Unusual customs and traditions from around the world. Unusual traditions in different countries of the world

Some of the following customs may seem funny and interesting to you, while others, in turn, are quite strange and cruel. Today you will learn about ten of the strangest traditions, one way or another connected with children.

10. Bathing newborns in boiling milk

Karakha Pujan is a strange ritual that is practiced in several areas of India. According to him, the father must bathe his newborn son in boiling milk. The ritual is usually performed in Hindu temples. The entire ceremony is accompanied by the reading of mantras by Hindu priests. Milk is usually boiled in clay pots, and as soon as it boils, the father puts the child in a pot of boiling milk and pours it from another pot on top. But the ritual does not end there; after dousing the baby, it is his father’s turn. According to the followers of this tradition themselves, its main goal is to appease the gods so that the child grows up happy.

9. Babies sleeping on the streets in sub-zero temperatures


For residents of Sweden it is quite commonplace is to leave your children to sleep outside, even in sub-zero temperatures. And although you and I may think this is a rather risky undertaking, many Swedish parents will disagree with us. On the contrary, they believe that getting used to cold temperatures will harden their children and protect them from many diseases. Moreover, sleeping in the open air is considered more healthy and sound. This habit is not only limited to parents; many child care centers also practice this activity.

8. Babies should not touch the ground until they are three months old.


In Bali, Indonesia, there is a strange custom according to which babies under the age of three months are prohibited from touching the ground. The reason lies in the fact that local residents believe that all this time the child is inextricably linked with the spirit, and touching the earth will definitely desecrate it. Many Bali residents consider this rule sacred. Children spend the entire first three months of life in the arms of the entire family. Moreover, often the entire village helps the young family bear this heavy burden.

7. Cord preservation


In Japanese culture, the umbilical cord is of great importance. It is so large that mothers here keep the umbilical cords of their children in special boxes called Kotobuki Bako. According to ancient legend, this custom originated when the first women wanted to keep something for themselves in memory of childbirth. Inside the box there is usually a doll dressed in a kimono, symbolizing the child, and the umbilical cord is usually hidden inside the doll.

6. Swimming in cold water


In Guatemala, bathing children in cold water is quite common. Mothers believe that this will benefit their children. Such baths usually help get rid of rashes and make babies sleep better. Despite all the advantages of this method, it is probably not very popular with the recipients of care themselves.

5. Children predict their own future.


In Armenia you can often find a rather eccentric ritual called (Agra Hadig). It is usually performed when the child's first tooth emerges. The child is placed on a table on which there are already many objects, such as books, knives, scissors and others. It is believed that the first object that the baby reaches for will determine his future. For example, if a child touches a knife, then he can grow up to be a surgeon; if he touches books, then he will grow up to be a priest or pastor; and if he touches money, then he will grow up to be a banker. Only women participate in the ritual, and during its process only sweets are served on the table.

4. Forcing children to cry


The Japanese Nakizumo Festival is held every April at Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo. During this festival, crying competitions are organized among children. Parents of participating children believe that this ritual will give them health in the future and ward off evil spirits. The competition consists of two sumo wrestlers entering the ring, and each of them is given a child. The first one to make the baby cry is considered the winner. If the children start crying at the same time, then the winner is the one whose child screams the loudest.

3. Spitting on children


Usually, when they see a baby, everyone begins to lisp and admire him, but in Bulgaria things are different. After the welcome praise, the children here are in for a real spit. This is a kind of ceremony of protection against the evil eye, when they try to denigrate the baby in every way so that no one can jinx him.

2. Jumping over children


All parents want the best for their children, but few would dare risk their lives for it. But in the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia they think differently; many parents participate here

The customs and traditions of other peoples are interesting, surprising, and sometimes strange and even shocking. People of other nationalities may express their feelings or spiritual mood in a completely different way than is customary among us. Also, the peoples of different countries of the world have unique rituals, beliefs and holidays that reflect their history or beliefs. Knowing all these nuances, you can better understand what they live in a particular country. Study national customs not only entertaining, but also useful if you are planning to travel.

The strangest and most original traditions of the peoples of the world

Undoubtedly, one of the important aspects of any culture is its rules of etiquette: the way of greeting, farewell, behavior at the table, etc. For example, among Russians it is customary to shake hands; loving and friendly Spaniards can generally kiss when meeting. But in Japan it’s better not to do this - they value personal space and only allow close friends.

What other unusual things are there in the world? Here is a ranking of the 10 most unusual traditions of other countries:

1. On the streets of India you can see men holding hands. This does not mean that they are romantic relationships. This is how they show their friendship. But Indian couples in love never express their love publicly.
2. In Germany they don't clap when they want to applaud. To express their feelings, the Germans are accustomed to knocking on the table.
3. The peoples of some Asian countries, such as China, Korea or Japan, believe in good form slurp while eating at a party. This way they show the owner that the dish is very tasty.
4. In Japan, it is considered indecent and rude to blow your nose in public. If someone needs to clean their nose, they do it away from everyone and very quietly.
5. For residents South Korea Writing someone's name in red is taboo, and all because red ink was previously used to write the names of dead people.
6. In Malaysia, pointing at something with your index finger is rude and offensive. Instead, it is common to point at things with the thumb.

One more interesting feature: While in many countries people shun cemeteries, in Denmark they are turned into parks of sorts where you can socialize. Quite a pragmatic use of space, isn't it?

Holidays are part of the culture of the people. They are often used unusual rituals and customs that can be quite funny and sometimes scary.

Monkey banquet

In Thailand, the Monkey Banquet festival is held annually, dedicated to the god Rama, who, according to legend, monkeys helped defeat his enemies in a great battle.

In the last month of November, the monkeys, who live in the province of Lopburi and are considered sacred among the locals, are served tables with a huge amount of fruits, vegetables, sweets and drinks in the middle of the temple.

They say that more than five thousand primates gather there and it takes about 2 tons of food to feed them! Their feast looks very funny: uncultured guests throw food, fight for the right to get the most delicious fruit, and tease the visiting tourists.

Tomato fights

Snowball fight – last century. In Spain, tomatoes are used for these purposes! At the Tomatina festival, held there every August, thousands of people gather to take part in a tomato fight. Vegetables are brought in on carts and all participants in the action throw each other over the course of an hour, turning everything around into red slurry. In total, approximately 15 tons of tomatoes are used in the battle!

Officially, the holiday is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Louis, but in fact it has long been a magnet for tourists.

Goose Day

On the occasion of this Spanish festival, held in the city of Bilbao, a goose is chosen, greased and tied over the water on a rope. Competitors swim up to it in a boat and jump up to catch it. The goal is to rip off the animal's head. The winner receives his carcass and everyone's respect.

It is worth mentioning that previously they used a live goose, but then, at the request of the Animal Welfare Society, it was replaced with a dead one. The competition may seem cruel to some, but for the Spaniards it is an indicator of the strength, endurance and dexterity of men.

Cobra Festival

Indians have worshiped snakes since ancient times; cobras are considered especially sacred. In Indian temples there are images and statues of these reptiles; they pray to them and make sacrifices.

In some cities and villages of India, a festival is held in honor of the worship of snakes “Nag Panchami”. It takes place in the middle of summer. Just then, heavy rains flood the holes of the reptiles and they crawl out.

Nag Panchami is directly dedicated to the god Shiva, who is depicted with cobras around his neck. During the festival, people dance to music while carrying potted snakes on their heads. The procession goes around the entire village and moves to the main temple. After chants and prayers, the snakes are sprinkled with turmeric, given honey and milk to appease them, and released into the courtyard of the temple. Animals crawl, performing peculiar dances. The holiday looks spectacular and bewitching, which attracts crowds of tourists.

It is noteworthy that people are often bitten during the holiday, and some snakes are poisonous, but no one suffers from this. Phenomenal!

Night of Krampus

Celebrate this terrible holiday in the first 2 weeks of December before Christmas in Austria, Bavaria and Switzerland. About a thousand men dress up as Krampus - devilish creatures with horns and hooves, the antithesis of Santa Claus. They walk the streets, scaring children and adults. The Krampus beat the caught “pranksters” with rods.

The celebration is accompanied by mass fairs, processions and competitions. City residents compete for the best and scariest costume. They are not afraid of evil spirits!

Rituals and rituals

Particularly unusual and strange are the customs and traditions of the peoples of the world associated with religion, marriage and various initiation rituals. Some of them may seem absurd, but the natives believe that it is important, so they should not be considered stupid. Perhaps some traditions of our country also seem meaningless to some.

1. Japanese warriors still adhere to the code of Bushido, according to which in case of defeat he must commit suicide. It is better to die than to fall into the hands of enemies.
2. In Muslim countries, 2 days before the wedding, a girl is covered with temporary henna tattoos - mehendi, which symbolize femininity, fertility and good luck. They should only be applied by a happily married woman. Mehendi is usually painted on the feet and hands. The longer the tattoo lasts, the better, so the bride is even exempted from housework.

Chinese brides, namely residents of the city of Fuji, must cry for a whole month before the wedding. This is how they prepare for married life. Maybe they think that they will cry all their tears and won’t have to cry in the future?

• Here's another unusual one folk ritual. When a person of the Tanomani tribe (Brazil) dies, his body is cremated. Relatives of the deceased mix the ashes with plantain decoction and drink. They believe that this pleases the dead soul, which finds a resting place in their bodies.
• The Greeks have a strange custom of not giving a damn about everything. In their opinion, such a ritual brings good luck and scares away the devil. They perform spitting rituals on various special occasions, such as christenings or weddings. IN old times the guests had to give a good spit on the bride's dress, but now everything is done rather symbolically. It is enough to say “tfu tfu tfu.”
• Young boys in Brazil undergo an extraordinary rite of passage. To prove their bravery and strength, members of the Satare-mawe tribe put their hands in a glove filled with poisonous ants. You need to hold out for 10 minutes, but the bites are unusually painful, and the pain lasts the whole day! There were even deaths.

In fact, every culture has a lot of fascinating things. Some may consider these customs inhumane. Others still look for meaning in them, because even the most strange customs and traditions in the world there is an explanation.

Unusual traditions and rituals of the peoples of the world

Despite the efforts of historians and ethnographers, the history of these peoples still keeps its mysteries.

1. Russians

Yes, Russians are one of the most mysterious peoples. Scientists still cannot come to a consensus either about when Russians became “Russians” or about where this word actually came from. The question of the origin of the people remains controversial. The ancestors of the Russians included the Normans, the Scythians, the Sarmatians, the Wends, and even the South Siberian Usun people.

We do not know the origins of the Maya people, nor where they disappeared to. Some scientists trace the roots of the Mayans to the legendary Atlanteans, others believe that their ancestors were the Egyptians. The Mayans created effective system agriculture, had deep knowledge of astronomy. The calendar developed by the Mayans was also used by other peoples of Central America. They used a hieroglyphic writing system, partially deciphered. The Mayan civilization was very developed, but by the time the conquistadors arrived it was in deep decline, and the Mayans themselves seemed to have disappeared into history.

3. Laplanders

Laplanders are also called Sami and Lapps. The age of this ethnic group is at least 5000 years. Scientists are still arguing about who the Laplanders are and where they came from. Some consider this people to be Mongoloid, others argue that the Laplanders are Paleo-Europeans. The Sami language is classified as a Finno-Ugric language, but the Laplanders have 10 dialects of the Sami language, which are so different from each other that they can be called independent. This even makes it difficult for some Laplanders to communicate with others.

4. Prussians

The very origin of the Prussian name is shrouded in mystery. The first time it is found only in the 9th century in the form Brusi in a draft by an anonymous merchant, and later in Polish and German chronicles. Linguists find analogies for it in many Indo-European languages ​​and believe that it goes back to the Sanskrit purusa - “man”. There is also no sufficient information preserved about the language of the Prussians. Its last bearer died in 1677, and the plague of 1709-1711 exterminated the last Prussians in Prussia itself. Already in the 17th century, instead of Prussian history, the history of “Prussianism” and the Kingdom of Prussia began, local population which had little in common with the Baltic name of the Prussians.

5. Cossacks

The question of where the Cossacks came from still remains unresolved. Their homeland is found in the North Caucasus, the Azov region, and Western Turkestan. The ancestry of the Cossacks is traced back to the Scythians, Alans, Circassians, Khazars, Goths, and Brodniks. Supporters of all versions have their own arguments. Today the Cossacks are a multi-ethnic community, but they themselves like to insist that the Cossacks are a separate people.

6. Parsis

Parsis are an ethno-religious group of followers of Zoroastrianism in South Asia, of Iranian origin. Its number now amounts to less than 130 thousand people. Parsis have their own temples and so-called “towers of silence”, where, in order not to desecrate the sacred elements (earth, fire, water), they bury the dead (the corpses are pecked by vultures). Parsis are often compared to Jews; they were also forced to leave their homeland and are meticulous in matters of religious observance. The Iran League in India at the beginning of the 20th century promoted the return of Parsis to their homeland, reminiscent of the Zionism of the Jews.

7. Hutsuls

There is still debate about the meaning of the word “hutsul”. Some scientists believe that the etymology of the word goes back to the Moldavian “gots” or “guts”, which means “robber”, others - to the word “kochul”, which means “shepherd”. The Hutsuls are also called “Ukrainian highlanders.” Among them, the traditions of witchcraft are still strong. Hutsul sorcerers are called molfars. They can be white or black. Molfars enjoy unquestioned authority.

8. Hittites

The Hittite power was one of the most influential forces on the geopolitical map Ancient world. The first constitution appeared here, the Hittites were the first to use war chariots and revered the double-headed eagle, but information about the Hittites is still fragmentary. In their “tables of the courageous deeds” of the kings there are many notes “for the next year,” but the year of the report is unknown. We know the chronology of the Hittite state from the sources of its neighbors. The question remains open: where did the Hittites disappear? Johann Lehmann in his book “Hittites. People of a Thousand Gods” gives a version that the Hittites went north, where they assimilated with the Germanic tribes. But this is just a version.

9. Sumerians

The Sumerians are the most interesting and still one of the most mysterious peoples of the Ancient World. We don't know where they came from or what language family belonged to their language. Large quantity homonyms suggests that it was tonal (like, for example, modern Chinese), which means that the meaning of what was said often depended on intonation. The Sumerians were one of the most advanced peoples of their time, they were the first in the entire Middle East to use the wheel, create an irrigation system, invent a unique writing system, and the Sumerians’ knowledge of mathematics and astronomy is still amazing.

10. Etruscans

The ancient Etruscan people suddenly arose in human history, but also suddenly dissolved in it. According to archaeologists, the Etruscans inhabited the northwestern part of the Apennine Peninsula and created a fairly developed civilization there. It was the Etruscans who founded the first cities in Italy. Historians also believe that Roman numerals can also be called Etruscan. It is unknown where the Etruscans disappeared to. According to one version, they moved to the east and became the founders of the Slavic ethnic group. Some scientists argue that the Etruscan language is very close in structure to the Slavic ones.

11. Armenians

The origin of the Armenians remains a mystery. There are many versions. Some scientists correlate the Armenians with the people of the ancient state of Urartu, but the genetic component of the Urartians is present in genetic code Armenians as well as the genetic component of the same Hurrians and Luwians, not to mention the proto-Armenians. There are Greek versions of the origin of the Armenians, as well as the so-called “Hayasian hypotheses”, in which Hayas, the territory east of the Hittite kingdom, becomes the original homeland of the Armenians. Scientists have never given a final answer to the question of the origin of the Armenians and most often adhere to the migration-mixed hypothesis of Armenian ethnogenesis.

12. Gypsies

According to linguistic and genetic studies, the ancestors of the Roma left Indian territory in numbers not exceeding 1,000 people. Today there are about 10 million Roma in the world. In the Middle Ages, Gypsies in Europe were considered Egyptians. The word Gitanes itself is a derivative of the Egyptian. Tarot cards, considered the last surviving remnant of the cult of the Egyptian god Thoth, were brought to Europe by the gypsies. It was not for nothing that they were called “Pharaoh’s tribe.” It was also amazing for Europeans that the gypsies embalmed their dead and buried them in crypts, where they placed everything necessary for life after death. These funeral traditions are still alive among the gypsies today.

13. Jews

Jews are one of the most mysterious living peoples. For a long time it was believed that the very concept of “Jews” was cultural rather than ethnic. That is, that “Jews” were created by Judaism, and not vice versa. There are still fierce discussions in science about what the Jews originally were - a people, a social class or a religious denomination.

There are many mysteries in the history of the Jewish people. At the end of the 8th century BC, five-sixths of Jews disappeared completely - 10 out of 12 ethnic groups. Where did they disappear to? big question. There is a version that from the Scythians and Cimmerians, as descendants of 10 tribes, come the Finns, Swiss, Swedes, Norwegians, Irish, Welsh, French, Belgians, Dutch, Danes, Irish and Welsh, that is, almost everyone European peoples. The question of the origin of the Ashkenazim and their closeness to Middle Eastern Jews also remains debatable.

14. Guanches

Guanches are the natives of Tenerife. The mystery of how they ended up in the Canary Islands has not yet been solved, since they did not have a fleet and did not have seafaring skills. Their anthropological type did not correspond to the latitudes where they lived. The rectangular pyramids on the island of Tenerife, similar to the Mayan and Aztec pyramids in Mexico, are also controversial. Neither the time of their construction nor the purpose for which they were erected is known.

15. Khazars

Neighboring peoples wrote a lot about the Khazars, but they themselves left virtually no information about themselves. Just as suddenly the Khazars appeared on the historical stage, just as suddenly they left it. Historians still do not have sufficient archaeological data about what Khazaria was like, nor an understanding of what language the Khazars spoke. It is also unknown where they eventually disappeared. There are many versions. There is no clarity.

16. Basque

The age, origin and language of the Basques are one of the main mysteries modern history. The Basque language, Euskara, is considered the only relict pre-Indo-European language that does not belong to any currently existing language family. When it comes to genetics, according to a 2012 study by the National Geographic Society, all Basques contain a set of genes that significantly distinguishes them from other peoples around them.

17. Chaldeans

The Chaldeans are a Semitic-Aramaic people who lived at the end of the 2nd - beginning of the 1st millennium BC. in the territory of Southern and Central Mesopotamia. In 626-538 BC. Babylon was ruled by the Chaldean dynasty, which founded the Neo-Babylonian kingdom. The Chaldeans were a people who are still associated with magic and astrology. IN Ancient Greece And Ancient Rome Chaldeans were the name given to priests and fortune-tellers of Babylonian origin. The Chaldeans made predictions to Alexander the Great and his successors Antigonus and Seleucus.

18. Sarmatians

Sarmatians are one of the most mysterious peoples in world history. Herodotus called them “lizard-headed,” Lomonosov believed that the Slavs descended from the Sarmatians, and the Polish gentry called themselves their direct descendants. The Sarmatians left a lot of mysteries. They probably had a matriarchy. Some scientists trace the roots of the Russian kokoshnik to the Sarmatians. Among them, the custom of artificial deformation of the skull was widespread, thanks to which a person’s head took on the shape of an elongated egg.

19. Kalash

Kalash - small people, living in northern Pakistan in the Hindu Kush mountains. They are probably the most famous "white" people in Asia. Disputes about the origins of the Kalash continue today. The Kalash themselves are sure that they are the descendants of Macedonian himself. The Kalash language is called phonologically atypical; it has retained the basic composition of Sanskrit. Despite attempts at Islamization, many Kalash retain polytheism.

20. Philistines

The modern name "Palestine" comes from "Philistia". The Philistines are the most mysterious people of those mentioned in the Bible. In the Middle East, only they and the Hittites mastered the technology of steel smelting, marking the beginning of the Iron Age. The Bible says that these people originate from the island of Caphtor (Crete), although some historians correlate the Philistines with the Pelasgians. Both Egyptian manuscripts and archaeological finds testify to the Cretan origins of the Philistines. It is still not clear where the Philistines disappeared to. Most likely, they were assimilated by the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Every country, every people has its own ancestral customs. But sometimes they seem too strange for modern man. We will tell you about some of them.

Residents of the Republic of Madagascar are distinguished by exceptional affection for their relatives. But sometimes such a relationship becomes abnormal, especially when we're talking about about the already dead. To this day, the Malagasy strictly follow the ancient custom of periodically digging up the dead from their tombs, dressing them in the best clothes and taking photographs with them. To a modern European this will seem wild, but the inhabitants of Madagascar believe that such behavior is nothing more than a manifestation of love and respect for those who are already in another world.

In India, there is a rather shocking custom associated with strengthening the spirit of a newborn. The newly born child is thrown from the wall of the temple (height 10-15 meters). Below, the newborn is caught; for this, a large piece of material is stretched, which is held by at least 8 people. It is believed that such a procedure with early years will make the child luckier and also give him courage.

In Scotland, in some regions, the medieval wedding custom. Bride dressed impeccably white dress, decorated with flowers (and rich in jewelry) is completely smeared in mud. Dirt can be spoiled food, soil, flour, honey. In this form, she must walk along the main street, go around the central square, and also ride a horse throughout the city. Today this is done, for the most part, for the sake of entertainment, but previously people believed that through this a girl cleanses her soul from all sorts of earthly sins.

The relationship with death among most peoples has always been original. But in conducting funeral rites, Tibetan monks distinguished themselves most of all. The body of the deceased, according to their belief, was supposed to not only return to the earth, but also bring benefit. And therefore it was not buried, but divided and carried to the top of the mountain where they live wild animals. Thus, people believed that the spirit of the deceased was reunited with nature in the most natural way: by being included in the natural cycle of substances.

Walking on lit coals has been practiced in Japan and Africa since ancient times. But you can still find this custom there today. Fire was intended to purify a person, to instill in him courage, firmness and perseverance. It was believed that if you walk along the road of fire without fear, then there is nothing more to be afraid of in life.

The Japanese, as practice shows, are quite strange in their customs. And the Japanese spring fertility festival is proof of this. At the beginning of spring, residents of the country rising sun gather on the streets of cities (only some cities, since not everyone takes part in the holiday) to witness the sacred action. The strongest and healthiest men get the opportunity to carry a wooden male reproductive organ weighing 25 kilograms across the city. This tradition involves not only improving the land and increasing the level of productivity, but also bringing “fertility to the family,” increasing the birth rate and strengthening families.

Some holiday customs of the peoples of the world can plunge into a state of shock any person uninitiated in their subtleties. national culture. Just look at the crowd of people in devil costumes jumping over babies during the Spanish festival “El Colacho”, or old sofas flying from the windows of houses in the South African city of Johannesburg on New Year’s Eve! Native customs will seem like childish pranks compared to what residents of other countries do. Today we will remember the most strange traditions from all over the world and find out how they appeared.

Ukrainian Christmas and the web

In most countries, just the sight of a spider or web will be a good reason to panic and run out of the house screaming in horror. But this does not apply to Ukraine, where the multi-legged “monster” will only be welcome. Especially at Christmas! After all, spiders, according to Ukrainians, bring happiness and good luck. According to an ancient legend, it was these creatures who helped save Christmas for a certain poor widow and children. They decorated the pine cone that served as her Christmas tree with their silvery web and brought the holiday atmosphere back into the house.

The legend definitely brought a couple of notes of Halloween horror to the Ukrainian version of the Christmas tale. Indeed, in memory of the miracle performed by spiders, the inhabitants of this country began to decorate the holiday tree with artificial cobwebs.

New Year's chaos in South Africa

There are hundreds of ways to meet in an original way New Year. You can, for example, watch the crystal ball descend in Times Square or set off giant fireworks. Have you heard that not so long ago, on the eve of this holiday, South Africans threw old furniture out of the windows of their own houses?

This tradition became widespread in one of the criminal areas of Johannesburg in the 90s of the 20th century after the end of the apartheid era. However, it was not allowed to exist for a long time for objective reasons. A few years ago, a refrigerator flying from the upper floors caused severe injuries an innocent pedestrian.

In the fight against dangerous tradition The police officers became involved. To maintain law and order, they cruised the streets of the problem area in armored vehicles. The police efforts met with some success. In 2013, not a single piece of furniture flew out of the windows of local houses, although New Year's Eve and there were an incredible number of fights, fireworks were set off everywhere, and a peaceful pedestrian could be hit by a barrage of glass bottles.

Fast food for Christmas in Japan

There are strange traditions in Japan too. And they concern the Christmas menu of its residents. The Japanese do not want to see on their festive table traditional dishes like turkey or goose. They prefer trivial fried chicken from the KFC fast food restaurant chain to all the culinary delights of the world. How did it happen that banal fast food originally from America became a local national tradition?