Since we’re all not wandering, I wanted to share a small something to keep my culturally curious friends entertained. I’m always fascinated 🧐 to hear about historical cultural practices and etiquette in different countries. Particularly why some rules were once followed and why some still persist. I’ve discovered some incredibly cool and random tidbits I’m going to share every week. How people do things in other parts of the world 🌎.
The exchange is practically a ceremony where cards must be presented to the recipient with 2 hands 🤲🏻, the text facing the recipient. The recipient should also accept it with both hands, thank the giver for it, and take a few seconds to read it carefully before setting it on the table face up. Folding the card and putting it away is considered bad manners. In Japan, first impressions are lasting impressions and can affect any further negotiations.
May the cards be in ever in your favor. 😌
Icelanders are very strict about the first names that parents can give their children 👶 . Any name that parents wish for their baby must be on an approved list , or signed off on by the Icelandic Naming Committee, the gatekeeper of names.
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Rules dictate that names must contain only letters in the Icelandic alphabet, must be adaptable to their grammar rules, and must not cause the bearer any embarrassment. Also, everyone has a last name that is 1 of their parents’ first names along with a gender indicator, son or dóttir (son or daughter). Nikolas’ daughter would have a last name Nikolasdóttir. My name is ‘illegal’ 🚫 in Iceland. Is yours? Check the list to find out —> https://www.island.is/en
In Shanghai, it's quite common to see both men & women outside in their nightgowns, walking around, shopping, or just hanging out. Wearing PJs in public started in the early 20th century, when foreign nightgowns were first imported into China & were considered luxurious & ‘cool’ because only the very wealthy locals could afford them.
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In recent years, the government has tried to convince residents that they need to change out of their PJs before leaving the house, as they wanted to present a modern China to their 2010 World Expo (Fair) visitors. They posted signs reading ‘Do not go outdoors in pyjamas, be a civilized person for the Expo’ throughout the city. Volunteer ‘pyjama policemen’ even patrolled the neighborhoods telling pyjama wearers to go home & change. I think it’s going to be hard convincing any one of us to get out of our PJs these days. 😌
When the ancient Greeks and Romans starting drinking alcoholic beverages, they wanted to thank their gods for the drinks, and hence saluted the deities by lifting their cups. When the Roman Emperors decreed their own primacy over the gods, they ordered people to salute them instead.
Often these Emperors worried that they would be poisoned 🤢 by potential rivals vying for the throne, SO when dining, they would ‘cheer’ and clink their glasses 🍻 to ensure that a bit of alcohol from each goblet would pour into the other. That way, if someone had secretly slipped poison into anyone else’s wine 🍷 , they would both be harmed. 🤕
In modern day weddings, grooms 🤵 often appoint a ‘best man’ who is their right-hand man. He is entrusted with many things such as planning the bachelor party 🎊, safeguarding the rings 💍, and giving a heartfelt toast 🥂 to the newlyweds. However, historically the role had a pretty different meaning. The ‘best’ part of the title once referred to the quality of a man’s swordsmanship 🗡 . Weddings, which were more transactional rather than a union of love 💗, often meant that the groom may need the ‘best’ swordsman 🗡 to help him retrieve his bride 👰 should she run away OR to ward off a bride’s family that may have changed their mind about the marriage. 😮 Definitely glad we moved on to the modern meaning.