11 Strangest Customs from Around the World
When you go away on vacation or move to another country you want to absorb yourself in everything it has to offer. From visiting monuments to savoring traditional dishes, at some point, it all needs to be done. But what about local customs? Each culture has its own customs and traditions which may seem strange to foreign lands. From wife tossing in Finland to living with the dead in Indonesia, here are 11 customs that you may find surprising.
1. Tooth Tossing in India, China, and Vietnam
In the US when a child loses a tooth it’s traditional to place it under the pillow at night and wait for the tooth fairy to arrive to take it away. In its place, the tooth fairy leaves either a small gift or money. However, if you're a child in India, China, or Vietnam, things are slightly different.
If an upper tooth is lost, it gets thrown onto the roof in the belief that the new tooth will grow straight and in the right direction. If a child loses a lower tooth, it is either buried, thrown in the ground, or hidden under the bed. This peculiar custom is conducted to ensure that the permanent teeth grow downwards.
2. Walking Over Hot Coals in China
In certain regions of China, men will carry their pregnant wives over hot coals. It is believed that if you do so your wife will experience a successful pregnancy and a smooth and less painful labor. And if you are a bride in China, then to rid yourself of any bad luck you must step over a basin full of burning coals.
3. Finger Cutting in Indonesia
In most countries, it’s traditional to mourn the loss of a loved one by holding a wake but for the Dani Tribe of Indonesia, it’s a lot more personal.
In a practice known as Ikipalin, when a beloved tribe member dies one of the female members of the tribe will have the upper part of her finger amputated. The finger is tied with a rope and then chopped off with an axe. The tribe believes that the pain endured by the woman helps to ease the pain of the deceased and helps their ancestors to find peace.
This tradition has declined now, partly due to it being banned by the government, and partly because the tribe has now found other ways to express their grief.
4. Polterabend (Breaking Porcelain Before a Wedding) in Germany
As a bride and groom, you have a great deal to think about before the big day but imagine having to clear up porcelain and stoneware beforehand.
Well, that’s exactly what happens in Germany. The day before the wedding family and friends smash porcelain and stoneware. This custom was believed to have been started by a Germanic tribe who threw the shards to get rid of evil spirits.
In modern-day Germany, the shards are swept up by the happy couple, such an act symbolizes them being able to work together through difficult conditions and situations.
5. Wearing Gloves Made of Bullet Ants in Brazil
When gardening, you'll wear gloves to protect yourself from dirt, thorns, cuts, and grazes but in Brazil wearing gloves made of bullet ants is a rite of passage for boys as young as 12.
Bullet ants are gathered from the forest, given a natural sedative, and woven into gloves made of vines or leaves. These bullet ant gloves look like large mittens and are worn by the boys for 5 -10 minutes or longer. To be recognized as a true Satere Mawe tribe member the boy must repeat this process at least 19 or 20 times over several months or years.
As the ants regain consciousness the initiator blows smoke at them, this makes the ants aggressive again. The venom from the ants paralyzes the hand and arm, this paralysis can last up to 24 hours.
The tribe believes that a life lived without suffering of any kind or without any kind of effort is a life not worth living.
6. Spitting on the Bride in Kenya
Instead of the well-known tradition of throwing confetti at weddings, a practice rooted in centuries of celebration, there are unique customs around the world that you may not have encountered.
If you are a female member of the Maasai tribe in Kenya and are about to get married, then tradition states that before the ceremony you must be spat on by your father. Spitting on the head or chest is said to bring good luck and fortune. The Maasai tribe views spitting as a show of respect and a traditional way of greeting each other.
In different cultures around the world, wedding traditions often carry deep symbolic meanings, reflecting values and beliefs unique to each community.
7. Throwing Furniture Out of the Window in Johannesburg
On New Year's Eve, the people of Hillbrow, Johannesburg throw any old appliances or furniture out of the window and from their balconies. The aim is to rid themselves of unwanted baggage starting the year with a clean slate.
This annual tradition is believed to have started in the 1990s and continues to this day. It has become something of a spectacle with people looking forward to the chaos it brings. The police and authorities, however, have a different view and are trying to curb the practice.
8. Hanging Onions on the Door in Greece
If you ever visit a home in Greece prior to New Years Eve, you may come across one with onions hanging over the door or balcony. It's not to keep bugs at bay but to attract fortune and luck. The onions are infused with things such as coins, honey, olives, or bread.
These infusions symbolize prosperity, food, and success. Each family member writes their wishes on the onion in the hope that it will come true. The onion is then tied to the door or balcony with a red thread and stays there until January 6.
9. Wife Carrying in Finland
When you marry it's traditional to carry your wife over the threshold but in Finland, you can carry any wife in the annual event Eukonkanto. This event, known in English as “Wife Carrying” is said to date back to the late 19th Century, when local bandit Ronkainen the Robber trained his men by making them carry heavy sacks or women on their backs. Rumor has it that they even stole wives from other villages and then married them.
The first Eukonkanto event took place in Finland in 1992. Back then it was restricted to locals only, but in 1995 the event was opened to foreigners. Four years later the first US event took place in Maine, and it has since become an annual competition.
The rules are quite simple. In Finland, you can carry any wife, partner, or friend. They should weigh no more than 49 kilos and be over the age of 17. You must also wear a helmet. If your wife weighs less than 49 kilos, you'll be provided with a rucksack to make up the weight. In the US, there is no weight limit and no requirement to wear a helmet.
The winners are the pair that completes the track in the fastest time. Before the start of the race, the wife is weighed, and her weight is recorded. The winning pair then receives the wife's weight in beer as their prize.
Around 50 -70 teams apply each year.
10. Walking Backwards in China
If you've ever visited China, you may have spotted people walking backward. This weird custom, known as Retro Walking, was used in ancient China by practitioners of martial arts.
Many Chinese still practice Retro Walking today. They believe that not only does it help your soul, but it also corrects the mistakes and sins of your past. In Tai Chi, it is conducted to enhance balance, agility, and coordination. It is known to strengthen both your body and mind.
As a tourist in China, you can also take part in Retro Walking. It is often seen in fitness clubs, parks, or athletic tracks.
11. Living With the Dead in Indonesia
In the US if you're part of a Native American tribe or Amish community then it's normal to bring the deceased home for a short period for a wake or viewings. But in Toraja, a mountainous area in the South Sulawesi province of Indonesia the Toraja people have the deceased remain at home for a much longer period.
Once a person dies the body is embalmed and then kept in the family home until the funeral. This may be months or even years.
The Toraja people believe that the dead are sick and beginning their journey to the afterlife. They are provided with four meals each day, have their clothes changed, and receive visitors who stop by to chat with them.
However, this custom is not solely traditional. This lengthy viewing period is also because funerals must be paid for in full before they can take place. With a funeral costing between $50,000 - $500,000 and the average family earning between $1,000 to $5,000 dollars a year, it may take time to raise the funds.
The reasons behind such costs are Rapasan Sapu Randanan and Rambu Solo, two rituals that must be performed. Rapasan Sapu Randanan requires the sacrifice of more than 34 buffalo and an unspecified number of pigs. There’s also the cost of the actual sacrifice itself, plus food and other expenses such as clothing. Rambu Solo, is a gathering much like a wake, held by the grieving family to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Depending on the social standing of the family, hundreds, even thousands of mourners may arrive to pay their respects. The family of the deceased is responsible for providing the sacrificial animals as well as traditional dishes to feast on.
The number of animals sacrificed is a mark of social status and shows the importance of the deceased. The more buffalo, the higher the social standing.The Torajans believe that the sacrificed animal will aid the deceased on their journey into the afterlife.
Are These Practices Still Conducted in 2025?
Yes. All 13 of these customs still happen today across the world! However, finger-cutting has been banned by the Indonesian government (although some tribes in remote regions such as Papua have continued with the tradition).
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