Surprising Customs from Around the World世界各地的奇风异俗

We’ve all heard that it’s a small world， but is it really？ People have such different lifestyles that what feels like a customary practice to some may seem bizarre to others. People have a propensity1 to develop traditions and customs around everything from beauty rituals to eating habits. This has led to a world enriched with thousands of different cultures since the dawn of civil-ization. Cultural differences abound， and the following are eight surprising examples.

我们都听说过“这世界很小”这句话，但是，世界真的很小吗？人们的生活方式千差万别，一些人觉得习以为常的做法，另一些人却直叫稀奇古怪。从护肤程序到饮食习惯，人们在生活的方方面面都容易形成传统和习俗。这就是为什么自文明诞生之日起，世界就有着千千万万、多姿多彩的文化。文化差异比比皆是。下面，一起来看看世界上的八个奇风异俗吧！

1. People in Malaysia use their thumb to point

1. 马来西亚人用大拇指示意

Some countries regard pointing with the index finger as rude and abrasive2. While members of many cultures probably think that pointing a finger， both literally and figuratively， isn’t very nice， in some countries， e.g.， Indonesia and Malaysia， this gesture is seen as incredibly offensive. Instead， it is considered more polite and acceptable to gesture towards things with the thumb. In many African countries， pointing is reserved for inanimate3 objects only， not people.

在一些国家，人们认为用食指指指点点是非常粗鲁无礼的。在许多文化中，无论从字面义（用手指指）还是比喻义（指责）上看，这一行为可能都不太文雅;而在某些国家，比如印度尼西亚和马来西亚，这种手势会被视为极大的冒犯。如果是要指东西，用拇指更礼貌些，也更能让人接受。在许多非洲国家，手指只能指向无生命的物体，不能指人。

2. Nicaraguans point with their lips

2. 尼加拉瓜人用嘴示意

While hand gestures vary with cultural differences， few countries can lay claim to gestures made by contortions of the mouth. However， in Nicaragua， it is common to point with the lips instead of the thumb or index finger. Wondering how exactly this is done？ It all starts by puckering up4 in a kind of duck face. The lips can then be directed forward or side-to-side to indicate what the person is trying to point out. The lip-point gesture is accompanied by a directional head movement and is typically used when conversing to indicate something happening nearby.

虽说由于文化差异，各个国家的手势五花八门，但是，几乎没有哪个国家会说他们是靠扭动嘴巴示意。然而，在尼加拉瓜，人们还真就习惯用嘴唇而不是拇指或者食指来指东西。想知道尼加拉瓜人到底是怎么做出“嘴势”的吗？首先要噘起“鸭子嘴”。之后就可以将嘴唇向前努或向两侧扭，以表明想要指的是什么。尼加拉瓜人在做这种“嘴势”时，头也会跟着同向移动。通常该动作用来在交谈中指示附近的事物。

3. The French really go in for5 kissing

3. 法国人真的很喜欢亲吻

Pretty much every culture has specific greeting rituals. Romance and Latin American cultures share the common custom of kissing on the cheek as a form of salutation6. However， the French have taken this to a whole new level. For instance：

● Kissing rules vary for men and women.

● The number of kisses required to complete the greeting varies from region to region.

● The French people are expected to kiss-greet each person arriving at a gathering， whether they know them or not.

几乎每种文化都有特定的问候礼仪。罗曼语文化和拉美文化有一个共同的习俗，那就是将亲吻脸颊作为一种问候方式。然而，法国人可谓把亲吻礼贯彻到了一个全新的高度。例如：

·男性和女性有不同的亲吻规则。

·完成问候仪式所需亲吻的次数因地区而异。

·要亲吻问候聚会上的每一个人，不管认不认识。

4. Nigerians kneel or prostrate themselves when greeting

4. 尼日利亚人打招呼行跪拜礼

Members of the Yoruba7 tribe， an ethnic group in Nigeria， take greeting rituals seriously， especially regarding greeting elders. When an adult is approaching， it is customary for young people to greet them by dropping to their knees. To be more specific， women kneel， and men prostrate themselves8. These traditional gestures are signs of deference and respect for the elders in the community. Other ethnic groups in Nigeria do not engage in this custom.

约鲁巴族是尼日利亚的一个民族，非常重视问候礼仪，问候长辈时尤其如此。按照习俗，在有年长者走近时，年轻人要跪拜。说得再具体点，是女子下跪，而男子拜倒。这些传统姿势表达了对族内长者的尊重。尼日利亚的其他民族没有这种习俗。

5. People spit on the bride at Greek weddings

5. 希腊婚礼上新娘要被吐口水

Spitting in Greek cultures is regarded as a good luck charm to ward off9 the devil. Spitting is also done as a way to ward off evil when engaging in regular conversations. Today， the custom doesn’t involve wedding guests actually spitting on the bride. Instead of inflicting damage on the bridal gown， it has evolved into the more hygienic10 and symbolic act of guests forcefully uttering verbal spitting “ftou ftou ftou.” Greeks also do this on other special occasions such as baptisms to acknowledge the baby’s good health and beauty.

在希腊文化中，人们认为吐口水是护身符，能够驱魔辟邪。日常交流中，希腊人也会吐口水，以驱逐厄运。现如今，婚礼宾客不会真的往新娘身上吐口水。这个习俗已经演变为更加卫生的行为，宾客象征性用力发出吐口水的声音“ftou ftou ftou”，这样就不会把新娘的礼服弄脏。在很多其他特殊场合，希腊人都会这么做。例如在洗礼仪式中，人们会以此来表示宝宝健康又漂亮。

6. In Russia， September 12 is known as the day of conception

6. 俄罗斯的“怀孕日”9月12日

Cultures typically approach marriage， sex， and reproduction in unique ways. Russia may take first prize in terms of institutionalized acceptance of a custom. This came about because of serious concerns over Russian society. Russia has declining birth rates， an unequal proportion of women to men， and alarmingly short male lifespans. To help solve this issue， the Russian government instituted a public holiday on September 12 to give couples time off11 from work to have sex， which will hopefully result in a pregnancy. Prizes are given out to those successful parents whose babies are born approximately nine months later.