Eleven surprising customs from around the world
One thing that sets humans apart from other members of the animal kingdom is their desire to develop customs and traditions. Humans love doing this so much that the world has been enriched with thousands of different cultures since the dawn of civilisation. They have their beliefs about what they think is normal, acceptable, and right or wrong, but not all cultures share our beliefs and values. These differences can cause severe culture shock. Below are some astonishing customs from around the world.
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Spitting in Greek cultures is a kind of good luck charm that is supposed to help ward off the devil. Today, the custom has evolved into a more symbolic act where guests mainly forcefully utter ‘ftou ftou ftou’. Greeks do this at other special occasions too, including baptisms in order to acknowledge the beauty and good health of the baby. Spitting can even be done as a superstitious measure during regular conversation.
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Another odd custom associated with the United States is its intricate tipping culture. Unlike many other countries who don’t tip at all or who only tip in small amounts when the food was particularly good, tipping is rather mandatory at most restaurants in the US. In fact, it is expected that patrons leave between 10 to 20 per cent of the bill in tips. This custom is really important for the waiters because legal wages for them are low. Further, there are rules for tipping bartenders, delivery people and other service personnel. While some criticise this practice as irrational, there’s no doubt that tipping culture in the US gives an incentive for waiters and waitresses to provide better service.
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While cemeteries are the sites of spooky areas in many countries, this is not so much the case in the ever so secular Denmark. Many people might prefer to hang out in parks, but the Danes find it becoming to convert their cemeteries into areas for socialising. These cemeteries are well manicured and teeming with locals when the weather finally begins to warm up. Assistens Kirkegård in the country’s capital, Copenhagen, provides a perfect example.
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Some countries find the act of pointing with the index finger to be rude. While members of most cultures would probably agree that pointing fingers, both literally and figuratively isn’t exactly the nicest thing in the world. In countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, this gesture can be seen as incredibly offensive. Instead, it is customary to gesture towards things with the thumb as a more polite option.
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Most societies around the world have rules about table etiquette. For western cultures, noisily consuming food is considered rude. In Japan, however, making slurping sounds while eating has an entirely different meaning. This might have something to do with the fact that in western countries, noodles are properly consumed by twirling them on a spoon before putting them in the mouth. Meanwhile, the Japanese simply slurp up their noodles without contorting them first, an act that is naturally noisier than the former. Making slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan is a way of indicating that you’re really enjoying them.
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In some countries, using the left hand for eating or other activities is considered quite rude and insulting. This rule applies to several places around the world, including much of the Middle East, Sri Lanka, India and parts of Africa. To be safe, always use your right hand for greeting, handling merchandise, exchanging money and, of course, eating while spending time in any of these parts of the world.
Adapted from the CultureTrip website