Just like the Indian way of greeting our elders by touching their feet could feel strange to foreigners, or the Arab practice of rubbing their noses to greet each other (with respect) may seem bizarre—there’s all kinds of strange customs and traditions that people from all over the world have adopted and adapted to in their respective countries. Here’s listing a few of them.
 

Showing up on time in Venezuela

Showing up on time in Venezuela

So this is a country meant for all the Late Kates amongst us—for arriving on time in Venezuela is often looked down upon. Why? Because you come across as overtly eager and the Venezuelan prefer people with a price.

 

Sprinkling extra salt in Egypt

Sprinkling extra salt in Egypt

A practise that’s considered quite common amongst us Indians, to add a little extra salt to whatever is in front of us, could actually be taken with offense in Egypt because it is a form of disrespect for the host’s cooking skills.

 

Eating with a fork in Thailand

Eating with a fork in Thailand

Even though Thai food is served with a fork and spoon, it’s meant to be eaten only with the spoon, for the fork’s only there to help you push it onto the spoon. Do not use the fork to put the food in your mouth, it’s a custom.

 

Leaving a tip in Japan

Leaving a tip in Japan

Leaving a tip or any form of gratuity is considered rude in Japan because they’re of the ideology that the services you receive are already covered in the price you’re asked to pay for them, so why pay more?

 

Giving flowers in Russia

Giving flowers in Russia

Red roses for a Russian lover? Not a bad idea at all, but make sure they’re not in dozens. For flowers given in even numbers is a practise common to funerals, so be careful to not upset her there. Just add one or scrap one.

 

Crossing fingers in Vietnam

Crossing fingers in Vietnam

The universal sign for hoping to get lucky is taken as an offense in Vietnam as it’s said to resemble a woman’s genitals. So we’re guessing the Vietnamese wouldn’t get the pun there, would they?

 

Beckoning in the Philippines

Beckoning in the Philippines

Now this is a rude gesture even in India, but people barely pay any heed. However, try this in the Philippines and expect to be in trouble right away, for this is a gesture used for dogs, and not for people. So be very careful.

 

Using red ink in South Korea

Using red ink in South Korea

Know how we like to highlight important keywords in red? Well, avoid this in South Korea for red ink is reserved for the deceased. It’s also a superstition to wish harm upon someone if you write their name in red. So seriously avoid!

 

Eating with hands in Chile

Eating with hands in Chile

Touching your food is considered rude in Chile, so make sure to use cutlery to avoid dining faux pas—yes, even for pizzas, burgers and fries. So forget about grabbing a mouthful of fries! Also, clear your plate, it’s considered to be polite.

 

Unwrapping presents in India

Unwrapping presents in India

Excitedly opening up your presents in front of your guests could be interpreted as being greedy and rude, and could also get awkward if a few presents outshone the others. So best to save it for later!

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