“Shoes on or off?”, you might wonder stepping into someone’s house. Well, it depends on where that house is located: if it’s somewherein the US, for instance, walking inside with outside shoes might not be that big of a deal, but doing that in Japan is likely to be frowned upon.
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In Alaska you can be put in a phone registry to go and pick up a road kill moose off the side of the road. This is considered a super lucky phone call as even the worst road kill moose has 100’s of pounds of good meat. Everyone is normally stoked for you if you get this call also and if during the day time people will normally honk and cheer driving past you getting the dead moose. I never realized the weirdness of all of this till explaining the excitement of road kill moose to some friends in San Diego. .
Sitting on a desk or table. In Maori culture it’s insulting to plonk your a**e on a surface where food might be prepared.
Some things in the world are pretty universal, that’s true. However, one can’t argue that most things we say, do, or experience differ not only with each country but with each region or household, even; what is completely normal in one might be considered out of line in another.Such out-of-line things are usually considered taboo – “a subject, word, or action that is avoided for religious or social reasons”, as dictionariesdescribe it. And they can relate to any and every thing there is, fromfoodtoperiods, and beyond. According to the person who started the thread, redditor ‘Auelogic’, even such a seemingly humdrum thing as chewing gum can be a taboo in certain places.
Some things in the world are pretty universal, that’s true. However, one can’t argue that most things we say, do, or experience differ not only with each country but with each region or household, even; what is completely normal in one might be considered out of line in another.
Such out-of-line things are usually considered taboo – “a subject, word, or action that is avoided for religious or social reasons”, as dictionariesdescribe it. And they can relate to any and every thing there is, fromfoodtoperiods, and beyond. According to the person who started the thread, redditor ‘Auelogic’, even such a seemingly humdrum thing as chewing gum can be a taboo in certain places.
Universal healthcare
“In my country, there are many minor taboos, like the idea that selling gum is frowned upon. This made me curious about whatothertaboos exist in different countries,” the OP toldBored Pandain a recent interview, sharing why they decided to ask this particular question.Discussing the netizens’ answers, the OP shared that they were interesting to read, especially as they related to numerous different countries. “I’ve learned a lot from this,” they admitted.
“In my country, there are many minor taboos, like the idea that selling gum is frowned upon. This made me curious about whatothertaboos exist in different countries,” the OP toldBored Pandain a recent interview, sharing why they decided to ask this particular question.
Discussing the netizens’ answers, the OP shared that they were interesting to read, especially as they related to numerous different countries. “I’ve learned a lot from this,” they admitted.
As an iranian, where do you want me to start?
I just went to Germany for the first time (I’m from the US). My colleague (from Germany) went to grab me a glass for my beer and I said that I could just drink it from the bottle, and you could almost hear a pin drop when about 10 Germans spun around to stare at me. One of them said “….. wafflekween, that’s a WHEAT beer. It must be drank out of a glass!”.
Child marriage (thank god).
It’s safe to assume that the redditor wasn’t the only one who learned new information while browsing the list, as while we might be well-familiar with things that are considered taboo in our country, we might also be completely oblivious to what we shouldn’t say or do elsewhere.
Foraging or even walking through private land (“safe passage”) -In many countries foraging on private property is quite acceptable if you are only taking small amounts, as well as safe passage (hiking through private property but not staying there).But in the USA, even WALKING onto someone’s personal property without express permission can get you shot. And taking something?? Omfg you have a death wish.Foraging isn’t permitted on most public lands either. “Take nothing, leave nothing,” is the rule.Every European person I have told this to is stunned.
Standing next to a stranger closer than 6 ft, unless the lack of space forces you to stand thay close.(Google “Finnish bus stop”.).
The aforementioned TED speaker, a cross-cultural expert and a rocket scientist, Julien S. Bourrelle, suggested that people tend to view the behavior or emotions of others through their own cultural glasses.“The lens through which your brain sees the world shapes your reality,” he said, which explains why people might be surprised to find that something that seems completely normal to them is considered taboo inotherplaces of the world.That’s why lists as such can be not only fascinating, but useful, too, as not knowing that something is considered taboo when visiting a foreign country can create some rather awkward situations.
The aforementioned TED speaker, a cross-cultural expert and a rocket scientist, Julien S. Bourrelle, suggested that people tend to view the behavior or emotions of others through their own cultural glasses.
“The lens through which your brain sees the world shapes your reality,” he said, which explains why people might be surprised to find that something that seems completely normal to them is considered taboo inotherplaces of the world.
That’s why lists as such can be not only fascinating, but useful, too, as not knowing that something is considered taboo when visiting a foreign country can create some rather awkward situations.
Being gay
Any kind of physical punishment for children. Maybe not exactly a taboo, rather downright illegal, but it’s shocking how normalised using physical punishment is in so many parts of the world.
The word “c**t”. It’s a HUGE insult here in the US but it’s barely a swear in the UK and practically term of affection in Australia. (I might be stereotyping a little here though).
If you enjoy browsing content about cultural differences and life in different parts of the world, you might likethis listof funny illustrations that depict the cultural differences between the East and the West, too. You might also want to consider viewingthese storiesabout the biggest culture shocks people have ever encountered.
Waltzing in someone’s home wearing shoes.
Any form of nudity shown in public. Americans sexualize everything, so nudity here is far more taboo than in France, for example.
Mowing your lawn or other noisy activities on a Sunday.
Being a bubbly positive person in eastern europe = you’re crazy and delusional and lots of red flagsbeing not bubbly positive person in USA = something is wrong with him avoid him.
Breaking spaghetti.
Not exclusive to my country, Sweden, but we have draconic d**g laws here.You can be dead drunk in the streets and ppl won’t bat an eye, but if you smoke weed you’re treated as criminal.
Men who are friends or family casually holding hands in public. It’ll never happen here.I notice it’s very common in the Middle East India, and Egypt. It’s a safety thing as I understand and how to get across insane streets.
Children being naked.In the US, people would lose their s**t and call CPS over a young child not wearing clothes in their back yard or on the beach. In Europe, it’s considered pretty standard for
In my country, discussing mental health openly is taboo, but accepted elsewhere.
Female breasts on regular television.
Belgium: call them “French fries” and get effed up!(Also: there is no such thing is as “a Belgian waffle”. You are likely referring to a Brussels waffle and not knowing there are quite a lot of different kind of waffles in Belgium.).
Talking to a stranger on public transport.
Abortion, divorce, not “paying back” your parents even when they were deadbeat.
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Atheism.
Public displays of affection are taboo here, but normal elsewhere.
Celebrating your birthday before its actually your birthday.
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Microwaving water.
Putting your feet or bum on tables, pillows (for your head) basically anywhere where you’d sleep or eat. Wearing outside shoes in the house. It’s an indigenous cultural practice but heaps of us whities follow it too, out of respect but mostly that’s how we were raised in at home and the wider community.
In my country, discussing politics openly is taboo, but normal elsewhere.
- eating pork2) leaving religion3) drinking alcohol4) having a tattoo.
Not liking fries or chocolate. Also, drinking light beer.
Taking the last piece of any shared dish.
Tipping.
Gifting items such as clocks.
Relationships with cousins. Not illegal but definitely taboo. In other areas people are actively encouraged to marry their cousins.
Doing the deed before marriage .
Free Healthcare.
Making poutine with crinkle cut fries.
Giving someone a job in an area that they didn’t specifically study for. E.g. Study computer science engineering and work as a financial analyst…. In UK I had colleagues that studied arts and work in finance. That’d never happen in Portugal.
Smiling at strangers is weird.Being rude or inconsiderate in public transport is as bad as a war crime.If you don’t take your shoes off when entering my place, I’ll be really mad.
Talking about money (France).
Letting your kids play in the clothes they wear to school without wearing coveralls over them.
Stashing weapons and other military items under hospitals and residences.
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