Unusual Cultural Traditions From Around The World

Ready for a tour around the world – right now? Don’t bother booking a flight – we are going to share some amazing cultural traditions right here. 

Young adults these days tend to stay single longer and longer – perhaps they have professional or educational goals or just want to experience the world before settling down. There’s no “right age” any longer for marriage.

If you visit a friend in Slovakia before Christmas, be prepared. A brief visit to the restroom may be shocking because you might find a couple of fish in the tub. 

You’d undoubtedly panic if you noticed a stroller outside a store with a baby inside and no one watching it. Then, you’d run into the store asking, “Whose baby is this!!” Within minutes a police officer would be called about the abandoned child. It may even result in the child being taken away from the negligent parent.  

This is awesome. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), men greet each other with a nose kiss (well, actually a nose-to-nose rub), sometimes with kisses thrown in for extra measure. Compare this to other countries where men don’t ever get that close, mostly greeting each other by shaking hands.

Wouldn’t you love to have a sauna in your home? Most of us consider having our own sauna a considerable extra, expensive, and quite luxurious. But the idea of sitting in your sauna whenever you want sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

When in Ireland, first say no. That is, when offered food in someone’s home, be shy about it and don’t jump at the offer with a “Yeah! Sure!” It would be best if you played around a little.

Aussies wear what many in the world call flip-flops, those flat plastic shoes that keep your big toe busy. These shoes are perfect for Australian weather, which can be hot, humid, and wet. And Aussies call them thongs.  

Talk about odd cultural traditions – in Slovakia, the Easter tradition is to pour a bucket of water over your woman and then whip her with willow sticks. Sounds a little violent? Not to worry, nowadays those “whips” are love taps, but the tradition still exists. Moreover, it is supposed to be a healthy preparation for the coming of spring.  

Academic achievements are a great reason to celebrate, wherever you may be in the world. In countries like America, finishing a degree is a major challenge, filled with many financial and intellectual hurdles, but it’s necessary to enter certain fields, contribute to society, and become better citizens.

In Russia, an internal passport makes it easier for authorities to identify people and track down criminals, just as it was historically used for migration control back in the eighteenth century. It contains verifiable data about each person, like proof of demographic data and citizenship.

In the 21st century, it is almost inconceivable to find a city with not a single person on the streets. Even at the height of pandemic restrictions, there would always be someone off in the distance, going out for their daily exercise.

A real bear hopping on a motorcycle for a ride somewhere in Russia is way up there on the list of the most bizarre things one will ever see. It is strange, cute, and too incredible to take in all at once.

It seems that Swedes have very little to hide from each other and that transparency plays a major role in how they lead their lives. Throughout the world, public officials are generally expected to be open to scrutiny as a deterrent against corruption. However, in Sweden, everyone lives by the same rules.

A 40-ounce cup of soda in America would look like a family-sized pitcher to consumers in other countries. Indeed, they often wonder why there’s no handle for sharing it out. However, in the US, it is common for such a drink to be consumed by only one person.

Brazil is famous for its street dancing and lively parties. These, along with its many white-sand beaches and unique landscapes make it a hot spot for tourism. However, residents will tell you that the country also has its problems, and a high crime rate is one of them.

Switzerland owes its four national languages to its history of decentralization, being composed of the country’s 26 cantons, which essentially makes it a federation. The languages are German, Italian, French, and Rhaeto-Romance, and then there are dialects within these. Travelers don’t have to worry since not even every Swiss person can speak all those languages and dialects. Also, English is widely spoken throughout the country.

A very small percentage of Americans have bidets in their toilets. It just isn’t a fixture that looks like it will catch on in the US. However, when it comes to handheld bidets (also known as “bum guns” or “private jets”), many countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are ahead of the curve.

Students in the United States recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school, mindlessly performing the ritual before the flag. Some mumble the words and many don’t really understand the meaning of what they’re saying. 

Sweden is blanketed in snow during winter. Outside, everything looks practically the same, and many people are forced to stay at home for long periods, watching the trees’ branches bow under the weight of the snow.

Most countries have chosen to use the metric system because it is more accurate and easier to convert due to its being based on decimals. The imperial system is, by contrast, full of oddities. Instead of completely shifting to be more efficient, the UK has chosen to use both systems of measurement, which can be confusing.

A peek inside the kitchen of a typical Filipino household reveals the usual set of plates and utensils, just like any house elsewhere in the world. However, those knives, forks, and spoons aren’t always used.

From the outside looking in, people are in awe at how Switzerland’s pure democracy works. Its citizens have a direct say on policy formulation, and they are allowed to vote on issues large and small, suggesting changes from the municipal level and up.

Since the start of the pandemic, people around the world have gradually grown accustomed to the use of face masks. This measure has been implemented out of necessity, and we have to admit that it’s not easy and can be quite uncomfortable.

One of the ironies of living in a superpower nation is that many Americans do not feel like first-class citizens when it comes to their healthcare system. The pricing is astronomical and only seems to keep rising each year. 

Since boys are separated from girls growing up, unlike in western countries, they learn to share their affection with their friends. This can seem strange to people from cultures in which there is no gender segregation. Afghani men often hold hands in public as a sign of warm friendship.

Gated communities in South Africa are practically castles, complete with giant walls, windows overlaid with grills, razor wire, and other extreme fortifications. However, it’s hard to blame house owners for this standoffish position considering that the country has a very high crime rate.

Despite the enormous popularity of coffee all over the world, tea remains unaffected as the top hot drink in the UK. Even children are accustomed to drinking tea, and the average Brit drinks at least two cups daily. 

Expect Brazilians to excuse themselves after every meal for their regular oral hygiene routine. Not only are they fashion-conscious, but they also like to be very neat throughout the day. It’s not about being especially finicky. Rather, it’s just the way they’re used to doing things.

Heading down to the cashier’s counter, a tourist may think they’ve scored an incredible bargain in the US. However, they’re generally in for a sad surprise as price tags are exclusive of taxes and other charges.

Riding a bicycle is the preferred mode of transportation in the Netherlands, especially in the capital of Amsterdam. The roads are more favorable to bikes, and this was deliberately planned as a way of avoiding car dependency.

Social gatherings are often decorated with many pleasantries and talk of the weather and other banal topics. Though it can serve a positive purpose, this is just the type of talk that Polish people generally avoid.

Citizens from other nations have found it odd to witness an American reality star be voted in as the commander in chief. These two industries aren’t generally mixed, having only the concept of popularity in common. Yet many American actors and public personalities have turned to politics. Trump, Reagan, and Schwarzenegger have been the most successful so far.

New Zealand may be a small island nation, but that doesn’t mean it should be left off the map. Despite this, they have been excluded from so many maps, even those displayed on airport murals, that they even made an ad campaign about it.

The recent rise of Karen memes demonstrates just how unforgiving people can be when employees get something wrong. Rather than remembering that we all make mistakes, some people choose to let loose and take their anger out on the poor staff member.

To give people more reasons to pick up trash and keep their neighborhoods clean, the German government implemented a system in which people who recycle get paid. These quick, real-time transactions are done through a vending machine.

Waking up early for work in the wintertime in Canada can be a struggle. Outside every home, the roads and the hills are covered in snow. Doors may need shoveling and windscreens de-icing. It is coldest in Eureka, with the average temperature hovering at around -15° Celsius (5° Fahrenheit).

Valentine’s Day is a big deal in Japan, especially for young adults. However, the onus of gift-giving is upon the girls who usually give chocolates to their crushes and their close friends.

Foreign guests in America often find restroom stall designs unusual, with their doors and walls that don’t extend all the way to the ground. A user’s shoes and dropped trousers are visible, and this is disconcerting for many travelers who aren’t used to it.