Unique traditions

• Russian (Giving flowers):

  • Yellow flowers represent a break-up of a relationship or deceit
  • Red carnations are taboo because they are presented to veterans who survived the war and on graves
• Chinese (Gifts):

  • Clock symbolizes that time is running out or the end of life and relationships
  • Handkerchief sounds like a farewell greeting
  • Umbrella is a subtle hint of ending a relationship
  • Gifts in sets of four are associated with death
  • Straw sandals or shoes indicate a desire to part ways
  • Green hat means the wife is being unfaithful
• Egypt (Asking for salt):

  • Asking for salt is taken as an insult to the host, indicating that you are repulsed by the taste of the meal served
• A question of being punctual:

  • Venezuela: norm to arrive 10-15 mins late
  • Malaysia: 5-60 mins late is acceptable
  • Morocco: late for an hour or day is alright
  • Chinese: 10 mins late is fine
  • Mexican, Greeks: will excuse you if you're 30 mins late
  • American, Germans, South Koreans, Japanese: punctual
• Norway (Table Manner):

  • Brush up on how to eat with a knife and fork before traveling to Norway
• "No" to sharp objects:

  • Netherlands and China have cultural traditions against receiving sharp gifts like scissors and kitchen knives
• Greece (Losing a tooth):

  • Greek children toss their tooth onto their roofs for good luck and a healthy tooth
• Hungary (Say cheers but don't clink glasses):

  • Hungarians traditionally do not clink glasses when having a drink
• Bolivia (Choose the right occasion to discuss business):

  • Rude to discuss business during a dinner party or social occasion in Bolivia
• Turkey (Don't try to "go Dutch"):

  • Splitting the meal tab, even if it's given in your honor, is not acceptable in Turkey
• South Korea (Red Inks):

  • Avoid using red ink for writing names of friends as it symbolizes death
• Finland (Trip to sauna):

  • Invited to the sauna after a meeting indicates a successful business meeting
• Australia (Sitting in taxi):

  • Considered snobbish to sit at the back of a taxi in Australia
• United Kingdom:

  • Greet a lone magpie to avoid bad luck
• Netherlands:

  • Tradition to greet the person celebrating the birthday and their family and relatives
• Greeting people:

  • Germany: shake hands with everyone in the room when invited to a gathering
  • Japan: greeting and thanking involve bowing, depth of bow depends on social status or age
  • Argentina: customary to give a kiss on the cheek
  • Brazil: exchange around three cheek kisses with friends
  • France: giving a kiss on the cheek varies by region
• Austria (“Fingerhakeln” Finger-pulling):

  • Traditional sport similar to a mini version of tug-of-war
• The dangers of remaining single after age 25:

  • German tradition of showering a single person with cinnamon powder at age 25
  • French tradition of buying funny hats for single friends on Saint Catherine’s Day
• Mexico:

  • Shoving your face on your birthday cake
• Finland (Wife-carrying or eukonkanto):

  • Competitive sport
• Indonesia (Cutting-off Fingers):

  • Dani tribe in Indonesia cuts off a segment of a finger to express grief for a family member's death
• Endocannibalism:

  • Yanomami tribe in the Amazon rainforest practices endocannibalism, consuming the flesh of a deceased tribe member
• Living with the Dead:

  • Toraja people in Indonesia exhuming the corpses of fellow villagers as a ritual