THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES - WHEN IN ROME…! #BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023
Notable Quotes
Every place has its own customs and as visitors, each one
of us is supposed to fall in line and follow them. For that reason, sometimes,
it is vital to read a bit about the place because in some parts of the world, things
can get touchy.
I was going through a set of strange customs across the
world, and some caught my fancy. For example, in Denmark, some graveyards have
metamorphosed into picturesque places to hang out in. People stroll around and spend
time together, exploring the myriad gravestones. Talk about waking up the
departed souls!
In Japan, no one gets fired. However, a person who needs
to be terminated may be isolated in a locked room and given tasks so unsavoury
that he or she ends up resigning.
Red ink is avoided in South Korea because, in the past, only
the names of the dead are written in red. Hence, it is better not to carry red
pens and tempt fate, I guess!
In Greece, spitting is seen as a good luck charm that wards off the
devil, and brides especially used to have guests spitting at them. Today, it
has turned into a symbolic act with guests only making a spitting sound, thank
God.
Germany’s Polteraband custom is where before a wedding,
the guests come together and break items like vases, crockery and porcelain dinner sets.
The couple is expected to clean the mess up after, symbolising that every
couple has to work hard, through thick and thin, to make their marriage work.
Makes sense, doesn’t it?
Table etiquette is taken seriously in most countries. However, one man’s meat might be another man’s poison. For example, in Japan, making a slurping sound while eating noodles indicates that one is savouring the meal. It is suggested that the act of slurping allows air to enter the palate, which enhances the taste of the dish. Slurp, slurp!
In stark contrast, when in Norway,
even sandwiches are eating with a fork and knife. So, it is better to brush up
on your cutlery skills before going there.
Do not clink glasses in Hungary! In 1849, Hungary lost to
Austria in war, and when they saw the spectacle of the Austrian generals clinking
their beer glasses to celebrate, it hurt their ego. They vowed not to clink
their glasses for 150 years. A large number of Hungarians still follow the vow.
Nowadays, for birthdays, cake is smeared on the face of
the birthday boy or girl. In Mexico, it is customary to bring the cake out,
sing the birthday song, blow the candles out and then, voila! The birthday baby
has his or her face pressed down onto the cake. It is a cultural tradition, but
the cake is ruined, sadly.
Finland boasts of a wife-carrying tradition. This started
in the 19th century and since 1992 has been dubbed the Wife Carrying
World Championships. The prize is beer equivalent to the wife’s weight. Brings
up a question… is it better to have a wife who weighs less or more? Since 2002,
this sport has been carried over to other arenas in the UK, USA, Australia and
Asia.
In India, Sri Lanka, the Middle East and parts of Africa,
it is considered rude to use the left hand for eating or other activities. This
is primarily because in these cultures, the left hand is used for cleaning
oneself after going to the toilet. It is safer to use one’s right hand while
greeting, offering money, doing business and of course, eating.
Africa is a melting pot of many tribes, each with their
own customs which make the people so vibrant.
The Mursi tribe of Ethiopia adorn their lips with large wooden
plates or pottery. This process happens to girls around the age of sixteen and
is voluntary.
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Going back to the spitting custom mentioned above, the
Maasai tribes of Kenya and Northern Tanzania believe that to spit is to bestow
a blessing or a mark of respect. When they want to bid farewell, wish someone
good luck or make a bargain, they spit at one another.
For the San people of Botswana, Namibia and Angola,
dance is a sacred power. The trance (or the healing) dance has the community
dancing around a fire, chanting and going into a trance to contact the spirit
world. This healing process also helps expel emotions like jealousy, anger and
strife.
Brides, they say, look beautiful on their wedding days.
The Ndebele tribe ensures that their brides are the star of the show. The groom’s
mother creates a stunning apron made of goatskin and attractive beads called
the Jocolo. This makes the bride stand out, and is symbolic of her future role
as a mother of many children.
Of course, the most heart-warming custom is that of
lobola, where the groom pays a bride price to the father of the bride to compensate
him on the loss of his daughter. Earlier, this was paid in cattle, but today, modern
couples prefer the transaction in cash.
There are many more wonderful customs across, which just
goes to prove that we live in a world that is diverse, fascinating and
sometimes, mind boggling.
This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z2023.
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