Strange traditions of different peoples of the world. Unusual traditions and rituals of the peoples of the world

Ah, this wedding...!
Every self-respecting Andalusian is obliged to jump headfirst from a cliff before his wedding. According to the ancient customs of Andalusia, it is believed that only a man with a strong skull can marry. The paradox itself is that the more relatives a wife has, the higher the rock should be.
The wedding ceremony of the Navajo Indians amazes outside observers with its cruelty: before marriage, the bride’s tongue is cut out, and the groom’s....Perhaps this is why wives are famous for their silence, and husbands for their extraordinary constancy.
Solomon Islanders tackle infidelity married couples thus: under the leadership of the shaman, they sit in a circle and eat the half accused of treason. If the meat is bitter, then she is considered guilty; if not, the other half is eaten. In the event that both halves turn out to be innocent, legends are formed about their loyalty.
When a young Chinese child turns exactly one year old, he is placed on a yellow silk mat with black dragons embroidered by old masters and hit on the head with a hammer. If at the same time the sound “Zen” is heard, then the child is sent to a Zen Buddhist monastery; if the sound “Bam” is heard, he is considered an ordinary Chinese.
Only once in the entire history of China, during such a ritual, a strange “kon-fu” sound was heard, it was made by the head of a child who later became Confucius.
Since the feudal period in Japan, there has been a special caste of people who are popularly called samurai. Near each higher educational institution where human anatomy is studied, special premises (bonzaiki) were built, in which samurai live, earning their living from harakiri.
A bride for everyone. One of the wildest wedding traditions exists on the Polynesian islands. The newlyweds should spend their first wedding night not alone, but with friends. And without celebrating the wedding at all... The newly-made wife must lie on the floor, placing her head on her husband’s knees, and the male guests, starting with the eldest, have sexual intercourse with her. The groom is allowed to visit the bride's body last. All this time, the female guests sing and dance around. This tradition is explained by the fact that among many peoples, the blood released during defloration is considered dirty and saturated with demons. Therefore, men, starting with the most senior and respected ones, cleanse the bride of demons in this way.

First there is a fight, and then there is love. The laws of the Bahutu tribe prohibit newlyweds from having sex immediately after marriage. On their wedding night, the newlyweds go to the husband's house, where the young wife begins to beat her husband with everything she can get her hands on. In the morning she goes home, and in the evening she returns and everything repeats. Such beatings continue for a week, after which the long-awaited act of love occurs. This tradition is explained by the fact that before making love, newlyweds must get used to each other, and fighting helps a lot in this.

Family life for 3 days. Young girls from one of the peoples of India get married for only three days. After these days, the young husband must leave his wife’s house forever and never come into her sight again. After this the girl begins happy life: she has every right takes as many lovers as he wants and does not deny himself anything.

Bride: the thicker the better. In Central Nigeria, the question of when it is time for a girl to get married is decided by the elders of the tribe. And that's not the worst part. After the decision is made, the girl is locked in a special hut for several months, or even a whole year, and fattened up. She should not do anything except eat as much fatty and high-calorie food as possible all day long in order to gain weight faster. It is believed that the fatter the bride, the more beautiful she is.

Among the ancient Arabs, the law prescribed that a son, as a special privilege, should become the husband of his widowed mother.

A traditional Bedouin wedding dish is roasted camel, inside of which is a roasted lamb stuffed with boiled chicken, which is stuffed with fish, and the fish is stuffed with eggs.

To be considered a bride and groom in Bulgaria, a guy just needs to throw an apple at his beloved girl. And after the wedding night, the groom notified everyone present at the wedding about a successful outcome with a shot from a gun.

Australian Aborigines shared wives within the same clan. The only condition was that the owner liked this man. In this case, refusing sexual favors meant insulting and disrespecting the family.

Each nation has its own customs and traditions. Traditions can be the most original and interesting, even unexpected. And peoples pass on these traditions from generation to generation. So let's get acquainted with the most interesting traditions and customs.

Samoa

Samoans are accustomed to following the tradition of sniffing each other when they meet. Now this is not done as seriously as before, but simply respect and tribute to the ancestors. Previously, a person was sniffed to understand where he was from. Samoans could identify a variety of things by smell. For example, when he ate last time, or how long he spent walking through the jungle. But the most common thing they did by smell was identify a stranger.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, Maori people also have an unusual tradition of saying hello. They touch each other's noses. This tradition began quite a long time ago. After they touched noses, that person became a friend, not an ordinary person. It is worth noting that this tradition is observed even at the highest level. So, if you see a president rubbing another president's nose, you may not be surprised. These are the customs and culture of a given country, so they should not be neglected.

Andaman Islands

Here it is customary to sit on another person’s lap, hug the neck and cry. But you shouldn’t worry that everything is bad in his life and he complains to the person. The fact is that he is very happy to meet his friend, and tears are a sincere joy that fills him from meeting a loved one.

Kenya

There is a tribe in Kenya called the Maasai. They observe these traditions. For example, it is recommended to dance the welcome dance. The dance is performed exclusively by the male part. The dancers stand in a circle and jump high. The higher the jump, the braver and more courageous the warrior. After all, when hunting lions, they have to jump.

What interesting tradition does Tibet have?

It's customary to stick your tongue out here. This custom goes back to ancient times. Then a tyrant with a black tongue ruled there. The inhabitants of Tibet were afraid that even after death the tyrant would move in and commit atrocities, so they began to stick their tongues out at each other in order to protect themselves.

Advice

But before you do this yourself, while you are here, make sure that your tongue is not stained dark from food, otherwise you will be misunderstood and something not very pleasant may happen. And don't forget to cross your arms over your chest.

Japan

Japan, and other eastern countries, have an unusual tradition. Here you need to take off your shoes. In Japan, caring owners give you slippers, but only to get to the living room, and then you have to take off your shoes again and be barefoot. And socks must be perfectly clean.

Advice

When leaving guests, don’t forget what your slippers look like and don’t wear someone else’s.

Thailand

In that part of the country where Buddhism flourishes, it is not customary to touch someone else's head, because... it is considered offensive. The fact is that the head here is a sacred repository in which the soul is concentrated. Even babies' heads are not touched here. You should also not point your finger at anyone, because... it's very rude in Malaysia. If you want to point at someone, then use a clenched fist with your thumb extended (it is the one that shows the direction). And in the Philippines it’s not even customary to show it like that. They are quite modest people, so they show the direction with their eyes.

Interesting wedding traditions

Wedding in India

There is an unusual tradition in India. A third marriage cannot be carried out here. You can marry 4 times, or 2 times, but you can’t get married 3 times. But this ban applies exclusively to living people, so some men marry a tree for the third time. At the same time, all wedding traditions and customs are observed. Finishing wedding celebration, the groom begins to “widow” by cutting down a tree. And therefore, a third marriage is no longer scary. This also happens when the younger brother decides to get married, but the older brother is not yet married. Then the latter marries the tree, becomes a widow and gives way to his younger brother. Each country has an incredible interesting customs and traditions. It is very interesting to recognize them and even observe them when you come to a particular country. Therefore, read informative articles and broaden your horizons, and then go to different countries and learn new traditions.

The traditions of different peoples of our planet conceal many interesting and unknown things.

And the mysterious, sometimes even forbidden, topic of sex could not remain aside from customs and, accordingly, was reflected in various rituals, sometimes very unusual.

Sexual caresses and partner arousal

1. Among the inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands, one of the sexiest caresses is considered to be nibbling on a partner's eyelashes.

2. In Korea, it was believed that the best way to increase a man’s arousal was to inject 1-2 cm into the root of the penis with a needle.

3. Men of the Panape tribe, which lives in Micronesia, stimulate their partners with the help of ants, which sting very painfully. The insects are specially kept in boxes and, in the midst of sexual caresses, are planted directly on the clitoris of the beloved.

4. The sexual traditions of some other African tribes are also associated with insects, namely with the same ants. Partners place their buttocks under their stings, which, as a result of poisonous bites, turn into a continuous erogenous zone...

5. Before making love, a couple from the Siron tribe in Eastern Bolivia has long had a tradition of cleaning each other from ticks, lice and fleas. For greater excitement, lovers also swallow these insects.

It was believed that this atavism remained in the Siron tribe from the monkeys. However, upon closer examination, it turned out that one of the varieties of lice that can live on the human body has a pronounced stimulating effect. It continues sexual arousal for hours and makes it more durable. Maybe this is why the Siron Indians can have sex every day for 5-6 hours.

6. But in Zimbabwe they love dry sex. There it is believed that friction should be hard. Therefore, before sexual intercourse, local women rub their intimate organs with special herbs that create increased dryness. And men make special scar cuts on the penis so that the friction is as strong as possible.

Defloration and amputation

7. Men of the Hottentot tribe from South Africa maintained the tradition of amputating one of their testicles. This is done to prevent twins from being born in the family, the appearance of which is considered a curse for the tribe.

8. In many Islamic countries, for example in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the custom of ceremonial defloration has been preserved to this day. This is when the hymen is torn with the index finger. right hand, wrapped in white cloth, which, of course, should be dyed red. This happens publicly during the wedding ritual. And this despite the fact that the bride, and then the wife, can only show her face to her husband.

9. An even more terrible ritual of defloration occurs in certain tribes of equatorial Africa. The girls are sent into the jungle so that the role of the first man will be played by... a male gorilla. And if a girl failed to attract the “monkey,” this cast a shadow on her reputation as a potential spouse: they say even the gorilla didn’t bite! It is clear that most often this ended in an attack, or an imitation of an attack by one of the tribesmen. At the same time, he could literally do whatever he wanted with the unfortunate girl. The more injuries and mutilations a virgin received, the higher position she then occupied in the hierarchy of the tribe. This is the price to pay for sexual disability.

10. In the Zakai tribe (Sumatra island), the bride had to be deflowered by the father, who was helped by the bride’s uncles, i.e. brothers of father and mother (regardless of age). Sometimes up to 25 men aged from 70 to 10 years gathered at the bed of the unfortunate girl.

11. B ancient india The defloration procedure was performed for money by people specially trained in this “skill.” The decision to take the girl to such a specialist was made by her mother. Deflowering took place using the symbol of a phallus made of stone, wood or other materials. After this, the girl was injected into the vagina with a special remedy made from medicinal leaves, which heals and reduces discomfort. At the same time, the blood that the girl lost during the process, by the decision of the parents, could be collected and further used as a love spell.

12. Almost all tribes in South America and some African tribes had a widespread tradition of deflowering themselves with a wooden dildo. After which the torn hymen was covered with pieces of antiseptic plants.

13. A in Papua New Guinea the right to deprive a girl of her virginity belonged exclusively to the high priest. This happened with the help wooden knife. And the groom was obliged to invite other men to “test” the newly-made bride. Only after this was the wedding celebrated and the wife had to remain faithful in the marriage.

14. Quite the opposite was done in some tribes in Africa. There they fought to “save” the bride. And they solved this matter radically - the girl’s vagina is simply sewn up early age and “reveal” it only before the wedding at a special council of elders.

15. In the 19th century, it became popular in Europe to feign virginity, and the art was passed down from mothers to daughters. The girls created bleeding using a fish bladder, a sponge soaked in blood, or other tricks. Even then, the vaginal opening was sometimes stitched together, and sometimes special drugs were used to narrow it. Well, today feigning innocence is a well-established surgical operation.

16. And in Japan, virginity can only be proven by heavy bleeding, so special balls filled with a liquid similar to blood were inserted into the vagina to simulate it.

Traditions of polygamy and substitution

17. But if you think that virginity is a value, then you have never heard of the customs of the Tibetans. In this mountainous region, marriage with an untouched girl was considered a disgrace. And if the village found out about this fact, the couple could be expelled altogether... Therefore, the mothers literally ordered the girl to give herself to at least twenty men. Moreover, Tibet has never been a nearby populated place, which made the process particularly extreme. However, telling your husband about the number of partners was considered unethical. The lists of those who were blessed were kept by the mother-in-law and mother-in-law.

18. Similar traditions still exist on the island of Mangaia in Oceania. The mothers there approve of their daughters having many sexual partners. It is believed that this way the girl has a chance to choose the best groom. Therefore, after her 18th birthday, if a girl stays away from men, then 20-30 peers and other single men are literally driven through her bed. Group sexual violence is also not prohibited, so girls prefer to be very sociable with the opposite sex.

19. And here is how researcher Jacques Marciro describes a wedding in the Marquesas Islands: “All the men invited to the wedding stand in line, singing and dancing, and in turn, in order of seniority, perform sexual intercourse with the bride.”

20. But in the Shilluk tribe, which lives in Central Africa, it's the other way around. There is a tradition there of marrying the king to several dozen beauties (up to 77). But this is the case when the harem is sorrow, not joy. Essentially, harem slaves condemn their master to death. As soon as ten or more women begin to complain that a man does not satisfy them, the poor fellow is threatened not only with overthrow from an honorary post, but also with death in terrible agony. For, as the Shilluk belief goes, an impotent person cannot betray the power of the earth's fertility. The worst thing about this is the death penalty. Here's who Viagra probably saves lives

21. In Kamchatka, for many centuries, it was considered a great honor if a guest entered into an intimate relationship with the host’s wife. Accordingly, the latter made every effort to look as seductive as possible in front of the guest. If a child appeared in a hospitable hostess as a result of such contact, the event was celebrated by the entire settlement... This blessed time ended at the beginning of the 20th century, but its echoes have survived to this day in the form of anecdotes. By the way, the Kamchadals do not have the concept of adultery in their language, and they treat adultery much more calmly than other peoples.

22. A similar custom existed in everyday life Australian Aboriginals from the Arunta tribe. True, they shared their wives with each other. Therefore, modern swingers are not innovators at all. The Alaskan Eskimos and Chukchi reindeer herders observed the tradition of loaning their wives to men from a stronger clan.

23. Also in the valleys of mountainous Tibet, they also believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then this was the highest will of the gods, and he should be allowed to “use” her. In Mongolia, the owner of a yurt in which there is a guest will, as a matter of course, offer to spend the night with his wife.

24. Few people know, but some temples in southern India can give a head start to brothels. For example, in the Saundatti temple, the tradition of sacred prostitution has flourished for hundreds of years. During festivals and when there is a large flow of pilgrims, "jogamma" and "jogappa" - young women and boys - copulate with the pilgrims in exchange for their donations to the temple. These acts of love are dedicated to the "mother of the world" goddess Yellama, her husband Yamadagni and their son Parazuram, who, as the myth tells, cut off his mother's head.

It happens something like this: before entering the chambers, they pronounce a mantra, leave donations to the temple and the gods, and hide behind a heavy drapery. There, believers and ministers of the Yellama cult fall into a trance and, half-oblivious, perform the ritual of “maituna” - “saving intercourse.” After some time, they, “purified and enlightened,” come out of the door on the opposite side of the hall. At the same time, “jogamma” and “jogappa” look quite exotic - as a sign of piety, they never take care of their hair. There are practically no parishioners near the temple.

29. Imagine a wedding procession: at the altar there is a fifteen-year-old bride and five brother grooms, from six to twenty-six years old. Among the Tibetan Ning-ba tribe in northwestern Nepal, the land - the main local treasure - is inherited by a woman. By giving one of his daughters in marriage to several men, Ning-ba is actually hired labor and avoid crushing the land. Others are destined for the fate of novices in the monastery.
Men share a woman among themselves very simply: the one who happens to spend the night in the matrimonial bedroom leaves his shoes at the entrance, thereby warning others that “the place is occupied.”

Flirting

30. An interesting concept was flirting in Tanzania. To lure a man, Tanzanian women steal his hoe and sandals. It’s just that these items are of particular value by local standards. The man will have to come for them, willy-nilly. And there already...

31. Another interesting custom that indirectly relates to the Aborigines of North-Eastern Australia before 1945 - they were engaged in... penis-sucking. Every stranger, coming to a local village, had to give his penis to the inhabitants of the village of the stronger sex...

32. But during the Renaissance, sex became more open and acquired new rituals. So, for example, during a wedding, one of the guests climbed under the skirt of a girl sitting at the table and stole her garter (note that underwear was not worn then). The girl had to pretend that nothing was happening, and then the groom bought the bandage.

33. On the occasion of Worso, an annual festival marking the end of the rainy season and the awakening of nature, young men from the Bororo tribe in Niger carefully paint and dress up. Make-up is an important part of the ceremony, which can last six days and six nights. A thick layer of ocher is applied to the face, and then rubbed with fat for shine. During the holiday itself, young men with massive masks (sometimes the layer of makeup reaches 3-5 cm) on their faces participate in a beauty contest, the jury of which consists of the 10 most beautiful girls of the tribe. Moreover, they must be completely naked, and the dancers’ faces must be painted the same way, so that masterful mastery of the art of makeup does not interfere with the girls’ impartial assessment of male virtues. The eerie smile frozen on their faces is needed to show the whiteness of their teeth, and their bulging eyes are needed to show off the brightness of the whites. The one who wins can choose any number of girls and be with them for the next month. Those remaining on the panel of judges are divided among the closest rivals of the lucky winner. Another 4-5 guys get the right to go with one of the young beauties to the nearest forest and become a real man. Well, the rest will wait until next year.

34. Among the Nuba people, from Sudan, the main day of the year is considered the “holiday of choosing husbands.” At sunrise, the potential newlyweds begin their love dances and dance until all the brides choose one of their fellow tribesmen. Moreover, when a woman places her hand on her chosen one’s shoulder as a sign of her affection, he does not even dare to raise his eyes to his future wife. Perhaps because the bride, while decorating herself the night before, slightly overdid it with ritual wounds and incisions. However, the future family life- this is by no means a settled fact. Even after public erotic games, the future of the marriage remains a big question. Even if the young warrior managed to please the beauty, until he builds a house for her, he will live among the cattle and will be able to visit his beloved only at night, secretly sneaking into the house of future relatives.

Sexy accessories

35. On the island of Sumatra, men of the Batta tribe inserted small sharp pieces of metal or pebbles under the foreskin, believing that this would give their partner special pleasure. In this case, the “decorations” injured both partners.

36. Argentine Araucan Indians loved to attach a tassel made of horsehair to the male penis, and sometimes the woven jewelry reached 1.5-2 meters in length, and then they were elegantly tied around the neck.

37. The Indians of the Brazilian Topinamba tribe believed that the main thing was size. In their opinion, a woman can only like the reproductive organ big size. Therefore, they not only lengthened the penis with all possible ways, but they also tried to expose their male organ to poisonous snakes, spiders and other insects for a bite, and then bandaged them, trying to contain the swelling.

38. The Indians turned out to be even more inventive! Indian treatises prescribed the use of intimate piercings for men made of gold, silver, iron, wood or buffalo horns to enhance sensitivity. After these tortures, the phallus became literally impaled on a rod and pierced in several places. A slightly more humane device was the “yalaka” - a hollow tube with a surface covered with knobs. Compared to it, modern condoms with pimples are nonsense. But the main difference between this accessory and a condom is that sometimes it remained in an intimate place forever. In some cases, by accident, and a little later, on purpose.

39. But on the island of Bali, women tried to decorate themselves. They inserted various small objects into intimate places - rings, stones, nuts. On the one hand, this, in their opinion, helped fertility, on the other hand, they managed to bring more pleasure to men.

40. Interesting sexual traditions still exist in Japan. For example, at fertility festivals, men wear costumes that include huge penises made from papier-mâché. Calm at normal times, they have fun and run screaming through the streets after women.

41. In Japan, not only male genitals are celebrated, but also female ones - at the so-called “vagina festival”. Then there is a parade during which a huge model of a vagina is shown. It is carried along the street and sometimes opened. Then the girl sits inside and throws away the rice cakes that people catch on the streets.

42. Well, every five years in this country there is a special ceremony during which images of both male and female genital organs are shown. It takes place in Inuyama. The phallic deities are brought here from the Temple in Taga, and the image of the female vagina is brought from Ogata. During these phallic festivals, the sexual act itself may be demonstrated. For example, in Chibi, near Tokyo, a huge wooden phallus is inserted into a giant female vulva made of straw. For greater clarity, spectators pour strong, milky sake called “frill” over the image of the female genital organ.

Other

43. To avoid getting pregnant out of wedlock, the Slavs used very unusual positions. For example, sex was very common while standing, or when a girl was held in her arms. Another method, the “rider” pose, which is still popular today, was also intended specifically to reduce the risk of getting knocked up. Another option - sex in water - was also considered a purely Slavic option and, in addition to hygiene, in the opinion of our ancestors, contributed to a decrease in the birth rate. Later, the authorities and the church introduced a ban on the “standing” and “riding” positions - it is difficult to get pregnant with it, which means it is “not for childbearing, but only for the sake of weakness,” that is, for pleasure. Those who performed sexual acts in water were declared sorcerers and witches. The norms of Christianity dictated only one position for a woman during sex - face to face, lying motionless from below. Kissing was prohibited. Back then, a “good wife” was considered an asexual wife who had an aversion to sex.

45. In Colombia, in the city of Cali, a woman can only have sex with her husband, and when this happens for the first time, the bride's mother must be nearby to witness what happened.

46. ​​​​In Guam, a virgin is prohibited from getting married. That's why there is a special profession there - deflorator. Such a specialist travels around the country and, for a fee, provides girls with the service of deflowering.

47. In Libya, men are officially allowed to have sex with animals. However, there is an important limitation: the animals must be female. Relationships with male animals are punishable by death. In general, in most countries of the Middle East one of the fundamental laws Islam: Under no circumstances should you eat the sheep with which you had sexual intercourse. A person who decides to eat such a sheep commits a mortal sin and will never go to heaven.

48. In some African tribes there is a custom: before getting married, the chosen one must prove his perseverance to the parents of his bride. The groom comes to his father, who examines him, feels his muscles, looks into his mouth. After which the sentence is heard: “17 times.” That’s how many times a guy will satisfy the bride’s mother! Moreover, the number can go far beyond a hundred, and the guy will be forced to do this almost continuously! Some cannot stand it and run away, and whoever passes the test will become a husband and will be respected by the entire tribe. This is such a difficult test.

49. The tribes of North-West Africa hold a monthly sex lottery. Each man draws lots with which woman he will spend the night. All women present throw their erotic talismans into the basket. The man who pulls out the woman’s talisman will be her sexy gentleman at this celebration of love. Joy and happiness illuminate those men who got the most beautiful and sexy women. Instantly they drag their prey into the surrounding bushes and disappear there until the morning. And those who had to spend the night with ugly women are upset. But that's the custom. If you refuse your lot, you will be forever barred from further participation in such competitions. But how happy the old women are! They drag healthy and strong men behind their huts like stubborn donkeys: And you can’t escape your fate anywhere - after all, it’s a lottery!

50. The African pygmies practice the following custom: the bride is taken to the groom’s house, after which she runs away from there and tries to hide in the forest. Friends of the future spouse find her, take her to the house of the chosen one’s mother and have sex with her for five days! But that's not all. For three days, all the men of the tribe who wandered into the house of the groom’s mother can make love with the girl, and only after that she remains forever with her husband. I wonder what condition...

How are all the countries of the world different from each other? Of course geographical location and national composition. But there is something more. Today we will talk about the most interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world.

Türkiye

A Turkish man cannot get a second wife until he gives the first one gold jewelry worth at least ten thousand dollars. It is generally accepted that this is how a man can confirm his financial solvency and prove his ability to support several wives.

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

India

Among the interesting traditions and customs of the peoples of the world special place are occupied by the rituals of India. 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 along the streets of populated areas. Cows die naturally, usually from old age, because eating their meat is prohibited in India.

But not only artiodactyls have the status of sacred animals. Monkey temples are being built in this country. The most famous is the Palace of the Winds, which, by the way, tourists are not recommended to enter. Why? Yes, because 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. Due to the fact that girls experienced terrible pain and had difficulty moving, foot binding was officially banned in 1912. But in some regions of the country this is still practiced.

Today in the Celestial Empire there are also interesting traditions. For example, when going on a visit, you should not take flowers with you. The owners of the house take this as a hint that the house is so uncomfortable and unattractive that the guest decided to decorate it himself.

Many customs and traditions of the peoples of the world are associated with food intake. China is no exception. Here, for example, slurping is not a sign of uncivil behavior, but quite the opposite. If you don't slurp at the table, it can offend both the owners of the house where you are invited for lunch or dinner, and the cook in the restaurant. Residents of the Middle Kingdom consider quiet eating to be eating without pleasure. There is no need to worry about stains accidentally placed on the tablecloth. You should even deliberately stain it, thereby making it clear that the food brought you incredible pleasure.

Thailand

Speaking about the most unusual customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, it is worth noting the so-called monkey banquet, which is usually held in the province of Thailand called Lopburi. This happens as follows: literally thousands of kilograms of fresh vegetables and fruits are brought to the local temple and about two thousand monkeys are invited. These animals are loved here because once an entire army of monkeys helped God Rama defeat his enemies.

There are other traditions. For example, it is not recommended to point at something (let alone someone) with your foot. The lower part of the body is considered despicable in this country. By the way, it is for this reason that you should not sit with one leg crossed over the other and pointing your feet towards the Buddha statue. When traveling to Thailand, it is important to know that the Thais revere absolutely every image of a deity, and therefore you should not lean on, step on or climb on statues to make unusual photo. Another local tradition is to be sure to take off your shoes before entering someone's house or temple.

Norway

The lifestyle of the Norwegians occupies a special place among the customs and traditions of the peoples of the world. For example, in this country it is not customary to give up seats 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 in unusual traditions and customs of the peoples of the world, we recommend paying attention to Denmark. A flag hung in the window means that there is someone in this house who is celebrating a birthday.

A very interesting tradition applies to young men and girls whose age has reached 25 years. They are usually sprinkled with cinnamon. This is done so that the pleasant smell helps representatives of the opposite sex understand that this person lonely and would like to meet someone.

Japan

Discussing the interesting customs and traditions of the peoples of the world, one cannot help but mention 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 here they simply 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 an evil spirit 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 to touch the gift with your right hand, and then you need to hold the giver by his right hand.

USA

In the United States of America, it is customary to celebrate almost any event. This list includes birthdays, weddings, the birth of children or pregnancy, and much more. For the hero of the occasion, for example, guests usually arrange a procedure called showering.

What gifts are they showering? It all depends on the occasion. These can be items useful in the household (towels, pancake pans or vases), but you can also receive very frivolous gifts.

Wedding customs

Well, and as a bonus - wedding traditions and customs of different peoples of the world. For example, every even slightly self-respecting resident of Andalusia is simply obliged to jump from a cliff headfirst before their wedding. It’s just that ancient traditions say: only a man with a strong skull can marry. But the most interesting thing is different: the height of the 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.

It may seem funny wedding tradition, which is observed in some parts of India. Some states prohibit third marriages. It is possible to lead a woman to the altar twice, four times too, but three times is strictly prohibited. Moreover, only marriage with a living person is prohibited. Therefore, men who decide not to stop at two marriages are forced to marry a tree for the third time. The wedding ceremony is usually not so magnificent, but there are guests and gifts. After the wedding celebrations are over, the invitees help the newly-made spouse become a widower - all together they cut down the bride. Problem solved, you can get married again.

When talking about wedding traditions and rituals of the peoples of the world, one cannot lose sight of the Greek traditions. Here, during the entire wedding celebration, the young wife strives to step on her husband’s foot. The best way to do this is through dance. Such a maneuver, according to local beliefs, suggests that a woman has every chance of becoming the head of the family.

In the Nicobar Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, a man who expressed a desire to marry a girl had to become her slave for some time (usually from six months to a year). During this time, the girl had to think about everything and give an answer. If she agrees to marry, the village council declares the couple man and wife. If he refused, the man was forced to return home.

One of the most interesting wedding traditions and customs of the peoples of the world can be safely 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), mothers bring their daughters a large number of flour food to make them fat. The fact is that in these places curvaceous women are highly valued, which means that it is easier for fat women to get married successfully.

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

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 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

Samoans sniff each other when they meet. For them it's tribute soon 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 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

In Tibet, when meeting, people stick their tongues out at each other. Such the custom goes since IX, 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.

Japan

And not only in Japan, but everywhere in the east, you must be prepared for one of the main traditions of the peoples of the east - to immediately take off your shoes. In Japan, you will be offered slippers to 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.

* 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 appears 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 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 act 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 multiple meanings, in this case 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

The chopsticks should be leaning against the dish and raised two-thirds up. You should never put food on sticks like a spear, cross them over each other on a plate, stack them different sides dishes, pointing chopsticks at people, using chopsticks to pull the dish closer to yourself, or worst of all, sticking them into the 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

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 manners 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. It's worth it first given 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, famous Palace Vetrov, where monkeys live in such numbers and are so aggressive that tourists are not recommended to even go there! Along the streets settlements other sacred animals - cows - are walking around. 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 sorrow, 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. Because loud voices Europeans are often viewed 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.

IN Everyday life Vietnamese people have many different taboos. For example, the following:

* Do not praise a newborn baby because evil spirits 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 does 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 behavior for visitors - smoking ban in 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 language here they understand well, then the chance of deception decreases.

Very important has greeting etiquette. 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 and 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 thai, which is thus trying to return to our world. This spirit collective image all the dead who are trying to return through unborn children. Pregnant women should not look at shooting stars 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 the 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 closed doors gift 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 live little by little.” 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 the 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 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 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 holiday or have decided to start 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, up to the possibility of ending up on the wrong 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 one says the phrase "green cap" in Chinese, it sounds remarkably similar to Chinese word, meaning “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 is found in cultures and communities throughout to 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 believed 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!