The most amazing customs and traditions of the peoples of the world. The most unusual rituals

There are 250 countries in the world, only 197 of which are officially recognized. Each country has its own laws and traditions, and some of them, when read, cause sincere surprise and misunderstanding among residents of other countries. But don’t laugh - these customs are real and very important for the residents of these countries. Let us introduce you to the most unusual customs of the countries of the world.

Japan

In Japan, holding hands with a person of the opposite sex is considered indecent.
If you are going to give someone a gift, then you should show modesty when presenting it by saying something like: “Sorry about such a small thing” or “You may not like the gift.”

It is not customary for the Japanese to celebrate the New Year, as we understand it. Instead of a holiday, they go to bed, and in the morning they all go together to watch the dawn - to celebrate the New Year.
For the Japanese, steamed rice with natto - soybeans - is considered a favorite breakfast.

In Japan, they try to avoid the word “no”; instead, it is customary to give vague and non-binding consent, or to politely avoid the topic.
In the Land of the Rising Sun, it is customary to give an even number of flowers: residents believe that each flower should have its own pair, otherwise it will be lonely. An odd number of flowers is brought to the cemetery.

India

It’s hard to believe, but in the 21st century in India, the division into castes remains - social groups on which marriage, type of activity, living conditions and other important factors depend.
The plot of Indian films constantly includes love relationships, but in life not everything is so colorful. Depending on caste, religious beliefs and even astrological predictions, the girl’s parents, and not herself, choose the future husband for their daughter.

In India, after the death of a person, instead of burying him, it is customary to cremate him; cremation takes place along rivers, and the ashes of the deceased are scattered along the sacred river - the Ganges.
In the Indian state of Karnataka, a tradition that gives goosebumps has been going on for more than 500 years. It is customary to throw babies from the roof of the temple onto a stretched piece of cloth held by men. It is believed that this ritual brings health and strength to children.

The ritual of self-immolation is widespread among Indian widowed women. Within four months after the death of her husband, the widow puts on her best clothes and jewelry, lets down her hair, goes to a river or other body of water and performs this ritual there. For Hindus, this is considered a feat, although such rituals are officially prohibited in the country.

Norway

Norwegians don’t like to load their brains with unnecessary questions, they especially don’t like to think about who to address as “you” and to whom as “you”. Because of this, Norwegians love to poke, even if it's a stranger.
In this Scandinavian country, people are not used to giving up their seats to the elderly, because in this way you can offend a person, once again emphasizing your physical superiority.

Norwegians are very straightforward and never hide what they think about other people. Yes, they will offend someone, but it is better for a person to know the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be.
In Norway, on Christmas Day, it is customary for boys to tell fortunes together with girls.
Following traditions, every man must make his own knife and sheath. Everything you may need for this can be easily purchased in the most ordinary stores.

The financial topic in conversations is closed for Norwegians and can greatly offend the interlocutor. But in terms of other topics, even the most intimate ones, they are like an open book, the main thing is not to touch upon income.
Norwegians love to hug and shake hands and do it quite often. But kissing is considered unhygienic, so it is not accepted in this country when greeting.

Spain

If in our country the 13th of the month is considered to bring misfortune only on Fridays, then in Spain Tuesday the 13th is considered a day when you need to beware of everything. It is not recommended to get married, get a haircut, or even leave the house on such a day.
In Spain, the production of Caganers, figurines of people who relieve themselves “in a big way,” is widespread. And this is not done for the sake of humor; the Spaniards sincerely believe that such figures can bring good luck.

Kaganer "Master Yoda"

If you touch a Spaniard's earlobe, he will consider it an insult.
Spaniards have double surnames. When girls get married, they will not take their husband's surname, but will leave their own, double one. And a child born in this marriage will also have a double surname. The first part of the surname is the first surname of the child's father, and the second part is the first surname of his mother.

In this country, birthdays are celebrated twice: the first time is the official date of birth when the child was born, and the second is the name day. And often name days are more colorful and are considered more important, because on this day the Spaniards acquire names in honor of saints.

Egypt

In Egypt, marriages between first cousins are allowed.
Egypt is a religious country, and this greatly influenced the social foundations of the Egyptians. Local residents do not wear revealing clothes, women do not have the right to be alone with men, and the behavior of tourists from European countries is considered too promiscuous here.

If a boy is born in the family, then for a week of the baby’s life they perform the ritual of circumcision, as well as shaving the child.
Girls are married at an early age - 12-14 years old, and parents choose a partner for their child. It happens that long before the birth of the children themselves, families enter into an agreement according to which they will become related in the future.

Egyptians treat compliments with great caution and distrust, as they are afraid of the evil eye or damage.
You should not show the sole of your shoes to another person. This is a sign of bad manners and bad taste.

China

The Chinese value money very much, both during life and after death. Therefore, the residents of this country even built a special bank that issues money from beyond the grave. It is believed that with such money one can even bribe the lord of hell.

In one Chinese province, Jilin, girls are prohibited from wearing bras to exams. This is because students often hide cheat sheets in their bras.
Chinese police have gotten used to using geese instead of dogs, and they are doing it more and more often. Geese, in their opinion, seem more aggressive.

In China they really don't like tanning and white skin is valued. That's why girls use sunscreen all year round, and sometimes even wear masks all over their faces to protect them from exposure to the sun's rays.

Ah, this wedding...!
Every self-respecting Andalusian is obliged to jump headfirst from a cliff before his wedding. According to the ancient customs of Andalusia, it is believed that only a man with a strong skull can marry. The paradox itself is that the more relatives a wife has, the higher the rock should be.
The wedding ceremony of the Navajo Indians amazes outside observers with its cruelty: before marriage, the bride’s tongue is cut out, and the groom’s....Perhaps this is why wives are famous for their silence, and husbands for their extraordinary constancy.
The natives of the Solomon Islands resolve the issue of infidelity between married couples in this way: under the leadership of a shaman, they sit in a circle and eat the half accused of treason. If the meat is bitter, then she is considered guilty; if not, the other half is eaten. In the event that both halves turn out to be innocent, legends are formed about their loyalty.
When a young Chinese child turns exactly one year old, he is placed on a yellow silk mat with black dragons embroidered by old masters and hit on the head with a hammer. If at the same time the sound “Zen” is heard, then the child is sent to a Zen Buddhist monastery; if the sound “Bam” is heard, he is considered an ordinary Chinese.
Only once in the entire history of China, during such a ritual, a strange “kon-fu” sound was heard, it was made by the head of a child who later became Confucius.
Since the feudal period in Japan, there has been a special caste of people who are popularly called samurai. Near each higher educational institution where human anatomy is studied, special premises (bonzaiki) were built, in which samurai live, earning their living from harakiri.
A bride for everyone. One of the wildest wedding traditions exists on the Polynesian islands. The newlyweds should spend their first wedding night not alone, but with friends. And without celebrating the wedding at all... The newly-made wife must lie on the floor, placing her head on her husband’s knees, and the male guests, starting with the eldest, have sexual intercourse with her. The groom is allowed to visit the bride's body last. All this time, the female guests sing and dance around. This tradition is explained by the fact that among many peoples, the blood released during defloration is considered dirty and saturated with demons. Therefore, men, starting with the most senior and respected ones, cleanse the bride of demons in this way.

First there is a fight, and then there is love. The laws of the Bahutu tribe prohibit newlyweds from having sex immediately after marriage. On their wedding night, the newlyweds go to the husband's house, where the young wife begins to beat her husband with everything she can get her hands on. In the morning she goes home, and in the evening she returns and everything repeats. Such beatings continue for a week, after which the long-awaited act of love occurs. This tradition is explained by the fact that before making love, newlyweds must get used to each other, and fighting helps a lot in this.

Family life for 3 days. Young girls from one of the peoples of India get married for only three days. After these days, the young husband must leave his wife’s house forever and never come into her sight again. After this, the girl begins a happy life: she has every right to have as many lovers as she wants and not to deny herself anything.

Bride: the thicker the better. In Central Nigeria, the question of when it is time for a girl to get married is decided by the elders of the tribe. And that's not the worst part. After the decision is made, the girl is locked in a special hut for several months, or even a whole year, and fattened up. She should not do anything except eat as much fatty and high-calorie food as possible all day long in order to gain weight faster. It is believed that the fatter the bride, the more beautiful she is.

Among the ancient Arabs, the law prescribed that a son, as a special privilege, should become the husband of his widowed mother.

The traditional Bedouin wedding dish is roasted camel, inside which is a roasted lamb stuffed with boiled chickens, which are stuffed with fish, and the fish is stuffed with eggs.

To be considered a bride and groom in Bulgaria, a guy just needs to throw an apple at his beloved girl. And after the wedding night, the groom notified everyone present at the wedding about a successful outcome with a shot from a gun.

Australian Aborigines shared wives within the same clan. The only condition was that the owner liked this man. In this case, refusing sexual favors meant insulting and disrespecting the family.

Every culture in the world has traditions that seem strange, unusual and even unacceptable to representatives of other cultures. Here is a list of the most bizarre traditions observed in different countries of the world.

Teeth filing, Bali, Indonesia

This Hindu religious ceremony is an important process during the transition from puberty to adulthood. The ritual for both men and women must be performed before marriage, and is sometimes included in the marriage ceremony. The tradition is to file down the fangs. It is believed that by this a person is freed from all invisible evil forces, because teeth are a symbol of lust, greed, anger, confusion and jealousy.

Wedding procession of the Tidong tribe, Indonesia

The wedding procession of the Tidong people is unique. Perhaps the most charming thing is that the groom is not allowed to see the bride's face until he sings her a few love songs. But the strangest thing is that the bride and groom are not allowed to bathe for three days and nights after the wedding. Tidongs believe that in this way good luck will come to the young family, and they will not face quarrels, infidelity and the death of newborn children. You won’t be able to lie and run to wash yourself: the couple is watched by several people, who, moreover, only allow certain amounts of food and drinks.

Finger cutting, Dani tribes, Western New Guinea

The Dani (or Ndani) people are an indigenous tribe inhabiting the fertile lands of the Baliem Valley in the western part of the island of New Guinea. Members of this tribe, in order to emphasize the depth of grief at funeral ceremonies, smear their faces with ashes and clay. But that's nothing. The second tradition is more terrible: when a person from the tribe dies, his relative cuts off his finger and buries the phalanx along with the corpse of his husband or wife, as a symbol of love. The finger represents the body and soul, which will always live together with his/her spouse or relative. Some cut off their fingers until they are unable to perform household chores effectively.

Mourning Muharram, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and several other countries

This tradition plays an important role among Shiites and is carried out in the first month of the Muslim calendar, one of the four forbidden months. The event marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, Iraq, when Imam Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and the Shia Imam, the prophet's successor, were killed by Yazid I. The event reaches its climax on the morning of the tenth day - Ashura. Groups of Shia Muslims beat themselves with special chains with razors and knives attached. This tradition is practiced among all age groups; in some regions, parents force their children to take part in the blood ceremony.

Gloves with ants, Mawe people, Brazil

This is a very painful ritual, which is practiced by the Mawe tribe living in the Amazon basin, but without it the young man will not be considered an adult. When a boy reaches a certain age, he goes out into the jungle with the local medicine man and other boys his age to find and collect the so-called bullet ants, which have a very strong sting and poison. This name is no coincidence: the bite of this ant can be compared in degree of pain to a bullet wound! The ants are placed in a large wicker mitten, and the boy must put it on and hold his hand there for about ten minutes. To distract themselves from the pain, the young men begin to dance a ritual dance. However, to prove that the sufferer is a real man, he is ready to endure this pain 20 times longer.

Funeral rites of the Yanomamo people, Brazil and Venezuela

Ritual ceremonies are very important for this tribe. When a tribe member dies, his body is burned and the ashes are mixed into plantain soup, which is eaten by the deceased's family. It is believed that by eating the ashes of a loved one, relatives help the spirit move into a new body. The body of the deceased must be completely burned, because among the Yanomamo representatives the process of decay seems terrifying. Moreover, the body must be burned as soon as possible, otherwise the soul may fly out of the body and haunt the living.

Famadihana ritual, Madagascar

The traditional festival is celebrated in urban and rural areas of the country and is especially popular among tribal communities. This funerary tradition, known as "turning the bones," involves people bringing the bodies of their ancestors from family crypts, wrapping them in fresh cloth and then dancing with the corpses around the tomb to live music. The ritual is usually held once every seven years, and the whole family gathers for it. For Madagascans, this is an occasion to pay tribute to the dead. During the ceremony, the relatives of the deceased dress very smartly, sing traditional songs and dance.

Baby Jumping, Spain

In a small community in northern Spain, residents participate in the El Colacho ceremony, which literally translates to "the devil's leap." Babies are placed on mattresses on the ground, and people dressed in devil costumes run and jump over the babies, thus protecting them from any future harm. This tradition is at least 4 centuries old.

Although for many years politicians and sociologists have been talking about inevitable globalization and the unity of cultures and civilizations, the states of the globe still retain their bright individuality, originality and historical flavor. The customs of the peoples of the world are an integral part of this individuality, because in every country people look at the same phenomena through the prism of their own culture. A traveler will certainly benefit from basic knowledge about the peculiarities of life abroad.

Canada

Canadians adhere to strict rules of formal politeness, even when it comes to minor missteps. If you step on someone's foot or push another person, you should immediately apologize briefly. Although such behavior is expected in Russia, in Canada even the “victim” apologizes. Therefore, if you accidentally step on your foot, do not neglect the polite formula of “I beg your pardon” - this will show that you are an intelligent person who does not want to cause trouble to others (for example, standing in someone else’s way and “forcing” others to push you aside).
Smoking is prohibited in public places, including restaurants. Smoking at a party is allowed only if the owner has given express permission.
Many customs of the peoples of the world dictate specific rules of behavior when meeting. In Quebec, for example, shaking a woman's hand (even if it's another woman doing so) means establishing a certain distance and showing that you are in a purely formal relationship. As a sign of friendliness, you should hug each other when you meet and lightly kiss each other on both cheeks.
In Canada, you must take off your shoes when visiting someone else's home.
If you are offered coffee late at night at a party, it means that the hosts expect you to go home soon.

USA

When talking to another person, it is advisable to look him in the eyes - otherwise you will be considered secretive and unworthy of trust. This rule stands in stark contrast to most other countries, where eye contact is considered rude.
Modern customs of the peoples of the world dictate respect for service personnel. So, in an American restaurant you should always tip the waiter - if you don’t, your guests will feel extremely uncomfortable. Waiters' salaries largely consist of tips, so your guests will also feel awkward if you leave too little money on the table. Traditionally, visitors leave waiters 15 percent of the order amount; 10 percent is considered a complaint for poor service, and 20 percent is considered a reward for satisfactory or excellent service. Tipping over 20 percent is considered ostentatious generosity, but the waiter will no doubt be pleased.
It's not just restaurants that need to be tipped - extra money is given to taxi drivers, hairdressers and stylists, food delivery couriers, and random handymen (even if you hired the neighbor's teenagers to mow your lawn). So, for pizza delivery they pay from two to five dollars, regardless of the order amount.
National - countries with the greatest diversity of cultures and peoples - provide due respect to all categories of the population. When meeting a new person, you should not ask him about his marital status or romantic relationships, or about his political views. It is impolite to ask a woman her age or weight.
Most traditions in America are based on the principle of mutual respect. You cannot violate a person’s personal space, that is, be closer to him than at arm’s length. Exceptions to the rule are being in a crowd or crush, as well as friendly relations.
If you are invited to visit, take a bottle of wine with you. You can also buy a cake or other sweets, but in this case it is advisable to find out in advance whether the owners prepared the special dessert themselves.

Italy

If you are interested in European customs, you can take a closer look at the traditions of Italy. An interesting fact: in this country it is not customary to take off coats and other outer clothing immediately upon entering a room. You need to wait for a special invitation or ask if you can leave your raincoat or jacket.
You should not put hats on the bed, as there is an ominous superstition on this topic.
When visiting stores, you should always greet the sellers, even if you just came to look at the product and do not intend to talk to the consultants.
It is not advisable to ask for a check immediately after finishing dinner at a restaurant. Better spend a couple of minutes relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere and a cup of cappuccino.
Men should not wear white socks in public, as, according to popular belief, only “mama's boys” do this.
It is not recommended to bite bread with your teeth. Italians usually tear off small pieces with their hands, put butter or pate on them, served in special segments in a separate dish, and in this form immediately put it in the mouth. Knives and other cutlery should not be used. Such specific traditions of Italy originate in the Middle Ages, when peasants exhausted by hunger, having barely received bread for food from their masters, devoured it right on the spot, stuffing their cheeks. The noble, intelligent townspeople were always well-fed, and therefore appropriate calm behavior was expected from them.

Spain

Unlike the customs of many European countries, Spain's traditions are largely based on the supremacy of local culture. Arguments about whose country and which language is better should always be avoided, especially when comparing Spanish with English. Residents of this state speak English relatively poorly and often require tourists to know their language. If you do not speak Spanish, it is better to try to communicate with gestures - local townspeople will perceive such communication more favorably than the persistent use of English expressions.
Some traditional topics are better not discussed at all. These include fighting bulls (toro), religion, fascism and nationalism. Regarding the latter, even the Spaniards themselves still cannot come to an agreement.
Always try to appear calm and casual. You can talk loudly, make emotional gestures, joke with owners and use forms of physical contact without any embarrassment.
It is customary to say hello to all your neighbors, even if you don’t know them.
When greeting, men shake hands, and women expect kisses on both cheeks.
Many Spanish traditions are associated with active sports. For example, even a virtual stranger can be invited to watch a football match together. If you receive such an invitation, do not under any circumstances criticize the team that the host of the house supports.

Ireland

Ireland is a very distinctive state, where even Christian holidays are observed in their own way - such as Easter and Palm Sunday. The customs of this country, however, partly reflect the practices adopted in Great Britain (although Ireland is a sovereign republic). However, you should not publicly attribute this state to the United Kingdom - the indigenous people will instantly be offended, since only part of Great Britain remains. Avoid conversations on topics related to the country's sovereignty.
In bars and pubs, do not speak to the bartender until he has served the customer who arrived before you.
If you have a guest, you should definitely offer him coffee or tea.
It is not recommended to ask other people about their income and business success. Colleagues are not asked about their salaries. In some companies, such questions are officially prohibited.
If people celebrate Easter or Palm Sunday, it is better to observe customs and religious rituals from the outside. Under no circumstances ask people what religion they adhere to - Catholicism or Protestantism.

Arab countries

It is customary to perform personal hygiene rituals on the left hand - that is why it is considered dirty. Shaking hands with the left hand is considered an insult. It is also accepted to eat only the right one.
You should not expose the soles of your feet or touch anyone with your booted foot.
In Iraq, the "thumbs up" gesture is taken as a serious insult.
The customs of the peoples of the world living in Arab countries dictate honor and respect for elders. This means standing up as soon as elders enter the room and greeting them first if they are already in the room.
In most Arab countries, holding hands while walking is a sign of politeness and a symbol of friendship. Unlike Western countries, here such a gesture does not carry any hints of romance.
If a person puts all five fingers of his hand together and points upward with his fingertips, this means that he needs to think for five minutes. This sign should not be confused with a fist and threatening gestures.
Greetings from the peoples of Africa are always associated with a demonstration of sincerity of emotions. In Morocco, for example, after shaking hands, the right hand is placed on the heart. It is impossible to shake hands (for example, if acquaintances are separated by a highway), it is enough to simply put your right hand to your heart.
Strangers you meet for the first time may invite you to lunch or dinner at their home. If such an invitation bothers you, do not refuse - refusal will be considered rude. Instead, ask to postpone the visit until an unspecified time in the near future.
The traditions of the peoples of Arab countries require abundant food, so do not be surprised if you are offered food endlessly, over and over again. You can constantly refuse, but the main thing is not to mistake the owner’s insistence for tactlessness. It is better to eat little by little and take a little from the dishes offered in the first rounds, and only then refuse with a clear conscience.

China and Taiwan

Eastern culture is very original and diverse, so you should not mention in a conversation with Asians that for you the Chinese, Koreans, Thais and Japanese are “all the same.” It's just rude.
You only need to eat with your right hand.
Avoid using the American "thumbs up" gesture - here it is considered indecent.
If you were invited to visit, and the hosts prepared lunch or dinner themselves, they will certainly report that there is something wrong with the food - for example, that it is too salty. The answer to this remark is that all the dishes are excellent and not at all oversalted.
Interesting traditions are associated with holidays. If you are given a gift, refuse it. It is customary for the Chinese to offer gifts several times. They should not be opened in the presence of the donor.
You cannot give hats to married men. The Chinese expression "wearing a green hat" means that a wife is cheating on her husband. Such a gift will be regarded as an insult to the spouses.
You also cannot give another person a watch - an ancient superstition, which people adhere to even in the modern world, says: such a donor counts down the moments until the death of the recipient. You should also not give umbrellas (a sign of separation) or white flowers (a ritual symbol of funerals) as gifts.
Traditions suggest that others will look after you when you are visiting. Therefore, you, in turn, will have to pour drinks into your neighbors’ glasses.
Pregnant women should not attend funerals - this is a sign that promises misfortune.

India

Eastern culture differs from Western culture in the priority of modesty over external beauty. Both men and women in India wear covered clothing. Shorts are highly undesirable for both sexes; Women should not wear bikinis, short skirts or dresses with bare shoulders. One should also avoid wearing simple white dresses and saris, as these clothes are considered a symbol of widow's mourning.
In most Indian homes, it is customary to remove shoes in the hallway. Although hosts may be sympathetic to the lack of knowledge of foreign guests, it is better to ask in advance whether it is possible to enter the house without taking off your shoes.
Unusual ones are associated with spiritual beliefs. If you accidentally touched another person with your feet or stepped on objects of veneration (coins, bills, books, paper, etc.), you will be expected to apologize. A common form of apology in this case is to touch a person or object with your right hand, which you then place on your forehead.
While you are a guest in an Indian house, you will be offered food several times - you can safely refuse if you are already full.

The strangest national customs

In Greece, it is customary to throw a child's lost baby tooth onto the roof - according to a widespread superstition, this action brings good luck.
One of the peoples of Iran has a calendar consisting of nineteen months, each of which has only nineteen days.
In Sweden, gold and silver coins are placed inside the bride's elegant shoes during the wedding ceremony.
In a traditional wedding in Norway, the bride wears a silver crown from which dangles long amulets designed to ward off evil spirits.

For the New Year

In Brazil, a bowl of lentil soup is a must on New Year's Day, as lentils are considered a symbol of prosperity.
Traditional life and customs of Latvia at Christmas necessarily involve the preparation of stewed brown beans with pork and cabbage sauce.
In the Netherlands, Santa Claus has a helper named Black Pete.
In Austria, Krampus Night is celebrated on December 5th. This event is dedicated to Santa's evil twin brother.

In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then it was the will of higher powers and there was no way to resist them.

About quirks

For example, in Tibet, a girl was considered an enviable bride only when she changed a dozen or two partners. Virgins, as you can see, were not held in high esteem in the Dalai Lama’s country. But the Brazilians from the Jerusalem artichoke tribe made impressive sacrifices to please their ladies. The fact is that girls found only huge genitals worthy of their attention. To do this, men exposed their penises to poisonous snakes, after the bites of which their manhood met the expectations of discerning Jerusalem artichoke women.

Girls have been training their intimate muscles since time immemorial. It is known that the wives and concubines of the Chinese emperor trained their vaginal muscles using jade eggs. According to legends, they knew how to control their vaginal muscles so skillfully that they could bring a man to orgasm while remaining motionless.
The ability to expand the vaginal opening made it possible to “absorb” fairly large objects, such as apples. And the wave-like contraction of the muscles from the arches to the entrance made it possible to throw out objects inserted into the vagina, sometimes over considerable distances.

In Japan and Korea, there was an interesting practice of enhancing male orgasm. To make it more vivid and memorable, an injection into the groin with a golden needle is enough, oriental traditions say. The inhabitants of the Trobriand Islands were very inventive in bed pleasures. Just look at the habit of nibbling your partner’s eyelashes; this is considered their traditional caress. I would like to see the teeth of these entertainers, because in order to gnaw an eyelash, the teeth must be at least sharp.

But the Indians, experienced in love, had much more options for extreme entertainment of this kind. For example, their treatises on the art of love taught the use of "apadravia" - male piercings made of gold, silver, iron, wood or buffalo horns! And the great-grandfather of the modern condom “yalaka” - an empty tube inside with pimples on the outside - was also invented in India.

The sex-seekers of the Batta tribe of Sumatra had a tradition of inserting pebbles or pieces of metal under the foreskin. They believed that this way they could give their partner much more pleasure. The Argentine Indians also had a similar idea in their arsenal. They attached horsehair tassels to the phallus. It’s scary to think about the hygiene of meetings with such fellows.

Tanzanian women increased their attractiveness in an interesting way. They did not decorate themselves or dress up. They stole from the man they desired... a hoe and sandals! In those parts, the things listed are of particular value, so the man, willy-nilly, had to go and rescue the property, and then - who knows?

What about our compatriots? In ancient times, in some settlements of Kamchatka, a night spent by a guest with the owner’s wife was considered a special honor for the house. The lady, by the way, tried to seduce the guest in every possible way. And if she also managed to get pregnant, then the whole village celebrated it. Which was, of course, reasonable - fresh genes. Such traditions are not uncommon: the Eskimos and Chukchi, for example, also used the beauty of their wives for the benefit of the clan. They gave them to “use” the men who went fishing. Well, in Tibet it was generally believed that if a guest liked someone else’s wife, then it was the will of higher powers and there was no way to resist them.

Japan - crawl up and "yobay"

An ancient sexual tradition with the poetic name “yobai” existed in the Japanese outback until the end of the 19th century. The essence of the custom “sneaking in the night” (approximate translation) was as follows: any young man, under the cover of darkness, had the right to enter the house of an unmarried young lady, crawl under her blanket and, if the chosen one did not mind, directly engage in the delightful “yobai” . In Russian, however, it does not sound like the name of a tradition, but more like a call to action.

If a Japanese girl turned out to be intractable, then the upset young man had to go home. Like any tradition, the Yobai custom was regulated by strict rules. A potential lover had to go on a romantic date completely naked, since a night visit from a clothed man was considered robbery and could end in disaster for him. However, the guy had the right to cover his face and appear before the girl as a beautiful stranger. These are Japanese role-playing games.

Tibet - a one-way journey

Once upon a time in Tibet, visiting men were greeted with genuine cordiality. The travel notes of the famous traveler Marco Polo talk about a local sexual tradition that ordered all young girls to copulate with at least twenty different men before marriage. Either there were few men in Tibet, or, according to custom, fresh girls were intended exclusively for foreigners, but travelers were worth their weight in gold here. And those poor fellows who could not stand up for themselves were literally “torn like Tuzik’s slippers” by sex swindlers. Therefore, the trip to Tibet for some of our brothers was the last.

South America - Indian Babformation

The sexual traditions of the Kagaba tribe can forever discourage a man from conscientiously fulfilling his marital duty and having offspring. Representatives of the stronger half of the tribe are terribly afraid of women. It's all about the strange ritual of initiation of young men into men: a young Indian Kagaba must have his first sexual experience with the oldest lady of the family. For this reason, in a marital relationship, a man is lacking initiative, and if his wife hints at intimacy, he prefers to cowardly hide in the jungle in a bunker pre-equipped for such purposes (like he went hunting).

It happens that several fugitives are hiding in a bachelor's den at the same time. Then the female half of the tribe equips a search expedition. Role-playing games of slave and mistress always end predictably. Unsatisfied wives comb the jungle until they discover the cache and return their faithful to the bosom of the family.

Africa - food preferences

Who is interested in military parades? Perhaps only to the military, but the common people demand bread and circuses. The King of Swaziland knows exactly how to make a holiday of the soul for his subjects, and therefore every year he organizes a grand procession of virgins. Thousands of seductive scantily clad beauties cheerfully march in front of the monarch. In Swaziland, it has become a good sexual tradition when the king chooses a new wife from the participants in the parade, and each failed wife is rewarded with a large bowl of food. And believe me, by local standards this is a royal gift!

In the late 1940s, German gynecologist Ernst Grafenberg discovered a new erogenous zone in his patients. It was located on the upper wall of the vagina and was the size of a pea. Grafenberg described it in the scientific article “The Role of the Urethra in the Female Orgasm” (1950). Either the circulation of this publication was too small, or the title did not inspire the general public, but until the early 80s, even Cosmopolitan stubbornly ignored Grafenberg's discovery.
It took the writing talent of sexologists Alice Ladas, Beverly Whipple and John Perry for the whole world to know about a new source of pleasure. Their book, The G-Spot and Other Discoveries in Human Sexuality (1982), became a bestseller and was translated into 19 languages.

In the Baganda tribe (East Africa), there is a belief that sex directly on agricultural land significantly increases its fertility. By the way, such a sexual tradition was inherent in many nations. However, the natives did not organize vulgar orgies in the plantain beds (the main food crop of the Bagandans). To carry out the ritual, a married couple was chosen - the parents of twins. The event was held in the field of the tribal leader and consisted of the following: the woman lay on her back, a plantain flower was placed in her vagina, and the husband had to get it out without using his hands, using only his penis. According to custom, the family of agronomists had to demonstrate the miracles of balancing act only in the leader’s field. There was no need to play role-playing games in the gardens of their fellow tribesmen; it was enough to dance a little.

The sexual traditions of the peoples of the world are different, as are the standards of beauty. How can a woman from the Zambezi River valley be considered attractive if her mouth is full of teeth like a crocodile? To become beautiful, a Batoka girl had to get married. On their wedding night, the satisfied husband turned an “ugly” girl into a beautiful woman by knocking out her front teeth. This custom, accompanied by simple plastic surgery, makes the Batok woman happy and the radiant smile never leaves her face.

Mesopotamia - temple prostitution

Every inhabitant of ancient Babylon had to make a sacrifice to the goddess of love Ishtar. To perform the ritual, the lady went to the sanctuary of the goddess, sat in a visible place and waited for a stranger to choose her. The client gave the chosen one a coin, after which they went to some secluded corner, where they made a generous sacrifice.

Once was enough. However, some particularly zealous Babylonians constantly practiced such role-playing games, offering strangers an interesting vacation for money, which then went to the needs of the temple. It was impossible to leave his territory before the end of the ritual, so the pretty girl “shot back” quickly, and the unsightly young lady had to wait for her prince for a long time, sometimes even years! Housing and food were provided. Similar sexual traditions existed in Cyprus, and Greek girls made sacrifices to the goddess Aphrodite.

Russia is a country of Soviets

Family life in Rus' is not easy! The getting married couple had to feel this statement already at the wedding. All night before the holiday, the bride, according to ancient Slavic custom, unbraided her braids and sang sad songs with her bridesmaids. In the morning, a bunch of tedious wedding rituals awaited her, which continued until late in the evening and on an empty stomach. Even during the festive feast, the bride was not allowed to eat. The groom was also not happy - throughout the celebration he was obliged to cheerfully jump around his numerous relatives.

And finally the feast ended. The exhausted young people found themselves alone in the bedchamber and were about to have unbridled sex and go to bed. Let's daydream! The sexual tradition assumed the active participation of relatives in the first wedding night of the newlyweds - guests shouted obscene ditties under the bedroom windows until the morning, and one of them (specially chosen for this purpose) periodically knocked on the door and asked: “Has the ice broken?” In such a situation, the groom soon began to realize that the mission was impossible, and his efforts were in vain, despite the body of his betrothed, immobilized from fatigue. Therefore, the young spouse was given the opportunity to rehabilitate himself over the next few nights. If things still didn’t work out, then experienced advisers were involved: the groom’s brother or father. It is known that in some villages in Ukraine, an authorized prompter sat comfortably under the bed, from where he helped the newlyweds with good advice on how to do everything right, and at the same time, with his presence, created the atmosphere of an unusual holiday.

Micronesia – love with a sparkle

If you are sure that role-playing games with elements of sadomasochism were invented by the well-known marquis, I hasten to disappoint you - this is a common misconception. The natives of Truck Island were into self-mutilation during sex even before Marquise de Sade's mother faked an orgasm in a simple missionary position. The custom was as follows: while the partner diligently puffed, making back-and-forth movements, the ardent lover set fire to small breadfruit balls on his body. It is quite difficult to imagine how she did this during sex... One can assume that the man copulated not with the whole lady, but with a distant part of her (for example, the heel). These natives are such pranksters!