221 Curious Customs Practices and Traditions Around the World

In Jamaica, there is a custom meant for pregnant women involving milk. Do you know: In Jamaican customs, when a pregnant woman yearns for oranges and doesn’t eat them, her baby would have an orange-shaped birthmark. According to Jamaican customs, pregnant women should have more milk during their pregnancy. It is believed that the more […]

There is a unique custom surrounding pregnant women in Mongolia. Do you know: Even after the baby is born up until it is 3 months or even a year old, the baby’s sex is not revealed. Women, in Mongolia, specifically pregnant women know to stay well away from each other if they ever meet. In

Tattooed Gums or Black Gums are a common custom amongst women in West Africa. Do you know: The tattooing is promoted not only as a sign of beauty but also to maintain good dental health. Women in West Africa, specifically in countries-like Senegal, believe in order to look more attractive they must tattoo their gums

Cross-Dressing is another quirky pre-wedding custom practised in Russia. Do you know: This tradition is based on the dowry system. In Russia, it is the groom’s family who pays a dowry. Before a wedding, the groom’s family visit the bride’s family. A dowry is paid by the groom and only then is his bride to

The Shoe Stealing Game (JootaChhupai) is a wedding custom practised in most parts of India in Hindu and Muslim weddings. Do you know: The bride and the groom are expected to take off their shoes during the wedding ceremony. In most Indian weddings, once the groom has removed his shoes, chaos would ensue, where the

Kissing Feast is one of the wedding customs followed in Sweden. Do you know: In Swedish weddings, the bride and the groom walk down the aisle together rather than the father of the bride giving her away. Amongst the many customs surrounding their weddings, kidnapping the ‘couple to be’ before their wedding and planning a

Polterabend is a pre-wedding custom practised in Germany. Do you know: The word Polterabend comes from the German verb ‘poltern’, which means to make loads of noise; and the noun abend–meaning evening. Polterabend is a custom practised by the friends, members of family and guests of the coupe to be married on the eve of

The Awá tribe of Brazil is known to take in orphaned animals in the rainforest. Do you know: The Awá tribe live and hunt in the rainforest using 6-foot tall bows and gather forest produce for their food. The Awá tribe, which is fast becoming endangered because of killings and encroachment on its land, has

Lip Plate, known as a ‘Lip Plug’ or ‘Lip Disc’, is one of the distinguishing features of the Mursi tribe of Africa. Do you know: A girl in the Mursi tribe perseveres to increase the size of the Lip Plate until it is 12 cmsor more in diameter. The Mursi tribe is extremely egalitarian in

The Korowai tribe until the 1970’s lives in houses high above the ground on trees. Do you know: The new tree houses are blessed with animal fat smeared on the threshold and stairs. The Korowai people strategically build their houses high above the ground so as to avoid pesky mosquitoes, evil spirits and neighbours! Banyan

Cannibalism is practised amongst the Korowai tribe of New Guinea. Do you know: The Korowai do not believe that they practise cannibalism. While the Korowai do not practise cannibalism often, but when it is practised, the person who is killed is killed by a special bone arrow and completely eaten by the tribe. However, the

The Walking Dead are a reality in the Toraja group of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Do you know: The Torajahave an annual ritual known as the ‘Ceremony of the cleaning corpses’. We already know that the Torajacommunity live with their dead members for months until proper funerary arrangements are made. But going a step further, the

The Sky Burial is an ancient and hidden funerary practice followed by the Buddhists, the Tibetans and the Mongolians. Do you know: In this practice, the body of the deceased has to be cut into pieces. The Sky Burial is considered to be an extreme form of ‘alms giving’ by the Tibetans. Members of family

Man Down is a tradition drinking game in Russia. Do you know: The Russians are known for their love for vodka and this game tests their capabilities to the limit. As a tradition of sorts, when the Russian men get together they have a drinking custom, where one bottle of vodka is distributed amongst three

Throwing Coins for children is a tradition in Mexico. Do you know: The coins thrown for children are known as ‘Bolo’. As a blessing and wishing them prosperity for their life, adults in Mexico throw money at small children in their baptism. The custom has evolved over the years to include chocolate money, which for