Cultural Traditions

Dinner guests in medieval England were expected to bring their own knives to table -- hosts did not provide them. The fork did not appear until the sixteenth century, and fork-and-knife pairs were not in general use in England until the seventeenth century.

Most Americans did not begin using forks until the Civil war. Until then most used their fingers to eat, knives to cut their meat, and spoons with pencil-like handles to eat soups or stews. During colonial times forks were used in restaurants; at home they were mainly used in the kitchen and to hold meat while cutting it. As recently as 1897, British sailors could not use knives and forks to eat because it was considered unmanly.

In Sweden, when leaving someone's home, wait until you get to the doorway to step outside before putting on your coat. To do so earlier suggests you are eager to leave. When entering or departing a Russian home, it is considered very bad form to shake hands across the threshold.

In Sweden, it is a breech of etiquette for you to toast your host or anyone who is your senior in rank or age until after they toast you.

While many Japanese customs are disappearing, the practice of sending New Years cards and seasonal gifts called O-chugen and O-seibo is as strong as ever. The Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications delivered nearly 4.5 billion New Years cards in 1999, or about 32 cards for every man, woman and child in Japan.

In the marriage ceremony of the ancient Incas, the couple was considered officially wed when they took off their sandals and handed them to each other.

In the Swahili culture, the day starts at sunrise which, in East Africa, being exactly at the equator, happens every day at approximately 6:00 a.m. For that reason, 6:00 a.m. is 0:00 a.m. Swahili time.

How did the custom of kissing start?
Over time, the custom of kissing developed as a way for adults to express their love and affection for one another. The roots of this form of affection can be traced back to primitive times, when mothers fondled their children, much as mothers do today.

Much later, in the sixth century, society apparently accepted the custom of kissing between adults as an expression of their affection. Not surprisingly, France first accepted kissing in courtship, and in amore. There, figure dancing was the rage, and each dance was sealed with a kiss.

The custom of kissing swept from France through Europe to Russia, where Russian nobility loved to ape the French. Eventually, the kiss was incorporated into marriage ceremonies, and today lip-locks couples into sweet matrimony.

The custom of kissing today, as well as in ancient times, serves to show respect, and to pay homage to another. For example, early Romans kissed each other on the mouth or on the eyes to greet one another in a manner they deemed to be a dignified. One Roman emperor even ranked a person's importance by the body part he was allowed to kiss. He allowed important nobles to kiss his lips, less important ones to kiss his hands, and the least important ones to kiss his feet.

In Russia, the highest sign of recognition from the Crown meant a kiss from the Tsar himself. Today, natives of many African tribes pay homage to their Chief by kissing the ground over which he has walked.

The Japanese cremate 93 percent of their dead, as compared to Great Britain at 67 percent and the United States at just over 12 percent.

There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland; more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

A Hobson's choice is a situation that forces a person to accept whatever is offered or go without. The phrase was inspired by sixteenth-century entrepreneur Thomas Hobson, who hired out horses in strict rotation at Cambridge University. There was no choosing by the customer - it was strictly Hobson's choice.

Piercing nipples with rings and the like is not a new punk fad. It was popular among ladies in the late 1800s.

What is called a "French kiss" in England and America is known as an "English kiss" in France.

More redheads are born in Scotland than in any other country: 11 percent of its population has red hair.

The king of hearts is the only king without a moustache on a playing card.

The most commonly used language in the world is Chinese. It is spoken by over 1 billion people.

The most prolific beer drinkers by nationality are the Czechs. (Source: Yahoo!)

When men of the Walibri tribe of central Australia greet each other, they shake penises instead of hands.How is British nobility ranked?

In England, the five grades of peerage or nobility entitled to seats in the House of Lords are, in descending order: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron.

WHAT IS THE RANK OF HANDS IN POKER?
Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pairs, One Pair, and High Card (no pair).

What does R.S.V.P. stand for?
When you were a kid you were probably told is meant "Respond Soon, Very Promptly," but that's not really the case. It actually means "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which is a French phrase meaning "please reply." Etiquette rules followed in most Western cultures require that if you receive a formal, written invitation, you should reply promptly, perhaps that same day. Of course, you're probably wondering why we use a long French phrase on invitations in our country. Simply put, many of the practices of Western etiquette came from the French court of King Louis XIV in the late 17th and early 18th centuries (at his palace in Versailles he had the rules for court behavior written on what the French referred to as "tickets," or "étiquette," which is where we get the word). Since French was the language of refinement and high society through the 19th century in the United States "R.S.V.P." came to be known as a polite way of reminding people to reply to an invitation. And like many traditions, it's still around today.

They weren't invented in France, so why does everybody call them "French fries?"
It's true, the French fry wasn't invented in France. (Its origin is probably Belgian.) But the "French" in French fries doesn't refer to its country of origin. It refers to the way in which this side dish is prepared. Food that is cut into strips is said to be "Frenched." Since French fries are strips of potato that have been fried, they became known as French fried potatoes, or "French fries."

Why is it called a "hamburger" if it doesn't contain ham?
At first glance, it seems that the word "hamburger" is a combination of the words "ham" and "burger." Therefore, one naturally assumes that a hamburger is a burger that contains ham. But the word "hamburger" actually traces its roots back to Hamburg Germany, where people used to eat a similar food called the "Hamburg steak." Eventually, the Hamburg steak made its way to the United States, where people shortened its name to "hamburger."

A taxi by any other name...
The word "taxi" is spelled the same in English, German, French, Swedish, and Portuguese.

Why do some people cross their fingers for good luck?
The western tradition of crossing the first and second fingers as a way of "attracting" good luck is a holdover from the early history of Christianity, when there was great tension between Christians and non- Christians (called Pagans by early Christians). Early Christians believed that it was important to honor their faith by making the sign of the cross, which is done by touching the body four times. But in the presence of Pagans this act might have given offense or even incited violence. So instead they made a "cross" by unobtrusively crossing their fingers, and many people still do it today.

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR NONFUNCTIONING BUTTONS ON MEN'S SUIT COATS?
Nonfunctioning buttons are not for decoration. They're adopted from old German uniforms that used buttons to keep the wearer from using the sleeve to wipe his nose.

Why is seven considered a lucky number?
It really seems quite loony that the power to bring good luck should be ascribed to any mere number. In fact, loonyness-- the four parts of the lunar cycle, to be specific--is actually at the root of this number's supposedly magical powers. The phases of the moon are each about seven days long. So the number seven seemed to be embedded in the natural order of things, and somehow related to the heavenly body that has often been observed to powerfully affect the course of human events. (Source: THE HANDY SCIENCE ANSWER BOOK)

The United Nations flag is the only one that may fly above the US flag on an American flag pole.

Muhammad is the most popular first name in the world.

Mandarin is most-spoken language in the world, spoken by 1.07 billion people, followed by English, spoken by 514 million people. Third is Hindi, spoken by 496 million, and Spanish, by 425 million people.

How does one complete an Irish greeting?
The correct response to the Irish greeting, "Top of the morning to you," is "And the rest of the day to yourself."

How did people remove facial and body hair in ancient times?
There is evidence that 20,000 years ago sharpened rocks and shells were used for shaving by hunter-gatherer tribes. Since then almost every culture in history has practiced the removal of facial and body hair. Native Americans used matching pairs of clamshells to pull out hairs one by one. Sumerians used tweezers, and the Egyptians had razors made of bronze. In the Arabian practice of "threading," a cotton string was used to encircle hairs one at a time and pull them out. Another approach involved rubbing with sandpaper-like abrasives that had the side effect of also removing the outer layers of skin. Depilatories (creams and lotions) included liquids that hardened in place such as hot wax and sugar syrup, as well as substances that actually dissolved the hairs. Some early depilatories included highly poisonous chemicals like arsenic and caustic lye.

When should you wish someone a happy birthday?
In many countries, it is the custom to wish friends a "Happy Birthday" on January 1st, rather than a "Happy New Year." This day is nicknamed "Everyman's Birthday," and is considered the day when everyone becomes a year older, whether it's their actual day of birth or not. Similarly, this practice is observed in horse racing. No matter when a race horse is born, they all "become" a year older on New Year's Day, although there are no records explaining how or why this came to be.

Why do womens’ blouses have the buttons on the left?
Men's shirts have the buttons on the right, but women's blouses have the buttons on the left. This is more than just a way to tell whether a shirt is for men or women. There is a historical reason for it. During the Victorian period, buttons were quite expensive, and were mostly worn by rich people. Since proper, well-to-do ladies were dressed by their servants, and most people are right-handed, their buttons were placed on the servant's right, which is the wearer's left side. However, most gentlemen dressed themselves, so their buttons were placed on the wearer's right side. Those who could not afford servants copied the style of the wealthy, and women's buttons thereafter remained on the left.

Who made chewing gum popular?
One of the prime candidates is not somebody you would connect to chewing gum. You've probably heard of him, but only if you "remember the Alamo." He was the commander of the Mexican troops who attacked and killed the Texans defending this San Antonio mission in 1836: General Santa Anna. Santa Anna won that battle but his country lost the war and the territory of Texas. The General ruled Mexico for a while and then, in exile, ended up in--of all places--Staten Island, New York. He brought with him his habit of chewing chicle, the sap of a Mexican tree. An inventor he befriended, Thomas Adams, was inspired by Santa Anna's habit to turn chicle into a commercial product. Adams later added flavor to it and it became modern chewing gum, making one of America's most reviled villains also an unsung hero of its popular culture. (Source: EXTRAORDINARY ORIGINS OF EVERYDAY THINGS by C. Panati)

Would a leftie be at home in Thailand?
Not really - In Thailand, the left hand is considered unclean, so you should not eat with it. Also, pointing with one finger is considered rude and is only done when pointing to objects or animals, never humans.

Why do Japanese carry handkerchiefs?
Blowing your nose in public is considered rude in Japan. The handkerchief is used primarily for wiping the mouth or drying your hands when leaving a restroom.

How dedicated were China's Great Wall guards?
The men who served as guards along the Great Wall of China in the Middle Ages were often born on the wall, grew up there, married there, died there, and were buried within it. Many of these guards never left the wall in their entire lives.

When is January 1 your birthday?
When you're a horse! In many countries, it is the custom to wish friends a "Happy Birthday" on January 1st, rather than a "Happy New Year." This day is nicknamed "Everyman's Birthday," and is considered the day when everyone becomes a year older, whether it's their actual day of birth or not. Similarly, this practice is observed in horse racing. No matter when a race horse is born, they all "become" a year older on New Year's Day, although there are no records explaining how or why this came to be.

Why do we dress boys in blue?
In ancient times, it was believed that certain colors could combat the evil spirits that lingered over nurseries. Because blue was associated with the heavenly spirits, boys were clothed in that color, boys then being considered the most valuable resource to parents. Although baby girls did not have a color associated with them, they were mostly clothed in black. It was only in the Middle Ages when pink became associated with baby girls.

Is English the official language anyplace in the U.S.?
In 1811, Louisiana was the first state in the U.S. to declare, by statute, English as its official language. It would be 109 years before a second state in the U.S. - Nebraska - would issue a constitutional amendment to make English the official state idiom there.

What does an Amish man's beard signify?
Amish men shave until they marry; then they grow a beard.

Is a Japanese bow really like a handshake?
Not entirely - Japanese Bowing carries different meanings at different angles. A Bow at an angle of five degrees means "Good day," a simple greeting. A Bow at an angle of fifteen degrees is also a common salutation, a bit more formal meaning "Good morning". A Bow at an angle of thirty degrees is a respectful bow to indicate appreciation for a kind gesture. A Bow at a forty five degree angle is used to convey deep respect or an apology.

Why wouldn’t you pour your own drink in Japan?
Dining etiquette in Japan is tricky. It is considered extremely impolite to pour one's own drink when eating with others - you pour your companion's drink and your companion pours yours. On the other hand, it is considered normal and non-offensive to make loud slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan.