Weird quirks around the world
We all have traditions. Whether theyβre snapping the wishbone of a turkey, leaving mince pies out for Santa or a good olβSunday roast.
Many countries around the world have their own and some (to us at least) are a little bizarre; here are our top traditions from around the world.
Carrying a woman over hot coals: Yep, you read that right! According to Chinese customs, a husband should carry his bride over a pan of burning coal when they enter their home for the first time. Apparently this ensures that when the time comes, the bride will have an easy and successful labor. Well thenβ¦
Living with the dead: Nope, thatβs not the title for a new horror flick, itβs common practice for Indonesian families toβ¦dress up their deceased family members in special garbs. Itβs thought that by doing this, their loved oneβs soul will be preserved until burial. While itβs kind of touching, itβs definitely on the creepy scale.
No thumbs up in Iran: Whereas giving someone a thumbs up in the UK can mean βgood job!β basically in Iran, youβd be telling someone where to go (and not very politely at that!). A thumbs up is their equivalent of us sticking our middle finger up at someone, which in Iran is perfectly safe! A little strange maybe, but safe.
Tibetan Sky Burial: This is a funerary practice (obviously) in Tibet where the deceasedβs body is incised in various places and then laid on a mountain top. This means the body is fully exposed to the natural elements and the animals nearby, but this ritual is much more spritual than it seems. It signifies the fleetingness of life and is considered very generous as youβre providing food for the animals as they provide for people. Not so weird afterall!
Ah, the end of the list β of course this is going to be the weirdestβ¦
Yanomami ash eating: Not just any ash either; weβre talking your deceased grandmother or uncle. The Yanomami tribe of Venezula and Brazil forbids burial or preserving their dead, so they cremate them instead. And once this has happened the ash is returned to the family to be eaten. Yum?
