THE JOHANNESBURG DIARIES - WHEN IN ROME…! #BLOGCHATTERA2Z2023

 

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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!

                                                               Copenhagen

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 My Korea

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?

                                                         SunnySideCircus

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.

                                                                  iStock

Finland boasts of a wife-carrying tradition. This started in the 19^th 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.

                   Wikipedia Commons

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.

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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. However, what is absolutely vital is that we meet people with mutual respect, empathy and understanding. Those qualities remain the same in every culture the world over.

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