Holidays and rituals of the peoples of the world: religious and folk. Cultural traditions of different countries

Planet Earth is inhabited by many various peoples and nations that differ from each other in traditions, religion, culture, language of communication, which cannot be said about rituals. They are the ones that are mostly repeated among many peoples, causing surprise in their complete or partial similarity. The rituals differ in their execution, but carry the same meaning.

What is the connection between the customs and religious characteristics of peoples?

There are many religions, but the main and more widespread are Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. Thanks to faith, liberation wars, hostility and conflicts between different peoples were fought. It would seem that such beliefs have nothing in common. But in reality, everything is not so simple.

By drawing boundaries between peoples based on their religious affiliation, humanity moves away from the higher mind. It is no coincidence that the rituals of one nation have many common features with the traditions of other nations. In most cases, the customs of African tribes are similar to Eurasian ones. There is a lot in common in wedding, either funeral rituals, as well as in conspiracies, prayers, communication between relatives.

Why are the rituals of different peoples repeated?

The answer to this question must be sought in the distant past. Before modern man news came that most of peoples used to be classified as pagans. People believed in various gods, extraterrestrial civilizations who patronized humanity in old times.

Higher powers bestowed on the ancestors many covenants, a store of knowledge aimed at teaching the right way of life. If there were violations of such rules, then the time of retribution and punishment would come.

With the development of civilizations, the customs of the pagans gradually faded into the background, but this was not always the case. Their transformation took place in the culture of certain states, they united with a new religion.

It is worth noting that Muslim celebrations can be a copy of Christian ones. For example, rituals Tatar people, whose religion is Islam, in many respects have something in common with the traditions of the Russian people. Customs are passed on from one generation to another, improved, modified, even supplemented, or some details are canceled. Taken together, the purpose of any rite clearly reflects its importance and relevance today.

Many traditions and rituals continue to exist today in their original form.

Slavic rituals and holidays

The traditions and customs of the Slavs have passed through many centuries, undergone certain changes, but still survived, and today they continue to live and delight people. The most ancient rituals are related to paganism, which was considered necessary for humans. After all, according to this religion, the purpose of the individual on earth was explained.

One of the ancient and famous rituals among different Slavic peoples associated with the deity Makosh. The celebration was celebrated between October and November. Gatherings during this period were the starting point so that we could prepare for the winter season.

It was in the name of Mokosh that folk festivities were organized. Representatives of the Slavic peoples worshiped this deity, performed a ritual of sacrifice, and brought various gifts. People did everything so that Makosha would provide her assistance in obtaining the rich harvest needed next year.

For the most part, the rituals of the Slavs had to do with agriculture, since people in those days were busy with their lands and therefore the main thing for them was the harvest necessary for life.

Ancient rituals and church holidays

To this day, customs associated with visiting the graves of deceased relatives have been preserved. People go to the cemetery in church holidays, such as Trinity, Radunitsa, as well as Dmitrievskaya Saturday. This is where the tradition of remembering the dead came from, with candles lit and food and drinks left on their graves.

Among the ancient rituals are the Christmastide, which is still in effect today, in honor of which people at home commemorate their deceased relatives and friends. Holy Thursday is also relevant. IN in this case rituals associated with cleanliness. On this day, it is necessary to clean the whole house, wash all family members. The essence of the tradition is that this is how the souls of dead people are cleansed and warmed.

Mankind celebrates today also the ancient Slavic holiday, called Maslenitsa. This solemn event is closely connected with remembrance, and therefore today, as in the old days, they continue to prepare pancakes, which are taken to the grave of deceased relatives, and perform a ritual of remembrance.

During the celebration of Maslenitsa, fist fights were held in the air, and other competitions were also held under open air. Among the ancient Christian rites, there was a commemoration of a deceased person. Customs such as wedding, baptism came to modern world from the distant past.

Popular holidays and traditions associated with religion

With the retreat of paganism, holidays and rituals began to appear, incorporating teachings from religion. Every religion has its own special traditions, which can be daily, weekly, or annual. There are episodic rituals that are performed only once in a lifetime. Usually, they are related to life processes such as the birth of a child, marriage, or the death of a person.

The main traditions in Christianity

Among the important and basic customs in Christendom It is customary to consider such as birth, baptism, marriage with the accompanying wedding, death with the subsequent funeral service. The brightest and main celebration in the Christian world is considered Holy holiday Easter. This tradition ends with Lent.

Another colorful holiday is the Nativity of Christ, which is preceded by the Advent Fast.

The main traditions in Islam

Every Muslim is required to read a prayer called Namaz. A person should pray 5 times every day, regardless of where he is. In the Muslim world, there are several main celebrations that have their own meaning. This is Kurban Bayram - the ritual of sacrifice, Uraza Bayram - the holiday of breaking the fast, including Miraj - the night on which the seer Muhammad is raised to heaven, Mawlid - the birth of the prophet.

Solemn events are held according to the Muslim calendar.

Main traditions of Buddhism

This religion special place refers to the death of a person. An unusual burial ritual is performed, which includes several stages in its organization. Here it is necessary to read prayers, illuminate the burial places, and also perform a funeral service for the deceased person.

Vesak is an important holiday in Buddhism. It's bright solemn ceremony, held on the occasion of the birth, enlightenment, and departure of Gautama Buddha from the world of the living.

Significant New Year in Buddhism. He is more famous as Tsagan Sar. It is celebrated differently, depending on which school or direction. For Buddhists, such a celebration is associated with renewal, a new period in life. This festive event is held quite brightly, beautifully.

Major Traditions in Judaism

Considering important holidays and customs related to religion, it is worth noting the peculiarities of the traditions and ceremonial events of Jewish Jews. The most important and significant day in Judaism is the day of God - Saturday, that is, Shabbat. According to tradition, one commandment out of ten is fulfilled.

At this time, you can not work on the seventh day of the week. Shabbat is a very important ritual that is considered a fundamental part of the Jewish life process. This significant day has its own greeting - Shabbat shalom.

Hupa - beautiful holiday in Judaism, relating to the moment of marriage. The name of the solemn event comes from the canopy of the same name, which serves to hold a wedding ceremony under it. At the same time, people sing songs, dance, and perform ancient rituals aimed at the protection and well-being of the newlyweds.

Passover is another important and interesting holiday, which in Russian means - Easter.

Shavuot is a holiday event held to commemorate God's presentation of the Ten Commandments from the Bible to Moses.

The world of traditions, rituals, holidays, and religions of different peoples coexisting on one planet is diverse and amazing.

China is a country ancient customs in which the dogmas in relation to the family have been unshakable for many centuries. In this country, the leading role is given to the father-breadwinner, who must leave behind a strong family branch and take care of the continuation of the family. Therefore, the birth of a boy is a special happiness, but girls bring only misfortune and loss to the family, according to custom. Therefore, the number of men here significantly exceeds the number of women.

Japan

Japan is also characterized by patriarchy, but now the differentiation by gender is not so obvious. What is unusual for us is our attitude towards children under 6 years old - all their wishes are immediately realized, so children’s crying can be heard extremely rarely here. This feature is due to the fact that at the age of 5-6 children are taken to school, where strict rules and regulations prevail. The mother devotes the first 6 years of the child’s life only to his upbringing. The whole family lives under one roof.

Italy

In Italy, the meaning of family is very special: all relatives, even the most distant ones, are considered family. It is customary to organize joint dinners where everyone can communicate and discuss pressing problems. The Italian mother plays an important role, on whom a lot depends (and the choice of daughters-in-law and sons-in-law too).

Germany

In Germany, people get married quite late - on average after thirty years of age (it is believed that by this time the bride and groom will already be able to build a career to support their family). Children are raised at home until they are 3 years old, and then go to so-called “play groups.”

Great Britain

In Great Britain, raising children aims to form a true Englishman, according to strict requirements. From childhood, children are taught to restrain their emotions, parents do not show love too obviously, but this does not mean that they love their children less than others.

America

Americans think that socialization should be introduced as early as possible, which is why they take their children everywhere they can (including parties). It is believed that this will help the guys in adulthood.

Mexico

But in Mexico, the importance of marriage is very small, but the role of the amigo is much higher. Amigo is a community of men who support each other and help solve important problems. Often marriages are simply not registered because they have no social value in a given society.

France

French women devote very little time to raising children and go to work as quickly as possible so as not to lose precious opportunities to build a career. Therefore, a network of kindergartens is widely developed in France.

There are a huge number of customs in the world that govern family relationships. It should be remembered that even thousand-year-old traditions should not in any way neglect the value of human life.

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 with all possible ways. 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 poetic name"Yobai" existed in the Japanese outback until late XIX centuries. 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 Japanese girl If she came across an intractable woman, the upset young man had to go home. Like any tradition, the Yobai custom was regulated by strict rules. A potential lover had to go on a romantic date completely naked, since a night visit from a clothed man was considered robbery and could end in disaster for him. However, the guy had the right to cover his face and appear before the girl as a beautiful stranger. That's how Japanese they are role-playing games.

Tibet - a one-way journey

Once upon a time in Tibet, visiting men were greeted with genuine cordiality. In travel notes famous traveler Marco Polo tells of a local sexual tradition that required all young girls to have intercourse with at least twenty women before marriage. different men. 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. It has become a good sexual tradition in Swaziland when the king chooses from the participants of the parade new wife, 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. 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 their 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). For the ritual they chose married couple- parents of twins. The event was held in the field of the tribal leader and consisted of the following: the woman lay on her back, a plantain flower was placed in her vagina, and the husband had to get it out without using his hands, using only his penis. According to custom, the family of agronomists had to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act only in the leader’s field. There was no need to play role-playing games in the gardens of their fellow tribesmen; it was enough to dance a little.

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

Mesopotamia - temple prostitution

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

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

Russia is a country of Soviets

Family life in Rus' is not easy! The getting married couple had to feel this statement already at the wedding. All night before the holiday, the bride, according to ancient Slavic custom, unbraided her braids and sang sad songs with her bridesmaids. In the morning, a bunch of tedious wedding rituals awaited her, which continued until late in the evening and on an empty stomach. Even during 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. That's why young spouse gave the opportunity to rehabilitate over the next few nights. If things still didn’t work out, then experienced advisers were involved: the groom’s brother or father. It is known that in some villages in Ukraine, an authorized prompter sat comfortably under the bed, from where he helped the newlyweds with good advice on how to do everything right, and at the same time, with his presence, created the atmosphere of an unusual holiday.

Micronesia - love with a 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!

How are all countries of the world different from each other? Of course geographic 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 have a second wife until he gives the first one gold jewelry worth at least ten thousand dollars. It is generally accepted that this is how a man can confirm financial viability and prove his ability to feed several wives.

It’s not very civilized to talk at the table without asking permission from the owner of the house, and you shouldn’t choose pieces of food from a common dish too carefully. And if you decide to use a toothpick, then you should do it with your hand covering your mouth, as if you were playing a harmonica.

India

Among the interesting traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, the rituals of India occupy a special place. 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, is not recommended for tourists to enter. Why? Yes, because there are a huge number of monkeys that live there and 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, a method of revenge was practiced as revenge through suicide: an 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 a whole army of monkeys helped the god Rama to 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 and pointing your feet towards the Buddha statue. Going to Thailand, it is important to know that the Thais honor absolutely every image of a deity, and therefore you should not lean, step on or climb on the statues to make unusual photo. Another local tradition says: be sure to take off your shoes before entering someone's house or temple.

Norway

A special place among the customs and traditions of the peoples of the world is occupied by the way of life of the Norwegians. For example, in this country it is not customary to give up seats in public transport aged people. The fact is that here it is perceived as a demonstration of physical advantage. What else should you not do in Norway? Ask about how you are feeling. It's considered too personal.

It is not customary in Norway to hug when meeting. Usually people just shake hands or barely touch their fingertips. When parting, you can pat each other on the back. Another interesting tradition concerns visiting people: you should not go to someone without warning. In addition, it is imperative to inform exact time departure. It will not be possible to leave later than this time - the owners will show you the door at the appointed hour without a twinge of conscience.

Denmark

If you are interested unusual traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, we advise you to pay attention to Denmark. A flag hung in the window means that there is someone in this house who is celebrating a birthday.

A very interesting tradition applies to young 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 lonely and would like to meet someone.

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.

Local traditions also talk 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

When getting acquainted with the unusual customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot ignore the Andaman Islands. When meeting, one native sits on the lap of another native, puts his arm around his neck and begins to cry. No, no, he does not complain about his sad life and is not going to tell tragic episodes from his biography. This is how he simply expresses his joy at meeting a fellow tribesman.

Tibet

Among the strangest customs and traditions of the peoples of the world is the Tibetan ritual of showing each other their tongue when meeting. This custom appeared in the 9th century. Then Tibet was ruled by King Landarm, who was particularly cruel. The main sign of the king was his black tongue. The Tibetans were afraid that the king (or his soul) might inhabit someone after death, and therefore, for safety reasons, they began to stick out their tongues at each other.

If you also decide to join this tradition, make sure that you have not eaten anything before that could turn your tongue a dark color.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, it is not customary to look your interlocutor in the eyes. There are two reasons for this: the first is the inherent shyness of the Vietnamese, the second is that the interlocutor may be a more respected person and may have a higher rank. Talking about relating to children interesting traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, it is worth noting the Vietnamese ban on praising a newborn child. In this country it is believed that 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. The Vietnamese are distinguished by self-discipline and good upbringing, and therefore heated discussions among guests from Europe provoke 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 different nations peace. 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 cliff depends on the number of relatives of the 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. You can lead a woman to the altar twice, four times, too, but three times is strictly forbidden. Moreover, only marriage with a living person is prohibited. Therefore, men who decide not to stop at two marriages are forced to marry a tree for the third time. The wedding ceremony is usually not so magnificent, but there are guests and gifts. After the completion of the wedding celebrations, the invitees help the newly-made spouse become a widow - all together they cut down the bride. Problem solved, you can get married again.

Speaking about the wedding traditions and rituals of the peoples of the world, one cannot lose sight of the Greek traditions. Here during everything wedding celebration a young wife seeks 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 husband 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. For several months (or even years), parents bring their daughters a large number of flour food to make them fat. The fact is that curvy women are highly valued in these places, which means that it is easier for fat women to successfully marry.

It is customary for Vietnamese newlyweds to give two gifts. Here it is believed that one gift symbolizes an imminent divorce. Therefore, it is better to give two inexpensive gifts rather than one expensive one.

From time immemorial, every people surrounded their lives with regulated rules, hoping some to protect themselves from evil spirits, and others to come to an agreement with the forces of nature in their favor. As a rule, they were associated with religious beliefs, economic and social restrictions accepted in a given society. It seemed to people that only by performing ancient rituals would they be able to achieve all sorts of benefits from fate, the favor of the gods, and ensure the health of all descendants of their family up to the tenth generation. Therefore, most of these rituals are associated with the most important episodes life: with the position and status of a member of a family or tribe among relatives, with the stages of sexual maturation, with childbirth and funerals, with calls for a rich hunt or catch, a large harvest...

Many of these traditions seem today to be devoid of elementary meaning and monstrously cruel, not to say misanthropic! However, they still exist in the world, they are studied by ethnographers and, surprisingly, they find logical explanations for even the most strange and dangerous rituals.

The most unusual traditions, rituals and customs. Top 5

1. Here Africa, and the Maasai tribe from Kenya and Tanzania. In the life of the hunting community, the most important qualities of every mature man are considered to be endurance and fortitude. Boys remain there until they are almost 30 years old. To become a recognized man, you must undergo a special initiation rite called “emuratare”. It occurs every 10-15 years and ten- to twenty-year-old teenagers take part in it.

To carry it out, the entire population of the world is erecting an entire village. On the appointed day, ceremonial dancing and ceremonial singing and a feast take place, and the boys must drink a “cocktail” of bull’s blood, milk and alcohol, after which the elders subject them to circumcision. This is the most crucial moment in the male life of this tribe. After circumcision, the boy is considered a man and a warrior who has proven his fearlessness, willpower and contempt for mortal pain.

The wound takes three months to heal, and all this time the circumcised wear black clothes and live separately, in huts built for them by women. It is believed that this is how women express their respect for new warriors. But the ritual does not end there: for ten years the young men live in village camps, where they study the military wisdom accepted in their tribe and the traditions of their ancestors, learn to hunt and defend their village, and also raise livestock. Then comes the second part of the initiation: “eunoto”. This is a great holiday during which mother young man shaves his head. From now on he is considered a senior warrior and only after that he is allowed to marry.

3. But in Japan women are cared for differently. A girl's first menstruation is celebrated as a great day in the life of both herself and her family. Among the treats there must be red rice - not because of the color, but because it is the most expensive type of rice. Agree, it is a wise and beautiful tradition to glorify a woman and her power to procreate!

4. The same cannot be said about some European countries. Here is an unexpected example - a rich and respectable Switzerland. The cleanest air, wonderful ecology, famous ski resorts, reputable banks... Well, who would have thought that in this most civilized country there is such a wild tradition of rolling the bride in the mud? Yes, yes, in the literal sense.