There are many things we think as weird, but what if I tell you that these things are common in other countries. Let's say for example, What would you do if you walked into a bathroom and instead of toilet paper, you found a bowl of water? (Hmmm. And no instructions either!) Or, what if warding off bad luck meant talking to birds at the park? Sure, these things may seem wacky to you, but they’re pretty normal customs in other countries. And some actually sound pretty fun!
Here are 25 things which we might think as weird but they are totally normal in other countries.
#25. Tomato Fight!
If you ever find yourself in the Spanish town of Buñol at the end of August, I sure hope you brought some protective gear! That is, if you happen to catch La Tomatina, a massive, one-day, lighthearted food fight with none other than the beloved tomato – or tomah-to. (yep, Thousands of people, thousands of tomatoes. You do the math.) And, don’t forget to duck!
#24. Face smash in cake on Birthday!
“Happy Birthday, now shove your face in this cake!” is something you might hear in Mexico. Here, as you get handed your birthday cake and are about to take that first delicious bite, someone will likely push your face right into it! (You see that at the US Weddings a lot these days. Just a waste of good cake to me.)
#23. Old socks as gift on Birthday
In Germany, if you’re 25 and single, your friends will often lead you to your birthday party with a string of old socks as you celebrate with drinks. I sure hope they washed those socks beforehand!
#22. Finger fight is official game in some country.
In the States, “pull my finger” is a risky - smelly - game. But in Scandinavia Austria, and Bavaria, Germany, finger pulling (or Fingerhakeln) is a competitive sport! (Really?) Competitors will often even pull each other across the table with their middle fingers because they’re pulling so hard! (Are we sure it’s not that the guy is being jet propelled across the table?)
#21. How do you get Good Luck?
If you’re going on vacation and want to leave with as many good vibes as possible, sit down with your household first before you head out the door. In Russia, they believe that doing this ensures you have a good trip and wards off bad luck.
#20. Magpie gives you good luck!!
If you’re taking a walk in the park in the UK, you might spot a gentleman tip his hat to a magpie. That’s because in British folklore, these little birds are bad omens. But if you tip your hat to it and say, “Good morning, Mr. Magpie, and how is your lady wife today?” you’ll reverse your bad luck! (The bad British accent is optional.)
#19. Don't be single or else....
In Denmark, if it’s your 25th birthday or higher and you’re still single, your friends and family throw handfuls of cinnamon at you. The odd tradition is based on history, that way back in the 16th century, Danish spice merchants used to stay unmarried because they were too busy traveling around the world, (you know, trying to spice things up.)
#18. Yellow Roses represent Death!!
Roses are red, violets are blue, but give someone yellow roses in Mexico, and it’s goodbye to you! That’s because in this country, yellow roses signify death. If you’re gifting someone a bouquet for their birthday or anniversary, you’d better stick with a good ol’ dozen red roses.
#17. Spitting on others is greeting!
If you were to spit at your boss or a family member when you greeted them, it’d be considered pretty darn rude. But in the Maasai tribe in Kenya and northern Tanzania, spitting into their hands before a handshake is considered appropriate and respectful. This is often the way people in the tribe wish each other good luck and safe travels. It’s even done at weddings, so imagine spitting on the bride as a good gesture! It’s also how they secure a deal. Khaa-ptew, put ‘er right there! (Yeah, that’ll take some getting used to…)
#16. Break dishes for good luck.
You might gift newlyweds with some sparkling new china, but in Germany, family and friends actually break dishes the night before a wedding! Doing this tradition, known as Polter-abend, is believed to bring good luck to the couple, who are expected to clean the mess up and learn how to work together! (and if not, there’ll be more dish breaking later down the road…)
#15. You can be late in Venezuela.
In Venezuela, the early bird doesn’t necessarily get the worm. There, running late isn’t a problem the way it is in the US and other countries. When it comes to parties or even work meetings, arriving a few minutes late isn’t considered rude. Alright, I’ll be booking my ticket now…
#14. How to predict spring.
You didn’t think I wasn’t gonna include something strange from the US, did you? How about donning top hats and looking at a groundhog named “Punxsutawney Phil” to tell us if spring is here or not? The Groundhog Day tradition goes back to February 2, 1887. (Ya know, before we had advanced meteorology to really goof up the forecast!) Well, in any case, if this furry ground-dweller sees his shadow, that supposedly means 6 more months of winter!
#13. Enjoy your single life in France
If you wanna stand out as a single person, you’ll love the French celebration of Saint Catherine’s Day, or the Patron Saint of unmarried women. On this day in November, bachelorettes aged 25 or older rock green or yellow hats to celebrate the single life! (Hey, what’s up with 25? It’s always 25 – is that the deadline or something?... well probably long, long ago when life expectancy was 28, they didn’t want to you keeping dilly dallying or something I guess.
#12. Throw your furniture out to celebrate New Year
Who needs noisemakers and champagne when you can just throw your furniture out the window to ring in the New Year? In South Africa, the tradition of chucking chairs, tables, and whatever furniture out the window onto the street for the New Year has been going strong since the end of apartheid. This symbolizes the act of ridding your home of past sorrows so that you can make room for happier, more hopeful times! (You know, if they started doing that in Times Square in New York, I think I’d watch – from a distance.)
#11. Carrying out empty suitcase for New Year.
And if you thought throwing your furniture out the window was strange, you’ll definitely be scratching your head at the South American tradition of carrying around an empty suitcase for the New Year! By walking a block with the empty luggage, you’re supposed to bring hope and new adventure into the upcoming year — and hopefully a nice vacation so that you can actually put stuff in that suitcase!
#10. Official meetings are held while sitting in Sauna!
Business meetings in the office can be so stuffy and boring. So why not head to the sauna with your boss and coworkers? Well, that’s how they do it in Finland, where the sauna serves as a perfectly good spot to hold meetups and other important gatherings in the professional space. But you’ll probably wanna remember your robe in there…
#9. Left hand is considered dirty in some countries.
Even if you’re naturally a leftie, using this hand is considered pretty rude in a lot of Middle Eastern countries. This is because the left hand is the designated “cleaning hand” in the bathroom and, therefore, it’s the dirty one. The right hand is supposed to be used during meals and for shaking people’s hands. Since we’re on the topic of bathroom duties…
#8. You will not toilet papers in Indian Toilets.
If your biggest fear is doing your business in a restroom that’s run out of toilet paper, well…you might have some problems when visiting India. That’s because in most parts of this country, instead of toilet paper, people use water to cleanse their, uh, private areas. It may sound odd to Westerners, but at least they don’t have to worry about clogging up the plumbing as much, right? Okay, there’s still a question as to what you ultimately do to clean up, but I guess we’ll leave that to the imagination (Or let me know down in the comments if you know the answer.)
#7. A festival for monkeys in Thailand.
In Thailand, there are tons of stray monkeys hanging around. And once a year in Lopburi, Bangkok, people dump over 6,600 pounds (3,000 kg) of fruits and veggies out for the little guys to munch on in what’s referred to as the Monkey Buffet Festival. (I’ll bet they go ape over it! Uh, you could see that one coming, couldn’t ya?)
#6. Women in China cry on their wedding
When you think of a wedding, you probably imagine fun, laughter, and celebration (and lots of cake in the face!). But in China, a traditional wedding is preceded by the bride crying a month before her big day. After a few days, she’s joined by her mother, grandmother, and other family members. But here’s the thing, this month-long cry sesh is to show joy for her future marriage! O-kay.
#5. No clinks in Hungary
In America and in lots of other countries, it’s typical to clink glasses before drinking. But in Hungary, no one clinks glasses at bars or around the dinner table. Ever since the Austrians defeated the Hungarians during the revolution and celebrated by clinking their glasses, the Hungarians swore off this tradition! (So I’m thinking if they do it anyway, do they then get thrown in the Clink [jail]? Hey, it was worth a shot…)
#4. Using toilet after 3 days of wedding is bad luck in Indonesia.
While we consider it bad luck to see the bride before the big day, people in Tidong, Indonesia believe using the toilet 3 days after the wedding is bad luck. Family members typically watch over the newlyweds to make sure they don’t use the bathroom at all! (Gee, I wonder how many of them explode. So then I guess it’s really like a race to see who “passes” first, the newlyweds or the 3 days! Where do they come up with this?)
#3. You will not get ice for your Coke in Europe.
Americans are used to having copious amounts of ice in their drinks. But in many places in Europe, having little or no ice at all is the norm. If you’re dining in these places, you need to ask for extra ice. Otherwise, you’ll have to enjoy your Coke at room temperature. Oh, the horror!
Americans are used to having copious amounts of ice in their drinks. But in many places in Europe, having little or no ice at all is the norm. If you’re dining in these places, you need to ask for extra ice. Otherwise, you’ll have to enjoy your Coke at room temperature. Oh, the horror!
#2. You will be served special drink in Fiji.
If you ever visit Fiji, you’ll likely be greeted by a cocktail containing juice from squeezed roots served in a wooden bowl known as Kava. And apparently it has, shall we say “psychoactive effects”, Uh-huh. So you might wanna go easy on the Kava or just grab a lemonade instead!
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