Customs and traditions in the world
One thing that sets humans apart from other members of the animal kingdom is to develop customs and traditions. Each culture has its own customs and traditions. Here are some interesting ones.
A. Greetings
For members of the Yoruba people, an ethnic group in Nigeria, when greeting an adult, the young Yoruba have to drop to their knees. In France, people kiss the cheeks to say hello or goodbye to everyone. Indian people greet by pressing their palms together over their hearts and say the word “Namaste.” You will see people stick their tongues out to greet each other in Tibet. Japanese people greet each other with a bow. And the Americans greet by shaking hands.
B. Pointing with the index finger
Most countries find the act of pointing at things with the index finger to be normal. In countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, pointing with the index finger can be seen as rude. Instead, it is usual to point with the thumb because it is more polite. In Nicaragua, it is common to point with the lips instead of the thumb or index finger like the majority of the world. Meanwhile, in many countries in Africa, pointing is used for things only, not people.
C. Tipping
Unlike the U.S.., where it’s standard to tip 15-20 per cent for most services, some countries only expect a 5 per cent tip, and other countries expect nothing at all. It is optional to tip in countries like Korea, Australia or Switzerland. In contrast, tipping under any circumstance in Japan and Hong Kong is considered to be rude.
D. Using the left hand for things
For countries with Islamic roots and for those that don’t use toilet paper, using the left hand for eating or other activities is considered quite rude and insulting. They use their left hand for cleaning themselves after using the toilet, and, therefore, it is considered dirty. This rule applies to several places around the world including the Middle East, Sri Lanka, India and parts of Africa. To be safe, always use your right hand for greeting, exchanging money, and, of course, eating.
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