Unusual rituals. The most unusual sexual rituals and customs of the peoples of the world From temple prostitution in Mesopotamia to the ancient Japanese sexual tradition with the poetic name “Yobai”

Shaking hands as a sign of greeting for weaklings
Forget about wiping noses. Men from some Eskimo tribes line up to greet a stranger. After which the first of them steps forward and gives the stranger a good slap on the top of the head, and expects a similar response from the stranger. The slaps and blows continue until one of the parties (the Eskimos or their unfortunate guest) falls to the ground. Want to try this greeting? How would you like the tradition that flourishes among some tribes in Papua New Guinea? There it is customary to greet a man by touching the tip of his penis... men walk there almost naked.

Gender is a relative concept
For many Indians and Native Americans, the concept of “third kind” was quite popular (as a rule, it was applied to men who led a female lifestyle). Anthropologists call them “berdachi”, and contemporaries of such people called them more simply - “two-spirited”; berdachi played an important role in the life of the community. According to an article by researcher Richard Drexler published in the journal Social History, double-spirits tended to spend time in the company of women, doing housework such as cooking, sewing or any other social role characteristic of a woman. Moreover, other men from the tribe could take double-spirited men as wives. Drexler provides evidence in his article that boys, endowed with special beauty by nature, were initially raised as “berdachi”, because their beauty could later attract potential husbands. Unmarried “berdachi” played the role of “companions” of young warriors, who, if there were no double-spirits, would have turned their sexual energy to young girls from the tribe.

Will I marry you? Catch me if you can
When people began to unite into clans and tribes, the concept of “courtship” included a raid on the territory of neighbors, ending with the capture of a woman, who was forced to marry the valiant kidnapper. And although bride kidnappings died down with the advent and spread of organized religious beliefs, some cultural “atavisms” of this tradition live on to this day. Among the Arabs living in the Sinai Peninsula, there is a tradition: a girl receives the status of purity and modesty, which is directly proportional to how much she will resist on her wedding day and how many tears she will shed on this occasion. According to Irish tradition, a marriage is unlikely to be recognized as legal unless the bride makes an attempt to escape and the groom's friends do not catch her. In Wales, the tradition is that the bride's relatives should intercept the bride at the church door and try to escape with her, forcing the groom and his relatives to give chase; when the stolen bride is caught, she will be ceremoniously handed over to her future husband.

A real man
A boy from the South African Xhosa tribe is considered a "thing" and not a person until he undergoes a traditional circumcision ritual called "abakweta". Catherine Stewart writes that the ritual is usually performed after the boy has completed the teenage stage of his life, but it can be performed earlier. To perform the ritual, the surgeon-priest comes to the family’s house at dawn, and as soon as the women see him, they begin to moan. As soon as the priest notices the boy who is about to undergo an initiation ceremony, he begins to scream, calling the unfortunate man a “dog” or a “thing.” The operation is performed with a sharpened blade, the boy should neither cry nor contort in pain. As soon as the foreskin is separated, the “doctor” proudly declares: “You are now a man” and throws the cut skin in front of the boy, who must lift the skin and, clenching it tightly in his fist, repeat: “I am a man.” The boy must bury his foreskin in an anthill, his wound will be lined with special leaves and smeared with mud. After which the priest prepares a mixture of water and earth from an anthill, smears this slurry on the face and chest of an accomplished man and, to top it off, forces him to drink a whole sip of the water-earth slurry. After this stage of the execution, the boy is painted from head to toe with white clay and wrapped in a new blanket, and the father of the “man” pays the priest 50 cents. Unfortunately, as Stewart testifies, many young people are then taken to Eastern Cape hospitals with conditions such as severe dehydration, sepsis and gangrene, many of whom never make a full recovery.

Bath twice a year, but why more often?
Due to the prejudices and excessive dissatisfaction of the church regarding the sight of the naked human body, Medieval Europe practically forgot about regular bathing and personal hygiene. Even wealthy families gave themselves a “full wash” no more than a couple of times a year, in May and October. Twice a year people took a bath in a huge tub filled with hot water. The head of the family or the owner of the house was the first to climb into the clean hot water, followed in order of priority by his sons, immediately after them all male relatives or guests who were currently on the estate. As soon as the men somehow scraped off the dirt from themselves, it was the women’s turn, the mistress of the house went first, after which the female children, the babies had to be dipped into the already pretty dirty water last. By the time it was the babies’ turn, the water in the tub was already so black that medieval matrons were strongly advised not to let go of the baby while bathing. So, actually, there is nothing surprising in the fact that women covered their hair, and men shaved their heads bald and wore wigs. But not everyone, not everyone, could afford good quality wigs. Instead of washing the wigs, they were stuffed into a loaf of bread gutted from the inside and baked in the oven. The heat of the oven fluffed the wig, making it voluminous, and voluminous hair was considered a sign of human health.

Seven times a year for success
Seven times a year, during a festival called Pon, Indonesians go on a pilgrimage to the holy mountain on the island of Java to perform a ritual that brings good luck. In order to receive the blessing of good fortune, they must spend the night of love with someone other than their own spouses. According to legend, wishes will come true only if an Indonesian lies with the same person all seven times.

Burning with love
Despite the fact that the “sati” ritual was banned in 1829, India could not easily and quickly abandon this part of its ancient culture. When a man died, his body was carried to the cremation ground, accompanied by his wife, dressed in her best attire, and her friends and relatives. Arriving at the cremation site, the wife had to walk around the funeral pyre 7 times and sit next to her husband’s body, rejoicing that she could depart to another world with him. After which the relatives tied the unfortunate woman and threw dry branches into the fire after it was lit. Even girls 10 years old had to perform the “sati” ritual if the man to whom they were given as a wife “played the box.”

Author of sadism
The Marquis de Sade, perhaps the most notorious author in French literature, is known less for his manuscript writings than for his penchant for playing hardball. The term "sadism," meaning a sexual perversion in which pleasure is felt in inflicting physical or mental pain on others, first appeared in dictionaries in 1834, 20 years after de Sade's death. In 1768, the Marquis de Salles hired a prostitute named Rose Keller, whom he kept in captivity for a long time, mocking her in every possible way. In subsequent years, he was found guilty of many sexual crimes, for which he was imprisoned for three decades, which perhaps brought a kind of pleasure to his perverted brain.

Creative greetings
According to the Betty and Franz Baumle Dictionary of Signs, the world uses different parts of the body in the most amusing way in the process of communication. For example, in Tibet it is customary to greet someone you know by showing him the thumb of your right hand and at the same time sticking out your tongue. In Tahiti, you can show your joy at your friend's arrival in a completely creepy way: cutting yourself with shark teeth and howling in pain. As a sign of greeting, Filipinos must rub the palm of their hand (or the guest's foot depending on their importance) on their face.

Alternative to "thank you"
In Thailand, it is considered absolutely normal to burp loudly after a hearty meal, but in the same Thailand it is considered impolite to step on food, point at something with the toe of a shoe, or touch another person’s head.

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

About quirks

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

Girls have been training their intimate muscles since time immemorial. It is known that the wives and concubines of the Chinese emperor trained their vaginal muscles using jade eggs. According to legends, they knew how to control their vaginal muscles so skillfully that they could bring a man to orgasm while remaining motionless.
The ability to expand the vaginal opening made it possible to “absorb” fairly large objects, such as apples. And the wave-like contraction of the muscles from the arches to the entrance made it possible to throw out 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.

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 decorate themselves or dress up. They stole from the man they desired... 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"

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

Tibet - a one-way journey

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

South America - Indian Babformation

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

Africa - food preferences

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

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

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

Mesopotamia - temple prostitution

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

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

Micronesia – love with a sparkle

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 into self-mutilation during sex even before Marquise de Sade's mother faked an orgasm in a simple missionary position. The custom was as follows: while the partner diligently puffed, making back-and-forth movements, the ardent lover set fire to small breadfruit balls on his body. It is quite difficult to imagine how she did this during sex... One can assume that the man copulated not with the whole lady, but with a distant part of her (for example, the heel). These natives are such pranksters!

The most unimaginable sexual customs from different parts of the Earth,that you probably haven't heard of before.

They don’t really fit in with the progressive 21st century; many even seem like the invention of a writer with a wild imagination. But, whatever one may say, these things actually exist and are widely practiced. Offers you to get acquainted with the most unimaginable sexual customs from different parts of the Earth, which you probably have not heard of before.

"Love Shack" for teenagers

In most countries, fathers try to protect their young daughters from communication with the opposite sex for as long as possible. In the Cambodian Kreung tribe, things are different. Here, men not only approve of their daughters’ early romantic relationships, but even build special “love huts” for them, where girls can bring their boyfriends to get to know them better and better.

A girl is free to bring an unlimited number of suitors to such a hut. Dating, according to the customs of the tribe, can last until the owner of the hut finds the very same guy of her dreams with whom she will connect her life. This practice is probably related to the law, which strictly prohibits divorce for married couples.

Sharing like brothers

Some tribes in Nepal practice what is called "fraternal polyandry". That is, several men share one woman among themselves. As a rule, this phenomenon is characteristic of men related by family ties, primarily brothers. It is believed that this tradition appeared due to the lack of land suitable for agriculture. Instead of each brother marrying and living as a separate family, the men find one woman and live together under one roof, using one piece of land.

Night of betrayal

In Indonesia, a holiday called "Pon" is held 7 times a year. As part of this celebration, spouses are allowed to cheat on each other - to choose a partner for sexual pleasures. Participants of the holiday believe that in this way they can attract good luck. Well, according to local beliefs, the happiest person will be the one who manages to have sexual intercourse with the same stranger 7 times in a year.

Sex with clothes on

On the small island of Inis Beag, off the coast of Ireland, there lives a community where sex is considered a shameful hobby. Members of this community are allowed to engage in lovemaking only in their underwear, without being naked.

Exhibitionism as a way of flirting

The native women of the island of Bougainville (part of the state of Papua New Guinea) practice a ritual of attracting partners through public display of their intimate parts. According to custom, if a woman makes such a gesture, it means she is inviting a man to have sexual relations with her.

Sex lessons

The inhabitants of the small island of Mangaia in the Pacific Ocean have a tradition of teaching the younger generation of men sexual wisdom. As soon as a boy turns 13, he can choose a partner - a mature woman. The lady must teach the teenager all the intimate secrets accumulated over her life. The main task of the teacher is to explain to the student how to make sexual intercourse last as long as possible, so that his future wife always remains satisfied.

Cocktail of masculinity

Teenagers from the Sambia community (again, Papua New Guinea) are subjected to an even stranger test. Here it is customary for boys to be isolated from women for three whole years so that they are not exposed to temptations. But that's not the worst thing. During the period of seclusion, teenagers are forced to drink a special cocktail, which, according to local beliefs, will help turn them into real men. The drink is based on the sperm of the tribe's elders.

Love for our little brothers

In most countries, zoosexual relations are illegal. But there are also exceptions. For example, in Lebanon, men are officially allowed to have sex with a pet. However, with one caveat - the pet must be female. A man faces the death penalty for having sex with a male. Until 2015, such relationships were allowed in Denmark. “Love” with animals was banned in this state in April and a penalty for violation was introduced - a year in prison.

Sex in front of witnesses

In the city of Cali, located in southwestern Colombia, there is an interesting custom regarding the first wedding night. According to him, a girl who enters into intimate relations with her husband for the first time must do so in the presence of her mother, who acts as a witness.

Exhibition night

Something similar is practiced in the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia). There is a widespread custom among local residents according to which spouses, when entering into an intimate relationship, do not forbid their offspring to observe the process so that they remember for the future what is what.

How many interesting and unknown things are hidden in the traditions of the peoples of our planet. And, the mysterious and forbidden topic of sex could not remain aside and, naturally, was reflected in various rituals and customs, sometimes very unusual. So, let's go on a journey.

Australia

Australian aborigines are warriors; instead of the usual handshake, they demonstrate friendliness with a slightly different gesture, namely, by touching the penis of their interlocutor.

Northern Kamchatka

To this day, in the remote villages of Northern Kamchatka, the centuries-old tradition of a guest copulating with the wife of the owner of the house is preserved. Moreover, for the sake of the guest’s consent, the woman is ready to do anything, as this is considered a great honor. And, if after the act a woman becomes pregnant, then there will be good luck and happiness for this house and the entire village.

Tibet

In order to get married, a Tibetan girl must have at least a dozen sexual partners.

Polynesia

Here, the number of sexual relationships of the bride is not particularly important, however, she must have at least two children.

Germany

Germany, like many other European countries, is famous for the promiscuity of sexual relations between people. The following German custom is especially interesting: when the Cologne festival takes place, passers-by quite seriously propose to each other to have sex and engage in it, sometimes without even getting to know each other.

Oceania

Local customs force the bride to marry a virgin, and before the girl is allowed to meet her groom, she will have to undergo a ritual of deflowering with a stone knife. The ceremony is carried out by the groom's friends, who can have sex with their friend's future wife for another three days. Then, the “happy” newlywed moves on to other men of the tribe and, only after them, to her legal spouse.

South Africa

Men of local tribes, afraid to bear offspring in the form of twins, which here are a prototype of sin and the most terrible curses, cut out one testicle for themselves. In other matters, as is known, the servants of the harems of the East - eunuchs - subject themselves to a more terrible execution - absolute castration.

Other African tribes force members of the stronger sex to undergo some kind of test before marriage. Namely, to have sex with the mother of the bride, as many times as necessary, in order to prove his worth. True, before this they undergo a mandatory examination (in the literal sense of the word: teeth, body, and so on) in front of their future father-in-law.

Central Africa: Shilluk tribe

The leader of the tribe has the right to marry the most beautiful girls, even if there are more than a hundred of them. But, God forbid, his wives start a conversation about the fact that their husband, the leader, does not satisfy them. In this case, the poor fellow is threatened not only with overthrow from an honorable post, but also with death in terrible agony, for, as the Shilluk belief says, an impotent person cannot betray the power of fertility to the earth and barnyard.

Brazil: Jerusalem artichoke Indians

Local tribes believe that women only like the huge size of their genitals, and therefore these same organs are subjected to the bites of the most poisonous snakes (for swelling and enlargement)

Micronesia: Panape Tribe

Stinging ants are used to arouse women.

Japan and Korea

Since ancient times and to this day, to intensify passion, Japanese and Korean women use their “crown” technique - pricking the groin with a golden needle.
Undoubtedly, some customs of peoples far from us seem terrifying to us, but who knows, maybe our habits would shock them."

From temple prostitution in Mesopotamia to the ancient Japanese sexual tradition with the poetic name "Yobai"

About quirks

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. 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.
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 decorate themselves or dress up. They stole from the man they desired... a hoe and sandals! In those parts, the things listed are of particular value, so the man, willy-nilly, had to go and rescue the property, and then, who knows?
What about our compatriots? In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then it was the will of higher powers and there was no way to resist them.

Japan - crawl up and “yobay”

An ancient sexual tradition with the poetic name “yobai” existed in the Japanese outback until the end of the 19th century. The essence of the custom “sneaking in the night” (approximate translation) was as follows: any young man, under the cover of darkness, had the right to enter the house of an unmarried young lady, crawl under her blanket and, if the chosen one did not mind, directly engage in the delightful “yobai” . In Russian, however, it does not sound like the name of a tradition, but more like a call to action.
If a Japanese girl turned out to be intractable, then the upset young man had to go home. Like any tradition, the Yobai custom was regulated by strict rules. A potential lover had to go on a romantic date completely naked, since a night visit from a clothed man was considered robbery and could end in disaster for him. However, the guy had the right to cover his face and appear before the girl as a beautiful stranger. These are Japanese role-playing games.

Tibet - a one-way trip

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

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

The sexual traditions of the peoples of the world are different, as are the standards of beauty. How can a woman from the Zambezi River valley be considered attractive if her mouth is full of teeth like a crocodile? To become beautiful, a Batoka girl had to get married. On their wedding night, the satisfied husband turned an “ugly” girl into a beautiful woman by knocking out her front teeth. This custom, accompanied by simple plastic surgery, makes the Batok woman happy and the radiant smile never leaves her face. In the Baganda tribe (East Africa), there is a belief that sex directly on agricultural land significantly increases its fertility. By the way, such a sexual tradition was inherent in many nations. However, the natives did not organize vulgar orgies in the plantain beds (the main food crop of the Bagandans). To carry out the ritual, a married couple was chosen - the parents of twins. The event was held in the field of the tribal leader and consisted of the following: the woman lay on her back, a plantain flower was placed in her vagina, and the husband had to get it out without using his hands, using only his penis. According to custom, the family of agronomists had to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act only in the leader’s field. There was no need to play role-playing games in the gardens of their fellow tribesmen; it was enough to dance a little.

Mesopotamia - temple prostitution

Every inhabitant of ancient Babylon had to make a sacrifice to the goddess of love Ishtar. To perform the ritual, the lady went to the sanctuary of the goddess, sat in a visible place and waited for a stranger to choose her. The client gave the chosen one a coin, after which they went to some secluded corner, where they made a generous sacrifice.
Once was enough. However, some particularly zealous Babylonians constantly practiced such role-playing games, offering strangers an interesting vacation for money, which then went to the needs of the temple. It was impossible to leave his territory before the end of the ritual, so the pretty girl “shot back” quickly, and the unsightly young lady had to wait for her prince for a long time, sometimes even years! Housing and food were provided. Similar sexual traditions existed in Cyprus, and Greek girls made sacrifices to the goddess Aphrodite.

Russia is a country of Soviets

Family life in Rus' is not easy! The getting married couple had to feel this statement already at the wedding. All night before the holiday, the bride, according to ancient Slavic custom, unbraided her braids and sang sad songs with her bridesmaids. In the morning, a bunch of tedious wedding rituals awaited her, which continued until late in the evening and on an empty stomach. Even during the festive feast, the bride was not allowed to eat. It was not easy for the groom either - 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 assumed the active participation of relatives in the first wedding night of the newlyweds - the guests shouted obscene ditties under the bedroom windows until the morning, and one of them (specially chosen for this purpose) periodically knocked on the door and asked: “Has the ice broken?” In such a situation, the groom soon began to realize that the mission was impossible, and his efforts were in vain, despite the body of his betrothed, immobilized from fatigue. Therefore, the young spouse was given the opportunity to rehabilitate himself over the next few nights. If things still didn’t work out, then experienced advisers were involved: the groom’s brother or father. It is known that in some villages in Ukraine, an authorized prompter sat comfortably under the bed, from where he helped the newlyweds with good advice on how to do everything right, and at the same time, with his presence, created the atmosphere of an unusual holiday.

Micronesia - love with a twinkle

The rites and rituals of the peoples of the world reflect history, traditions, and mentality. Representatives of different cultures have been practicing them for thousands of years. For them and their fellow tribesmen, making incisions on a dead body, adding the ashes of the deceased to soup, or sending a girl of marriageable age into the jungle overnight to be raped by a male gorilla is considered the norm.

Civilized Europeans are shocked by everyday and sexual mores that have survived to this day. We have collected the strangest traditions and rituals of antiquity of different peoples, which, it would seem, have no place in modern society. And they live and are revered.

Flight of a newborn

Rituals associated with the birth of children are different for every nation in the world. The strangest ritual has been practiced in the Indian state of Karnataka for more than 500 years.

Muslim couples who become parents come to the Sri Santswara temple for blessings, after which they climb the temple tower with their newborn. From there, the baby is dropped from a 15-meter height onto a sheet held by the men below.

A bizarre ritual is needed for a child to grow healthy, strong, resilient and lucky. Every year more than 200 children under two years of age pass through it. Their “flight” is accompanied by songs and dances of an enthusiastic crowd.

Corpse with cutting

Strange customs associated with death are found in cultures of different nations. Most Tibetans profess Buddhism, and in Buddhism the human body is just a vessel. Religion allows it to be destroyed.

Until recently, the bodies of the dead were not buried, like ours, but taken to the mountains and left at the top at the mercy of predatory animals. But before giving the body of the deceased to be torn to pieces by wild animals, cuts were made on it.

Today, funeral rites are prohibited, but relatives of the deceased may insist on organizing a funeral according to the tradition described above.

Penalty for death

Representatives of the Masai tribe living in the provinces of Kenya are famous for their unusual traditions. Unlike most peoples of the world, they do not recognize death as a natural process and are always looking for someone to blame.

The deceased is placed under a tree, community members sit around and wait for the body to fall. The one in whose direction it fell is considered guilty. The deceased “indicated” that the criminal must pay a fine to his family. You can wait for a “sign” for an hour or two or several days, but the truth is more expensive.

The Masai are one of the strangest tribes in the world. Teenagers will not be considered men until they pull the lion's tail. And not just anywhere, but at its very base. The leader gives the boys the right to choose: if they don’t want to mess with the predator, let them kick the rhinoceros in the nose three times.

Initiation by ants

The TOP of the strangest traditions of different countries includes initiation into men. It is passed by the boys of the Satere-Mawe people living in Brazil.

With the onset of puberty, the shaman gathers them and takes them into the jungle. There, the boys will need to collect aggressive bullet ants, which sting painfully and feel like gunshot wounds. The insects are fumigated with special herbs and the sleepy ones are collected in special gloves.

After waking up, the ants become even more aggressive, but this fact does not bother anyone. The shaman orders the boys to put gloves on their hands and dance for 10 minutes so as not to think from the pain. Initiation will take place if the teenager survives the torture 20 times.

Ashes and bones soup

Torture by ants is not the only strange tradition of the peoples of Brazil. The Yanomami tribe ensures "eternal rest" for their dead in their own unique way.

The bodies of the deceased are burned, after which plantain soup is cooked. The bones and ashes of the deceased must be added to the broth. Relatives are required to eat this dish - it is believed that loved ones will live forever in the bodies of their loved ones after ingesting their remains.

The Yanomami have been living separately for 11 thousand years and have virtually no contact with the external environment. Perhaps this is why the creepy traditions of their people have existed for so long.

Fertility phallus

No less curious are sexual customs, rituals, and zest can be found in the traditions of any nation in the world. Even conservative Japan has interesting rituals.

There has been a cult of the phallus here since ancient times - the annual Kanamara Matsuri festival is held in its honor. On this day, a wooden penis 2.5 meters long and weighing 25 kg is carried through the streets of the city, which is considered a symbol of the fertility of people and the earth.

The Japanese and tourists who come to the holiday carry miniature phalluses made of papier-mâché in their hands. The streets are filled with piquant souvenirs. Sex on holidays is encouraged, especially passionate and fantasy sex.

Wedding night - by seniority

The Polynesian islands surprise with unusual sex customs. It is customary to spend the first wedding night here with friends. Male friends, no matter how many there are, are obliged to have sexual intercourse with the newly made spouse. The eldest has the first right. The husband brings up the rear.

The bridesmaids also take part in the wedding night, entertaining the crowd with songs and dances. The strange sexual ritual is associated with a local belief about virgin blood infected with demons. It is believed that strangers cleanse a young wife from filth, and the woman gets to her legal spouse, already pure, but still innocent. A group wedding night is not cheating.

Public defloration

A similar sexual custom exists in Egypt and several other states of the Islamic world. There, the bride is deflowered in the presence of parents, close relatives and guests gathered for the celebration.

The groom wrapped a white cloth around his index finger and inserted it into the vagina. The blood on the fabric is proof of the girl’s purity. After that, they put a burqa on her - from now on the wife could only show her face to her husband.

Don't wash to avoid getting divorced

The Tidun community living in Indonesia also boasts a unique sexual custom. The bride and groom are separated by a thick curtain, so the man will not see the face of his chosen one until a certain moment.

A certain moment will come when the groom sings some love songs to the bride. After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds will go to their place and will be alone, but they will not be able to take a bath or use the shower for 3 days after the wedding.

Members of the Tidun community firmly believe that following this rule will strengthen the marriage, make it happy and lasting. If a couple breaks it and bathes earlier, then a breakup, death of children, and other troubles await them.

Polyandry

Polyandry is practiced in the sexual traditions of Tibet and Nepal. Anthropologists associate its origin with the shortage of fertile lands in the Himalayas. The siblings had one wife for all of them.

After marriage, each brother had to be allocated a plot of land so that he could feed the family. To prevent the loss of precious plots of land, Nepalese families with multiple sons began organizing “fraternal hostels.”

So today in Nepal and its neighboring regions polyandry will not surprise anyone.

Chastity Castle

The chastity belt and chastity lock have become household names, and in some African tribes they are still used for their intended purpose. In order for a girl to maintain her virginity, her vagina is sewn up while still a child. The threads are removed only on the eve of the wedding.

The customs of two African tribes can be radically different. While some guard the chastity of girls, others have come up with a strict initiation ritual for them.

In equatorial Africa, a girl cannot get married until she spends the night in the jungle. There she must have sexual contact with a gorilla.

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.

Customs

Samoa

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

New Zealand

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

Andaman Islands

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

Kenya

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

Traditions

In Japan

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

China or Japan

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

Thailand

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

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 not prohibited. However, the ban applies only to marriage with a living person, and therefore those men who did not limit themselves to a second marriage marry... a tree. Yes, on an ordinary tree, but with all the necessary ceremonies and honors (maybe, perhaps, a little more modestly). After the wedding celebration is completed, the guests help the happy groom become a widow by simply cutting down this very tree. And now there are no obstacles to a third marriage!

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

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

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

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

IN Norway Since ancient times, a mandatory treat for a wedding celebration has been bride’s porridge - made 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.

India

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

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

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

The following gestures should not be used:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Japan

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vietnam

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* Do not hand a toothpick to anyone.

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

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

* Don't cut your nails at night.

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

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

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

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.

Superstitions

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

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

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

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

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

Sand accidentally discovered in the house brings good luck.

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

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

Tanzania

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Customs of Spain

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

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

A Spaniard regards touching the earlobe as an insult.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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