New Delhi: Every country has its own unique set of traditions. Even within a country, there will be different traditions among the diverse communities. We need to respect them, no matter how surprising they may sound. In this article, we bring to you some traditions from around the world which are bound to surprise you. Want to learn more? Then read on to know about them.
8 surprising traditions from around the world
1. La Tomatina
It is a Spanish festival that takes place in Buñol, Spain. In this festival, people throw tomatoes at each other and is considered to be the world’s biggest food fight. The festival originated in the 1940s as a food fight between friends and today, it is a famous tourist attraction.
2. Tossing Teeth
In Greece, there is a unique tradition regarding teeth. In the country, when children lose their teeth, it is customary for them to make a wish so that they can get strong adult teeth. While making the wish, the children throw their lost tooth onto the roof for good luck.
3. Spitting and greeting
The Maasai, an ethnic group in northern, central and southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, near the African Great Lakes region, has a unique tradition of spitting and greeting. While in many cultures, spitting is considered to be rude, in the Maasai tribe, it is customary to greet and show respect by spitting. Members of the tribe spit into their hands before shaking them. Also, they do this to newborn babies or even a bride to bring good luck and bless them.
4. Slurping
In many nations, slurping during eating is considered offensive. But in Japan, it is exactly the opposite. In that country, it is rude if you don’t slurp during eating. In Japan, you show your appreciation for your noodles by slurping on them, and the louder the better.
5. Kissing
In France, kissing is an integral part of their custom. There are rules for kissing and they vary from men to women. Also, several kisses are required to complete the greeting and the number also varies from region to region. On top of that, French people will greet everyone with kisses even if they are strangers.
6. Carrying wife
Every year, Finland hosts a Wife Carrying World Championship. It is more than a tradition where men carry their female partners through an obstacle course. As a prize, they get beer equivalent to the wife’s weight.
7. Mind your Table Manners
People in some cultures eat with their bare hands. Sometimes, they are required to use utensils like a spoon and fork, chopsticks, knife and fork while eating. But this rule is very strict in Norway. In this Scandinavian country, even sandwiches are eaten using a fork and a knife!
8. Throwing cinnamon
In Denmark, if a person turns 25 and is still single or unmarried, the individual’s friends and family will throw cinnamon at the person. Firstly, they are splashed with water and then covered in cinnamon from head to toe. It is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years.
Even within a country, there will be different traditions among the diverse communities. We need to respect them, no matter how surprising they may sound. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
