very seriously, so those who want to integrate successfully into their new environment must be well aware of all cultural differences.

The consequences of ignoring foreign customs can be different: perhaps for a very long time you will be perceived not as one of their own, but as a tourist, ignoring the fact that you already live next to them. But there may be more serious problems, even the possibility of ending up on the other side of the law. In any case, upsetting the locals is a sure way to start off on the wrong foot in a new country!

Here's a look at other people's customs collected around the world. It is always better to learn in advance about the experience of your predecessors.

Strange customs of the peoples of the world

Thailand– a favorite place for mountaineering for young travelers.

This country is known for many strange customs that must be observed by guests in order not to quarrel with the local population. One such custom that travelers often neglect is to always have the Thai king with them, for example on a banknote. Similarly, in movies, tribute to the king is played before each movie in the form of the Thai royal anthem, with you standing in respect in front of the royalty. It should be kept in mind that insulting the king is considered illegal in Thailand, so the best way to avoid problems on this topic and not to risk appearing in a Thai court is to show respect to the crowned lady along with the locals.

A strange method of attracting money is practiced in Appalachia. Here they believe that onion peels should not be thrown away. It should also be put into the broth, and this will contribute to making a profit.

IN China It is believed that if a man puts on a green headdress, then his wife is cheating on him.

The origin of this custom is often hotly debated. Some believe that in ancient times, if a courtesan (geisha) had a husband, he was forced to wear a green hat. Others, on the contrary, believe that men who used the services of women in the ancient profession used to wear green hats during the Yuan Dynasty. However, the version that sounds most plausible is that when you say the phrase "green cap" in Chinese, it sounds remarkably similar to the Chinese word for "cuckold."

Another interesting Chinese superstition is that one should never give a watch to a friend as a gift. This is, again, due to the similarity of pronunciation. Apparently "send a watch" sounds remarkably similar to "SONG Zhong", which is the name of a Chinese funeral ceremony. Indeed, avoiding all conventions must be quite tiring!

Most of us know and accept that black cats are widely and universally viewed as a sign of impending bad luck. This attitude towards black purrs exists in cultures and communities across the globe, but what about the owl? So, if a black cat crosses your path and an owl hoots outside your window at night, then you might want to take the next day off from work, as this is thought to be a sign of imminent injury, a catastrophic spat, or a terrible failure.

Another animal that is disliked in Egypt, as well as throughout the world, is rats. Many superstitions surround rats, linking these creatures with illness and death. However, one positive sign suggests that if a group of rats suddenly appears in a house, then the owners should receive a great fortune in the coming weeks. Sounds promising, doesn't it?

Many superstitions Spanish etiquette revolve around sex and love. The Spaniards believe that if you sweep at the feet of a person passing by, then he is doomed to never find true love. An incredibly damning sentence for such a minor act! Another popular Spanish belief is that those who raise a pot of water for a toast are doomed to seven years of bad sex. This superstition is found in many other places around the world in one form or another. This is believed to stem from the Greek custom of toasting with water at funerals. Because of this, toasting with water is considered a wish for bad luck, or even death.

IN Japan slurping noodles is not only considered acceptable, but is also actively encouraged.

Another part of Japanese etiquette concerns the appreciation of gifts. If a person receives a gift in Japan and tries to open it right away, this is considered very rude, as it shows a lack of appreciation for the time and effort the giver put into finding and wrapping the gift.

There is one more sign regarding the Japanese gift: it is customary to give and receive a gift with both hands, as a sign of respect for the given object.

With the above customs in mind, it is important to keep in mind that it is very important to research the customs and traditions of the country you are planning to visit before you travel. This will allow you to prevent such a tragic social mistake!

Today on the territory of Russia you can meet representatives of 190 ethnic groups - these are Russians, Chuvashs, Udmurts, Yakuts, Tatars and many others. In total, according to various sources, there are from 2000 to 4000 peoples and nationalities living in the world. They all have their own cultural traditions, but some have especially amazing customs!

Madagascar

The inhabitants of Madagascar continue to follow several unusual traditions. This state is spread over a number of islands in the Indian Ocean, but received its name in honor of the largest landmass that formed about 88,000,000 years ago. Then the future island “broke away” from India and set off to drift into open waters. Today Madagascar is located closer to Africa. It is separated from the mainland by about 400 km, and every year this distance only increases by 2 cm.

Gradually, representatives of different nations began to populate the island - along with the aborigines, Arabs and French appeared here. Pagan views mixed with Islam and Christianity.

Shamanism and Fado

Shamans continue to live on the island. Although their social importance began to wane over time, even today these people ensure the observance of the unwritten laws and prohibitions of their ancestors - fado.

Tourists need to be especially careful, because the indigenous people always remember fado, and therefore do not go where they are not supposed to go, and do not talk about what they should not talk about.

Important fact! For non-compliance with local traditions, Malagasy can seriously punish representatives of other nations, for example, by beating them.

Most revered animal

In Madagascar, they are especially prized... Cows! People breed them not at all in order to always have milk or meat, but because these particular horned animals are a sign of the owner’s wealth, well-being, prestige and respect in society. In addition, it is cows that participate in most island rituals.

If a person passes into another world, the Malagasy people always “decorate” his grave with skulls or, at a minimum, the horns of artiodactyls. The more revered the deceased was during his lifetime, the more magnificently his grave will be decorated. Here you can see any parts of the cows' bodies. Sometimes for such purposes, shamans slaughter up to 100 animals at a time!

Funeral rituals

Funerals occupy almost a central place in the life of this island country. It is no coincidence that Madagascar is also called the “island of spirits”. Here they believe that a person’s earthly path is too fleeting to pay attention to, so only death has real meaning for the Malagasy. Funerals are always festive, fun, noisy, with dancing and rich tables. The festivities can take several days and nights. Everyone is happy for the deceased, because, according to the islanders, he does not die, but transforms into a spirit, which the others will regularly appease with gifts and offerings!

According to one custom, the dead are buried in luxurious graves, while according to another and more ancient tradition, they are placed on small boats and sent out to the open ocean. No resident has the right to ignore funeral rituals or encroach on the inviolability of cemeteries - all this is regarded as disrespect for the dead and is considered fad.

Feasts with corpses

The strangest custom of the people of Madagascar, which appeared in the 17th century, is called “Famadihana” (from Malaga “turning over bones”).

Sufficient time must pass before the deceased completely transitions into a state of spirit. However, so that the deceased does not get bored during this period, he is regularly “shaken”, and in a very unusual way. The dead are dug out of the grave or taken out of the crypt, washed, dressed in clean clothes, and then transferred to the place of a rich feast with a large number of guests. Everyone is obliged to approach the corpse, greet it and ask to share the meal and fun. If Famadikhana is held in honor of an important person and is of a grandiose scale, then the deceased is even carried around the village and shown to him the places where he loved to visit during his lifetime.

At dusk, the corpse is taken to the cemetery. First you need to walk around the grave 3 times, and only then bury the remains back into the ground. This way the Malagasy can be sure that the dead will calm down and not bother anyone. Famadihana is held no earlier than a year after the burial, and is also repeated every 7 years. During it you are not allowed to cry or be sad.

For Malagasy, Famadihana is something like a family celebration, when all relatives get together and relax together. However, the government is extremely skeptical about such events, because they provoke the spread of diseases and infections.

India

Amazing customs are also found in India, the second largest country in the world after China. Several hundred different peoples with unusual traditions live here - Rajasthanis, Sinhalese, Sindhis, Tamils and others.

Replacement for husbands and wives

The peoples of India follow an amazing practice in which people are officially allowed to choose their life partners... Trees! This happens in exceptional cases - for example, when an astrologer predicts misfortune in a first marriage or announces the presence of a curse.

If a girl was born in an unfavorable astrological period, which is called Kuja Dosha, she can bring trouble to her chosen one. Such women are called “Mangalikas”. Concluding alliances with them is fraught not only with failure, but even with death. To prevent this from happening, prudent Indians came up with the tradition of weddings with trees.

After marriage, the tree is cut down and the woman is declared a widow. The curse is considered formally accomplished, because the tree seems to take away everything negative with it. After this, any man will be able to marry a woman without fear or fear. Sometimes a tree becomes a “husband” in order to transfer part of its fertility to the “wife”.

Men are allowed to do the same, but in their case the reasons will be different. Thus, according to Indian rules, the eldest son must find a wife first. However, sometimes middle or younger sons express a desire to marry earlier, so so that they do not just wait, the family marries the first-born on a tree.

A similar ritual is performed if a man has already had 2 unions that ended in the death of his wives (divorces in India are extremely rare). The ban on marrying 3 times does not hinder Indian men at all - they enter into alliances with trees, and then continue to calmly marry real women.

Cows and urine therapy

In India, the cow is considered a sacred animal. This artiodactyl has taken such an important place in the life of Indians because it personifies the ancestor of Surabhi. In addition, it is the cow that helps the deceased cross the river of time and find peace, and is also used for transportation by Shiva himself, one of the supreme Hindu deities.

However, the matter is not limited to reverent worship alone. Some followers of Hinduism follow a rather funny, from the point of view of Europeans, tradition - they regularly consume cow urine internally, because They believe that this way it will be possible not only to get rid of existing diseases, but also to prevent possible illnesses. We are talking about oncology, tuberculosis, diabetes, stomach problems.

Priest Ramesh Gupta refers to ancient Indian texts that list the beneficial effects of such treatment. Despite the fact that not all Indians share his views, many still continue to come to the city of Agra, where there is a special shelter for cows. Adherents of the strange practice are confident that soon different nations from all over the world will learn about the benefits of cow urine therapy, and soft drinks made from a non-standard ingredient will replace Coca-Cola and Pepsi on store shelves.

Sati

However, not all customs in India are voluntary. One of the most terrible forced traditions in the whole world is Sati. The essence of this ritual funeral practice is as follows: after the death of her husband, the widow should be burned with him on the funeral pyre. Despite the fact that today Sati is considered a prohibited event, various Indian ethnic groups inhabiting rural areas sometimes continue to implement it. In total, about 40 such cases have been recorded since 1947.

The custom was named after the Hindu goddess who sacrificed herself for the sake of her lover, the god Shiva. Translated from Sanskrit, Sati means “truthful, honest, real, existing.” The roots of this terrible practice go back to the 10th century, when ritual self-immolation of widows became a mass phenomenon.

Women left without spouses knew about their fate, and therefore meekly accepted it. On the one hand, a fire awaited the widow, and on the other, the stigma of an unfaithful wife, shame, humiliation and even violence. Despite this, Sati was often viewed as a voluntary and even purely personal matter, which it never was in reality. A woman whose future was considered unpromising was not only subjected to social pressure, but also physical coercion. Numerous drawings and writings indicate that widows were often tied up, because in this way they were unable to get out of the flames.

Wedding in Scotland

The Scots are known throughout the world for their wedding ceremonies and traditions. Firstly, they always choose only weekdays for ceremonies. Here it is believed that weekends are created exclusively for relaxation - both from work and from celebrations.

Secondly, the groom gives his bride a special gift - a small brooch, which is a symbol of future happiness, love and prosperity, and also becomes a special family amulet. After a couple has children, the wife pins a brooch on the clothes of one of them to ward off anxiety, sadness and misfortune. With the passing of generations, this heirloom passes from adults to young people.

Thirdly, the people of Scotland sometimes indulge in unusual entertainment, which appeared in the country during the Middle Ages. So, during the celebration, everyone who is not too lazy begins to smear the bride in mud! A snow-white dress, a veil, shoes - all this becomes gray due to flour, honey, earth, soot, sauces, noodles, sour milk and butter... In such a dirty state, the bride needs to walk along the main street, show off in the central square, go to all pubs and in general seem to almost the entire city.

If today this is done out of laughter and as a tribute to ancient traditions, then once upon a time such a ritual had a very specific purpose. Medieval people believed that the more they covered the bride in dirt, the fewer quarrels and squabbles there would be in the spouses’ life together. In addition, it was believed that in this way the girl said goodbye to past sins and began a new, important stage with a pure soul.

Japanese Fertility Festival

Amazing traditions are also followed in Japan - for example, the Shinto festival Honen Matsuri is held here every year. It is celebrated on March 15, but not by all the people, but only by representatives of individual prefectures. The event is especially popular in the city of Komaki (Aichi Prefecture).

The spring festival is dedicated to the goddess Tamahime no Mikot. However, the central place here is occupied by a specially created wooden phallus, which reaches 2.5 m in length and 250 kg in weight! This design, carved from cypress wood and renewed every year, represents the consort of Tamahime no Mikoto, the warrior Take-ina-dane.

The Japanese believe that the parade, during which a wooden object is carried from one temple to another, can bestow upon them abundant fertility and healthy offspring. Honen Matsuri is one of the manifestations of the so-called. phallic cult, which was found in the beliefs of many different peoples of the world - the ancient Assyrians, Babylonians, Cretans, Africans, Indians, Australians, etc.

Amazing traditions of different peoples

In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then it was the will of higher powers and there was no way to resist them.

About quirks

For example, in Tibet, a girl was considered an enviable bride only when she changed a dozen or two partners. Virgins, as you can see, were not held in high esteem in the Dalai Lama’s country. But the Brazilians from the Jerusalem artichoke tribe made impressive sacrifices to please their ladies. The fact is that girls found only huge genitals worthy of their attention. To do this, men exposed their penises to poisonous snakes, after the bites of which their manhood met the expectations of discerning Jerusalem artichoke women.

Girls have been training their intimate muscles since time immemorial. It is known that the wives and concubines of the Chinese emperor trained 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 an interesting practice of enhancing male orgasm. To make it more vivid and memorable, an injection into the groin with a golden needle is enough, oriental traditions say. The inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands were very inventive in bed pleasures. Just look at the habit of nibbling your partner’s eyelashes; this is considered their traditional caress. I would like to see the teeth of these entertainers, because in order to gnaw an eyelash, the teeth must be at least sharp.

But the Indians, experienced in love, had much more options for extreme entertainment of this kind. For example, their treatises on the art of love taught the use of "apadravia" - male piercings made of gold, silver, iron, wood or buffalo horns! And the great-grandfather of the modern condom “yalaka” - an empty tube inside with pimples on the outside - was also invented in India.

The sex-seekers of the Batta tribe of Sumatra had a tradition of inserting pebbles or pieces of metal under the foreskin. They believed that this way they could give their partner much more pleasure. The Argentine Indians also had a similar idea in their arsenal. They attached horsehair tassels to the phallus. It’s scary to think about the hygiene of meetings with such fellows.

Tanzanian women increased their attractiveness in an interesting way. They did not adorn themselves and did not dress up. They stole from the man they wanted... a hoe and sandals! In those parts, the things listed are of particular value, so the man, willy-nilly, had to go and rescue the property, and then - who knows?

What about our compatriots? In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then it was the will of higher powers and there was no way to resist them.

Japan - crawl up and "yobay"

An ancient sexual tradition with the poetic name “yobai” existed in the Japanese outback until the end of the 19th century. The essence of the custom “sneaking in the night” (approximate translation) was as follows: any young man, under the cover of darkness, had the right to enter the house of an unmarried young lady, crawl under her blanket and, if the chosen one did not mind, directly engage in the delightful “yobai” . In Russian, however, it does not sound like the name of a tradition, but more like a call to action.

If a Japanese girl turned out to be intractable, then the upset young man had to go home. Like any tradition, the Yobai custom was regulated by strict rules. A potential lover had to go on a romantic date completely naked, since a night visit from a clothed man was considered robbery and could end in disaster for him. However, the guy had the right to cover his face and appear before the girl as a beautiful stranger. These are Japanese role-playing games.

Tibet - a one-way journey

Once upon a time in Tibet, visiting men were greeted with genuine cordiality. The travel notes of the famous traveler Marco Polo talk about a local sexual tradition that ordered all young girls to copulate with at least twenty different men before marriage. Either there were few men in Tibet, or, according to custom, fresh girls were intended exclusively for foreigners, but travelers were worth their weight in gold here. And those poor fellows who could not stand up for themselves were literally “torn like Tuzik’s slippers” by sex swindlers. Therefore, the trip to Tibet for some of our brothers was the last.

South America - Indian Babformation

The sexual traditions of the Kagaba tribe can forever discourage a man from conscientiously fulfilling his marital duty and having offspring. Representatives of the stronger half of the tribe are terribly afraid of women. It's all about the strange ritual of initiation of young men into men: a young Indian Kagaba must have his first sexual experience with the oldest lady of the family. For this reason, in a marital relationship, a man is lacking initiative, and if his wife hints at intimacy, he prefers to cowardly hide in the jungle in a bunker pre-equipped for such purposes (like he went hunting).

It happens that several fugitives are hiding in a bachelor's den at the same time. Then the female half of the tribe equips a search expedition. Role-playing games of slave and mistress always end predictably. Unsatisfied wives comb the jungle until they discover the cache and return their faithful to the bosom of the family.

Africa - food preferences

Who is interested in military parades? Perhaps only to the military, but the common people demand bread and circuses. The King of Swaziland knows exactly how to make a holiday of the soul for his subjects, and therefore every year he organizes a grand procession of virgins. Thousands of seductive scantily clad beauties cheerfully march in front of the monarch. In Swaziland, it has become a good sexual tradition when the king chooses a new wife from the participants in the parade, and each failed wife is rewarded with a large bowl of food. And believe me, by local standards this is a royal gift!

In the late 1940s, German gynecologist Ernst Grafenberg discovered a new erogenous zone in his patients. It was located on the upper wall of the vagina and was the size of a pea. Grafenberg described it in the scientific article “The Role of the Urethra in the Female Orgasm” (1950). Either the circulation of this publication was too small, or the title did not inspire the general public, but until the early 80s, even Cosmopolitan stubbornly ignored Grafenberg's discovery.
It took the writing talent of sexologists Alice Ladas, Beverly Whipple and John Perry for the whole world to know about a new source of pleasure. Their book, The G-Spot and Other Discoveries in Human Sexuality (1982), became a bestseller and was translated into 19 languages.

In the Baganda tribe (East Africa), there is a belief that sex directly on agricultural land significantly increases its fertility. By the way, such a sexual tradition was inherent in many nations. However, the natives did not arrange vulgar orgies in the beds of plantain (the main fodder crop of the Bagandans). To carry out the ritual, a married couple was chosen - the parents of twins. The event was held in the field of the tribal leader and consisted of the following: the woman lay on her back, a plantain flower was placed in her vagina, and the husband had to get it out without using his hands, using only his penis. According to custom, the family of agronomists had to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act only in the leader’s field. There was no need to play role-playing games in the gardens of their fellow tribesmen; it was enough to dance a little.

The sexual traditions of the peoples of the world are different, as are the standards of beauty. How can a woman from the Zambezi River valley be considered attractive if her mouth is full of teeth like a crocodile? To become beautiful, a Batoka girl had to get married. On their wedding night, the satisfied husband turned an “ugly” girl into a beautiful woman by knocking out her front teeth. This custom, accompanied by simple plastic surgery, makes the Batok woman happy and the radiant smile never leaves her face.

Mesopotamia - temple prostitution

Every inhabitant of ancient Babylon had to make a sacrifice to the goddess of love Ishtar. To perform the ritual, the lady went to the sanctuary of the goddess, sat in a visible place and waited for a stranger to choose her. The client gave the chosen one a coin, after which they went to some secluded corner, where they made a generous sacrifice.

Once was enough. However, some particularly zealous Babylonians constantly practiced such role-playing games, offering strangers an interesting vacation for money, which then went to the needs of the temple. It was impossible to leave his territory before the end of the ritual, so the pretty girl “shot back” quickly, and the unsightly young lady had to wait for her prince for a long time, sometimes even years! Housing and food were provided. Similar sexual traditions existed in Cyprus, and Greek girls made sacrifices to the goddess Aphrodite.

Russia is a country of Soviets

Family life in Rus' is not easy! The getting married couple had to feel this statement already at the wedding. All night before the holiday, the bride, according to ancient Slavic custom, unbraided her braids and sang sad songs with her bridesmaids. In the morning, a bunch of tedious wedding rituals awaited her, which continued until late in the evening and on an empty stomach. Even during the festive feast, the bride was not allowed to eat. The groom was also not happy - throughout the celebration he was obliged to cheerfully jump around his numerous relatives.

And finally the feast ended. The exhausted young people found themselves alone in the bedchamber and were about to have unbridled sex and go to bed. Let's daydream! The sexual tradition presupposed the active participation of relatives in the first wedding night of the newlyweds - guests shouted obscene ditties under the bedroom windows until the morning, and one of them (specially chosen for this purpose) periodically knocked on the door and asked: “Has the ice broken?” In such a situation, the groom soon began to realize that the mission was impossible, and his efforts were in vain, despite the body of his betrothed, immobilized from fatigue. Therefore, the young spouse was given the opportunity to rehabilitate himself over the next few nights. If things still didn’t work out, then experienced advisers were involved: the groom’s brother or father. It is known that in some villages in Ukraine, an authorized prompter sat comfortably under the bed, from where he helped the newlyweds with good advice on how to do everything right, and at the same time, with his presence, created the atmosphere of an unusual holiday.

Micronesia - love with a spark

If you are sure that role-playing games with elements of sadomasochism were invented by the well-known marquis, I hasten to disappoint you - this is a common misconception. The natives of Truck Island were 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!

There are 250 countries in the world, only 197 of which are officially recognized. Each country has its own laws and traditions, and some of them, when read, cause sincere surprise and misunderstanding among residents of other countries. But don’t laugh - these customs are real and very important for the residents of these countries. Let us introduce you to the most unusual customs of the countries of the world.

Japan

In Japan, holding hands with a person of the opposite sex is considered indecent.
If you are going to give someone a gift, then you should show modesty when presenting it by saying something like: “Sorry about such a small thing” or “You may not like the gift.”

It is not customary for the Japanese to celebrate the New Year, as we understand it. Instead of a holiday, they go to bed, and in the morning they all go together to watch the dawn - to celebrate the New Year.
For the Japanese, steamed rice with natto - soybeans - is considered a favorite breakfast.

In Japan, they try to avoid the word “no”; instead, it is customary to give vague and non-binding consent, or to politely avoid the topic.
In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary to give an even number of flowers: residents believe that each flower should have its own pair, otherwise it will be lonely. An odd number of flowers is brought to the cemetery.

India

It’s hard to believe, but in the 21st century in India, the division into castes remains - social groups on which marriage, type of activity, living conditions and other important factors depend.
The plot of Indian films constantly includes love relationships, but in life not everything is so colorful. Depending on caste, religious beliefs and even astrological predictions, the girl’s parents, and not herself, choose the future husband for their daughter.

In India, after the death of a person, instead of burying him, it is customary to cremate him; cremation takes place along rivers, and the ashes of the deceased are scattered along the sacred river - the Ganges.
In the Indian state of Karnataka, a tradition that gives goosebumps has been going on for more than 500 years. It is customary to throw babies from the roof of the temple onto a stretched piece of cloth held by men. It is believed that this ritual brings health and strength to children.

The ritual of self-immolation is widespread among Indian widowed women. Within four months after the death of her husband, the widow puts on her best clothes and jewelry, lets down her hair, goes to a river or other body of water and performs this ritual there. For Hindus, this is considered a feat, although such rituals are officially prohibited in the country.

Norway

Norwegians don’t like to load their brains with unnecessary questions, they especially don’t like to think about who to address as “you” and to whom as “you”. Because of this, Norwegians love to poke, even if it's a stranger.
In this Scandinavian country, people are not used to giving up their seats to the elderly, because in this way you can offend a person, once again emphasizing your physical superiority.

Norwegians are very straightforward and never hide what they think about other people. Yes, they will offend someone, but it is better for a person to know the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
In Norway, on Christmas Day, it is customary for boys to tell fortunes together with girls.
Following traditions, every man must make his own knife and sheath. Everything you may need for this can be easily purchased in the most ordinary stores.

The financial topic in conversations is closed for Norwegians and can greatly offend the interlocutor. But in terms of other topics, even the most intimate ones, they are like an open book, the main thing is not to touch upon income.
Norwegians love to hug and shake hands and do it quite often. But kissing is considered unhygienic, so it is not accepted in this country when greeting.

Spain

If in our country the 13th of the month is considered to bring misfortune only on Fridays, then in Spain Tuesday the 13th is considered a day when you need to beware of everything. It is not recommended to get married, get a haircut, or even leave the house on such a day.
In Spain, the production of Caganers, figurines of people who relieve themselves “in a big way,” is widespread. And this is not done for the sake of humor; the Spaniards sincerely believe that such figures can bring good luck.

Kaganer "Master Yoda"

If you touch a Spaniard's earlobe, he will consider it an insult.
Spaniards have double surnames. When girls get married, they will not take their husband's surname, but will leave their own, double one. And a child born in this marriage will also have a double surname. The first part of the surname is the first surname of the child's father, and the second part is the first surname of his mother.

In this country, birthdays are celebrated twice: the first time is the official date of birth when the child was born, and the second is the name day. And often name days are more colorful and are considered more important, because on this day the Spaniards acquire names in honor of saints.

Egypt

In Egypt, marriages between first cousins are allowed.
Egypt is a religious country, and this greatly influenced the social foundations of the Egyptians. Local residents do not wear revealing clothes, women do not have the right to be alone with men, and the behavior of tourists from European countries is considered too promiscuous here.

If a boy is born in the family, then for a week of the baby’s life they perform the ritual of circumcision, as well as shaving the child.
Girls are married at an early age - 12-14 years old, and parents choose a partner for their child. It happens that long before the birth of the children themselves, families enter into an agreement according to which they will become related in the future.

Egyptians treat compliments with great caution and distrust, as they are afraid of the evil eye or damage.
You should not show the sole of your shoes to another person. This is a sign of bad manners and bad taste.

China

The Chinese value money very much, both during life and after death. Therefore, the residents of this country even built a special bank that issues money from beyond the grave. It is believed that with such money one can even bribe the lord of hell.

In one Chinese province, Jilin, girls are prohibited from wearing bras to exams. This is because students often hide cheat sheets in their bras.
Chinese police have gotten used to using geese instead of dogs, and they are doing it more and more often. Geese, in their opinion, seem more aggressive.

In China they really don't like tanning and white skin is valued. That's why girls use sunscreen all year round, and sometimes even wear masks all over their faces to protect them from exposure to the sun's rays.