British taboos and customs

American taboos

Don’t queue up

British people have the habit of queuing up. You can see them lining up one by one to get on the bus or train or buy a newspaper. Gagging is a disgraceful act.

Don’t ask a woman’s age

British people don’t like to talk about a man’s salary and a woman’s age. You shouldn’t even ask how much the furniture in his home is worth. It is also very inappropriate if you ask a woman her age, because she thinks it is her own secret, and everyone wants to stay young forever, and there is nothing better than saying to a middle-aged woman, "You look so young." What a better compliment. There is no doubt that every woman's hairstyle, makeup and clothes are to make herself look more beautiful and younger, but if her dress makes people feel too deliberate, then others will criticize her and say that she "appears". Tacky”.

No bargaining

The most taboo thing when shopping in the UK is haggling. The British don't like haggling and think it is very embarrassing. If you are purchasing a valuable piece of art or a large quantity of merchandise, you also need to be careful to agree on a full price with the seller. British people seldom bargain. If they think the price of an item is right, they will buy it. If they think the price is right, they will walk away.

Bathroom and going to "No. 100"

The original meaning of the word lavatory is a place to wash hands or face, but its actual meaning is a toilet, which British people do not use when going to the toilet. Say "go to the toilet" directly, and do the same when reminding others, without directly mentioning the word "toilet". If you want to use the toilet, you can say "Go to the men's room," or "Go to the women's room," or "Excuse me for a few minutes," or "I want to wash my hands." Little children say "I want to go to that place" when they want to relieve themselves. Among friends and within families, "No. 100" is the most commonly used term.

How not to be rude at a dance

According to custom, the host invites people to the dance, and sometimes there is a dinner; sometimes the host invites people to dance without a dinner; and sometimes the host invites people to the dance. A few of the guests had dinner and danced after the meal; the others could only attend the dance but not the meal. Therefore, the invited people must read the words on the invitation clearly to avoid embarrassing the host. At the dance, the host prepares supper, or just some tea, coffee and sandwiches. Guests participating in the dance must be neatly dressed. During the dance, the male guests must take turns inviting the female guests, and one of them must dance with the hostess. Men dancing with men and women dancing with women are to be laughed at. On major festivals, if a person receives two invitations at the same time, he can attend one dance, leave early and then attend another dance. This is because people who are accustomed to attending dances can come and go as they please, and it is not considered rude.

Ladies first and gentlemanly demeanor

In the UK, respect for women is an important aspect of gentlemanly demeanor. Ladies first is a well-known code of conduct.

Under normal circumstances, the British always give priority to women. If a man and a woman enter a room together, the man should open the door for the woman. Most women go first when entering a room or restaurant, unless a man must choose a table, open a door, or perform other services in front of a woman. When walking on the street or crossing the road, men should walk next to women on the side facing the direction of oncoming traffic. If a man is walking with two ladies, he should walk between them. If the host or hostess or both come in a car to pick up guests for dinner, the guests should squeeze into the front seat of the car and leave the back seat empty, because the driver is the host or hostess. At a banquet, when the host leads the guest into the living room, if the guest is a lady, most of the men in the room will stand up to show respect. If the hostess's daughter is present, she should introduce the guest to her daughter. A man is usually introduced to a woman, unless he is much older or of higher status. The general practice is for the younger to introduce to the older. Regardless of whether a man or a woman enters the living room, women sitting in the living room do not have to stand up as a courtesy. When the banquet begins, the men pull out chairs for the ladies and help them take their seats.

Some British people lament that in terms of courtesy towards ladies, the world is no longer as good as before. It is said that because women have gained equal rights with men in terms of elections, employment, wages and higher education, they no longer need the same care as in the past.

It seems that politeness toward women stems from men's feeling that women need protection.

Being a guest and etiquette at the table

If you are invited to someone else’s home, you will have to consider the following situations. For example, when should I arrive at the host’s house? If it's not a serious business, but just a social gathering, it's rude to arrive early. The hostess is getting ready and you arriving before she is completely ready will make her feel very embarrassed. It's best if you arrive 10 minutes late. Arriving half an hour late is too late and requires an apology to the host. When should you leave? There are no rules, but it is rude to sit too late at the host's house. If you are just invited to have dinner and chat, then you'd better leave between 10 and 11 o'clock or say goodbye an hour after the meal. If you are invited to stay for a few days or a weekend, buy a bouquet of flowers for the hostess before you leave. This will make her very happy. In addition, the day after leaving, send a note to the host to thank you, and attach a small gift such as a box of chocolates or some flowers.

British food is simple, but the eating rules are complicated. The most important thing is to sit up straight, follow the example of others, do not ask questions cheerfully when eating, and keep talking to others. No one should leave their own spoon on the soup pot or coffee cup or other dish. The spoon should be placed on the saucer of the soup basin, and the coffee spoon should be placed on the saucer. It is best not to make any noise when drinking soup, and to scoop it from the inside out with one side of the spoon. Do not use the head of the spoon, let alone hold the soup basin to drink up all the soup left at the bottom of the basin. No matter what you eat, try not to make any noise, otherwise, you will be considered as not understanding the rules. Each meal usually consists of only one main dish and salad, and a dessert at the end. If the guest is not full, he can praise the hostess for the delicious food and order chicken, steak or other dishes. The hostess will add one more dish to him, but never more. Don't burp in front of others. When serving coffee, drink from the cup and place the coffee spoon on the tray. No smoking at the table. After finishing the meal, the guests should place their napkins on the table and then stand up. Men should help women move their chairs. If the host wants to keep the guests for another meal, the napkin can be folded according to the original crease. After the meal, the guests sit for an hour or two and then say goodbye to the host.

1. Excessive modesty is not a virtue

Americans regard excessive modesty as a synonym for hypocrisy. If a self-effacing person says that he does not speak English well, and then speaks fluent English, Americans will think that he is a duplicitous and pretentious person. . Therefore, when interacting with Americans, you should boldly speak out about your abilities. One thing is that you don't have to be too modest and polite, otherwise it will be counterproductive.

2． Greeting strangers

On the road, in the elevator or in the corridor, we often meet the people walking towards us and meet their eyes. At this time, Americans are accustomed to greeting each other with their eyes. Don't look away immediately, or turn your face to one side and pretend not to see him. Only do this to people you dislike or are dismissive of. When Americans walk down the street in the early morning, they are used to saying "good morning" to people they pass by. Of course, on a street with many pedestrians, it is not necessary to pay attention or say hello to everyone who passes by.

3. Don’t forget to greet your children

When you are a guest in an American home, their children will definitely come out to meet the guests and say hello. At this time, don’t only care about the adults and neglect the children. That is bound to make their parents unhappy. When greeting a child, you can shake hands or kiss him. If the child kisses your face, you must also kiss his face.

4． Don’t take off your shoes in front of others

In the United States, if you take off your shoes or go barefoot in front of others, you will be regarded as a barbarian who does not know etiquette! If a man takes off his shoes, he is looked down upon like a jungle native. If your shoelaces are loose, you should go to a place where no one is around to tie them

Chinese customs and taboos

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When French people meet guests in social situations, they usually shake hands as a courtesy, and girls and women often curtsy. When men and women meet, they often kiss each other on the cheek or face each other instead of shaking hands. The French also have the custom of men kissing each other. When two men meet, they usually kiss each other on the cheek in public. Among certain social classes in France, the "hand kiss" is also quite popular. When kissing the hand, be careful not to touch the lady's hand with your mouth, and you cannot kiss the hand wearing gloves. You cannot kiss the hand in public places, and you are not allowed to kiss the hand of a girl.

The French toast women first and then men when toasting at the table, even if the female guest has a lower status than Ribin. When walking, entering a house, or sitting down, women must go first. When visiting and saying goodbye, you should also first greet and thank the hostess. When introducing two people to each other, generally if the positions are equal, introduce the lady first. Introduce the older ones first by age, and introduce those with higher positions first by position. If there are several guests to be introduced, the ship will introduce them in order of seating or standing. Sometimes the introducer cannot remember the name of the person being introduced, and the person being introduced should take the initiative to introduce himself. Don’t forget to bring flowers when visiting a French person’s home.

When sending flowers, please note that the number of flowers cannot be an even number, and men cannot send red roses to married women. You should pay attention to the type of flowers you send: sending chrysanthemums in the local area expresses condolences for the deceased. The French assign a certain meaning to each flower, so be careful when choosing flowers to send: roses represent love, begonias represent worry, orchids represent piety, tulips represent admiration, primroses represent first love, and daffodils represent love. Cold and ruthless, marigolds mean sadness, daisies mean I just want to see you, lilies mean respect, dahlias mean gratitude, acacias mean trust, lilacs mean my heart belongs to you, white lilacs mean let’s fall in love, upside down Gold represents the passion in the heart, faucet represents self-confidence, dianthus represents fantasy, peony represents shyness, white camellia represents you despise my love, and black camellia represents I think you are the most beautiful. In addition, the French regard bright colors as noble and are very popular. They regard horses as a symbol of bravery. They believe that blue is the color of "tranquility" and "loyalty" and pink is a positive color. However, the French are taboo on walnuts, hate dark green, avoid using spades patterns, and avoid using chrysanthemums on trademarks. The French also regard peacocks as evil birds, and are taboo against cranes (considering them a symbol of fools and prostitutes) and turtles, and consider azaleas and paper flowers to be unlucky.

Most French people believe in Catholicism, followed by Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity and Islam. They believe that the number "13" and "Friday" are unlucky and can even cause some disaster. Older women get upset if you call them "old lady." The French also taboo men giving perfume to women because it is suspected of being overly affectionate and plotting evil intentions. They also don't want others to inquire about their political leanings, wages, and personal affairs. If you give a gift when you first meet, the French will think you are unsociable or even vulgar.

French female guests have the habit of wearing makeup, so waiters are generally not welcome to give them scented towels. When talking to guests, the French always like to stand closer to each other. They think this makes them appear closer. They prefer the rooster, believing that it has both ornamental and economic value, as well as the function of announcing the morning dawn. Therefore, it can be used as a symbol of "light" and is regarded as the national bird. They also love the iris very much, thinking it is the pride of their nation, a symbol of power and a symbol of the country, and respect it as the national flower.

The French are accustomed to using gestures to express or emphasize their meaning when talking, but their gestures are different from ours. For example, we use our thumbs and

The French are used to using gestures to express or emphasize their meaning when talking, but their gestures are different from ours. For example, we use our thumb and index finger separately to express "eight", and they express "two"; when expressing the concept of "it's me", we point to the nose and they point to the chest. They also point their thumbs down to mean "bad" and poor.

The French seem to be inseparable from wine all year round, but they do not drink too much. Three meals a day, except breakfast, are inseparable from wine. They are accustomed to drinking aperitifs to clear their stomachs before meals, and drinking strong wines such as Cognac (brandy) to digest food after meals. When eating meat, they eat red wine, and when eating fish, shrimp and other seafood, they drink white wine; rose red wine Wine is a universal type and can be used for both fish and meat. Ladies love to use rose red to show that they have a light taste and are not fond of strong substances. The French are very particular about not only the food and the wine, but also what kind of wine should be used in which glass. Although the French are very particular, they don't drink much. For a party of three to five people per table, a bottle of wine with around 10% alcohol content is usually sufficient.

The living standards of the German people are quite high, with long paid holidays, and it is very common for citizens to travel abroad. The country's tourism industry is also very developed, and there are many cultural relics and recreational facilities that attract tourists.

1. Religious beliefs of Germans

About half of Germans believe in Christianity, and about 46% believe in Catholicism.

2. Festivals in Germany

In addition to traditional religious festivals, the main festivals in Germany include:

(1) Oktoberfest

Germans love to drink beer, so every year From the last week of September to the first week of October, there is the world-famous Oktoberfest, which lasts for half a month. The beer consumed during the festival can be collected into a river.

(2) Carnival

The Carnival in Cologne, Germany starts at 11:11 on November 11 every year and lasts for dozens of days until 40 days before Easter next year. Finished.

(3) Women’s Day

Thursday in the first week after Easter is Women’s Day. On this day, women can sit on the mayor’s chair and hold scissors. Men's ties were openly cut off in the street.

3. German eating habits

Germans like light, sweet and sour tastes. Breakfast is relatively simple, usually just eating bread and drinking coffee. Lunch is their main meal. The staple food is usually bread, cakes, noodles and rice. They like to eat lean pork, beef, eggs, potatoes, chicken, duck, and game as non-staple food. They usually eat cold meals for dinner, and they like to turn off the lights when eating. Just light a few candles and eat and drink while talking in the dim light. Germans don’t like to eat fish, shrimp and other seafood, nor do they like to eat greasy or spicy dishes. They like to eat a variety of fruits and desserts.

Germans mainly drink beer, but they also like to drink wine. In addition, when Germans get together to eat together, they have to pay for each meal without explaining it (AA system).

4． Politeness and Etiquette

Germans are clean and disciplined. They pay attention to formality in etiquette and punctuality in appointments. At banquets, men generally sit to the left of women and people with high positions. Men should stand up as a sign of courtesy when a woman leaves and returns to the table. When inviting a German to a meal, arrangements must be made in advance. They don't like to be called by their first names, but by titles. When you answer the phone, tell the person your name first. When talking to them, you can talk about things about Germany and personal hobbies and sports, such as football. Don't talk about playing basketball, softball and American football.

5. German taboos

In addition to religious taboos, Germans have many color taboos, such as brown, black, red, dark blue, etc.; Nazi or similar symbols are prohibited on the packaging of clothing and other commodities; They also avoid eating walnuts and sending roses.

11. Italy

Rome, the capital of Italy, has three things: many churches, many fountains and many sculptures. Several other world-famous ancient cities also have many attractive ancient buildings. and modern artworks and tourist facilities, so Italy is an attractive country rich in tourism resources. In recent years, more and more Italians have come to travel to my country.

1. Italian Religion

The vast majority of Italians believe in Catholicism. Catholicism has a great traditional influence in Italy, and the Vatican in the capital city of Rome is the center of Roman Catholicism in the world.

2. Festivals in Italy

The grand occasion of Italians celebrating the three Christian holidays has attracted worldwide attention. The Snake Festival in Italy is the most unique and will undoubtedly scare people who are afraid of snakes, because on this day people hold snakes in their hands and snakes crawl on the streets. The Italian Carnival held in mid-February every year is also very famous in the world. It is shorter than the German Carnival and is different from the Brazilian Carnival. In addition, there are Rome's Founding Day (April 21), Valentine's Day (February 14), etc. On New Year's Eve, Italians not only set off firecrackers, but also smash bottles, flower pots, etc., which is very lively.

3. Italian eating habits

Italian dishes are characterized by rich and authentic flavors. Italians like to eat rice and pasta. There are many types of pasta, which can be used not only as staple food, but also as dishes. Italy is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is rich in seafood. Therefore, Italians also like to eat seafood. They like to eat raw oysters and snails.

Italians prefer my country’s Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine, but Sichuan cuisine should be non-spicy or slightly spicy. After a meal, Italians like to eat fruits, such as apples, and some people like to drink kefir.

Wine is a drink that Italians cannot live without, especially wine. Both men and women drink it with almost every meal. For a meal, there are only two or three dishes, but the wine takes an hour or two. Even drinking coffee requires adding some wine. During the holidays, it’s even more important to drink from a cup.

4. Italian politeness and etiquette

Italians often dance with each other among their relatives and friends, and they also have a lot of artistic sentiment in their dealings with others. The greeting greeting is to shake hands or gesture with hands. Italian college students generally have titles after graduation. Some Italians don't pay much attention to punctuality for appointments. Conversations with Italians can be about family, work, news, and football, but don't talk about American football or politics.

5. Italian taboos

Italians are taboo on chrysanthemums, because chrysanthemums are the flowers they only use when offering sacrifices to graves.

Canada

(1) Social Etiquette

Canada’s basic national situation is that it is vast and sparsely populated. The special environment has a certain impact on the way Canadians treat others. Generally speaking, in social interactions, the biggest characteristic of Canadians is that they are both polite and unrestrained.

The majority of Canadian citizens are descendants of immigrants from Britain and France. Generally speaking, most British Canadians believe in Christianity and speak English. In terms of personality, he is relatively conservative and introverted. French Canadians, on the other hand, mostly believe in Catholicism, speak French, and appear to be more cheerful and unrestrained in character. When dealing with Canadians, you need to understand each other's situation and then treat them differently.

(2) Clothing etiquette

In daily life, Canadians mainly dress in European style. When working, they usually wear suits and suits. Dresses or fashionable clothes are often worn when attending social events. In casual occasions, you can dress freely as long as you feel good about yourself.

(3) Dining Etiquette

Canadians prefer French cuisine and eat bread, beef, chicken, potatoes, tomatoes and other items as their daily food. Generally speaking, they mainly eat meat, especially cheese and butter. Canadians take dinner seriously. They have the habit of inviting relatives and friends to their homes for dinner. Receiving such an invitation should be understood as an active display of friendliness by the host.

(4) Customs and taboos

National flower: maple leaf

National tree: maple

Taboo: white lilies cannot be given as gifts People

Source: Xinhuanet

Australian customs and etiquette

The Commonwealth of Australia (The Commonwealth of Australia), referred to as Australia. It is located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the southwest Pacific and the Indian Ocean. The country's name comes from the Latin australis, which means "southern". Australia has "a country riding on the back of a sheep", "a country of shepherds", "a country sitting on a mine cart", "island continent", "southern continent", "a young country on an ancient land", and a "gold rush land". " and other nicknames. It covers an area of ??7.68 million square kilometers. The population is 16 million, of which approximately 99% are Caucasian. Among residents, those who believe in Christianity (Protestant) account for 55% of the total population, and Roman Catholics account for 27%. Australia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and the Queen of England is Australia's head of state. In 1788, the British began to establish a colonial stronghold in Sydney as a penal colony for British criminals. By the end of the 19th century, Britain had established six colonies in Australia. In 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was formed and became a British Dominion.

Australians have a strong sense of time and must contact you in advance for meetings and attend appointments on time. They treat people very casually. If you are invited to an Australian home, bring a bottle of wine to the host. It's best to bring a bouquet of flowers for the hostess.

Wear a suit at all times in Sydney and Melbourne. In Brisbane, local businessmen usually wear shirts, ties and shorts. However, you may still want to wear a suit when you meet for the first time. Visits to business or government offices require an appointment in advance. A lot of business is done in bars. If you propose a drink, you usually pay the bill, not each other, unless this is agreed in advance.

Australians are accustomed to eating British-style Western food. They prefer light tastes and avoid spicy dishes. Some people do not eat sour foods. Their dishes are generally grilled, Most of the cooking methods are braising and braising. When dining, most of them like to put various condiments on the table, allowing them to freely choose the condiments, and there are more condiments. Australian food is known for its richness and large amounts, especially its high demand for animal protein. They usually like to drink milk and eat beef, mutton, refined pork, chicken, duck, fish, eggs, dairy products and fresh vegetables. They love to drink coffee and eat fruits.

Australians have an absolutely unforgivable habit: every Sunday morning, they must go to church (there are thousands of churches) to listen to sermons. Australians have strictly adhered to the habit of "worshiping on Sunday" since ancient times. Most people in Europe and the United States go to play golf early on Sunday morning, and sometimes they also use the time to talk business. Billion-dollar contracts are often "decided" on the court. But if you try this trick on Australians, it won’t work. So avoid asking them out to play ball on Sunday morning.

Australia has unique customs and customs. Due to geographical location and other factors, Australia's winter and summer are exactly the opposite of those in my country, which is located in the northern hemisphere. In the middle of winter, I went from Beijing to Sydney, Australia, where the sun was scorching in the middle of summer. If you go to Western Australia, you will encounter scorching heat of 40-50 degrees Celsius. The orientation of Australian houses is also opposite to that of our country. As the saying goes in my country: "If you have money, you don't live in a north-facing house." However, this saying does not apply in Australia. In Australia, only north-facing houses are warm in winter and cool in summer.

For business activities, it is best to visit from March to November. The holiday period is from December to February. It is not advisable to visit during the week before and after Christmas and Easter.

Australians are mostly calm people, and they don’t like the living environment to be disturbed. However, there are subtle differences as the residents are descendants of different nationalities. For example, if you are dining with businessmen of British descent, they will ignore you when you bring up business during the meal. On the contrary, businessmen of American descent can discuss business while eating, and they can also talk very enthusiastically. In addition, when there is a negotiation, the person on the other side who comes out to talk must be the one with the power to make the decision. Therefore, we should also send the same people with decision-making power. Otherwise they will be unhappy or even ignore you. This is because they attach great importance to work efficiency and do not want to waste time on empty talk that cannot make decisions. Similarly, in business negotiations, I don’t like to offer a high price first and then slowly reduce the price, and try to avoid wasting time on bargaining. When negotiating business with Australian manufacturers, the other party often doesn’t care about the price, but has very strict requirements on product quality. , once quality problems are discovered, the other party will make a claim without mercy.

Most business activities in Australia are conducted in small hotels. Remember carefully who pays for that meal. It's not good to be too aggressive or forget to pay. Australian employees leave the office as soon as their closing time comes. People at the managerial level are very enthusiastic about their work and are informal in their treatment of others. However, don’t think that business will be easier once you have a drink together.

In Australia, people like to shake hands warmly when they meet and address each other by their first names. Australians like to talk to strangers, especially in bars. There will always be someone coming over to chat with you. Strangers become friends after an introduction or a drink together.

Taboos in Singaporean customs

■Handshakes and greetings

Due to long-term British influence, Singapore has become Westernized and people shake hands when meeting and breaking up. Don't rush to visit the host for the first time. Make an appointment in advance. When introducing people, you should usually call them "Mr. XX", "Mrs. XX" or "Miss XX". This applies to all ethnic groups in Singapore. If you go to a social gathering, people will introduce you to everyone, but do it quickly, without shaking their hands as you walk by them.

■Instructions for Smoking

In Singapore, people are very disapproving of smoking. Smoking is strictly prohibited by law in elevators, public transportation, cinemas, and especially government office buildings, and violators will be fined. It is best to obtain the other person's consent before smoking.

■Clothing

Singapore’s climate is affected by the ocean and latitude, with high temperatures and high humidity. Therefore, it is most appropriate to wear lightweight materials in summer.

People generally wear casual clothes when working. After get off work, they can wear T-shirts and chinos. Only at formal banquets, they must wear suits and ties. Ladies must wear evening gowns, which also makes the host feel respected.

■Entertainment

The form of entertainment is usually dinner or lunch. Local people generally do not invite guests they meet for the first time to have dinner. However, after the host gets to know the visitor, he can hold a formal banquet and discuss business during the banquet. Similarly, visitors should not be in a hurry to treat each other. Frequent and continuous meetings will bring the two parties closer, and by then it will not be too late to treat each other. When eating with Indians or Malays, be careful not to use your left hand.

■Giving gifts

No matter where you go, there is no need to bring gifts. There is no habit of giving gifts among businessmen in Singapore. Sometimes a Singaporean host will invite foreigners to his home for dinner. The hostess will be very happy if the guests can bring a gift (a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers). Singaporeans consider it rude to open a gift in front of the giver, so don't be offended if your gift remains intact when you say goodbye.

■Conversation taboos

In social conversations, it is strictly forbidden to discuss political gains and losses, racial friction, religious rights and wrongs, spouse status, etc. However, you can exchange travel experiences and talk about Various experiences from the countries I have visited. Good conversation topics are local delicacies, restaurants, popular tourist areas and the host's business achievements.

In Singapore, there are very few people who openly express their sense of humor, and not all jokes can be appreciated by people. Therefore, it is best to joke less before you know others well.

In Singapore, it is strictly forbidden to say "Gong Xi Fa Cai". They understand "cai" as "illegal wealth" or "unkindness to get rich". Saying "Gong Xi Fa Cai" is considered an insult and ridicule to others.

■Behavior taboos

Russia

The customs and habits of a nation are one of the main contents that show the characteristics and connotation of its national culture. Russia is a polytheistic country. In 988, Rus was baptized and Christianity replaced polytheism. Orthodox Christianity, one of the three major Christian sects, is the largest and most influential religion in Russia. Russians mainly believe in Orthodox Christianity. According to statistics, there are currently about 150 million Orthodox Christians in the world, and there are more than 80 million Orthodox Christians in the former Soviet Union alone, accounting for more than 30% of the population of the former Soviet Union. Therefore, under the combined influence of polytheism, Orthodox Christianity and the myths and legends of the ancient Russians, various omens and popular beliefs are spread among Russian people, which are specifically reflected in the speech, behavior and habits of Russians.

No shaking hands across the threshold

When we go to a Russian home as a guest, as soon as the host opens the door, we will naturally extend our hand to shake hands to say hello, but the Russians When standing at the door, you never extend your hand to a guest, but wait until the guest comes in before shaking hands. Some elderly hosts would explain: "It is our rule not to shake hands across the threshold." In ancient times, the Slavs buried children who died in infancy and deceased elders under the threshold of their homes, believing that the souls of the deceased would bless the whole family. Peaceful and safe. In the minds of Russians, the threshold is an extremely important place, so you cannot stand on the threshold, you cannot sit on the threshold, and especially outsiders cannot step on the threshold. This gave rise to the custom that the groom must carry the bride into the house when welcoming the bride at the wedding. If the bride crosses the threshold of her husband's house by herself, the spirits of her ancestors will be angry. Although superstition has become a thing of the past, this custom has survived in many places.

In Russia, there are many ominous sayings about "thresholds": if you stumble at the door of your home, your family will suffer misfortune; if you stumble when going out, things will not go smoothly; If you send something to the threshold, otherwise misfortune will befall you. Saying hello across the threshold is an ominous sign: you will either quarrel with others, or the child will be mute. You must cross the threshold with your right foot. If you cross the threshold with your left foot, things will not go smoothly, etc. .

Bah, bah, bah, to ward off disasters and drive away evil spirits and seek good luck

When interacting with Russians, we sometimes encounter situations like this: we praise the other person for "good looks" or "such things" "Everything goes well" and so on, the other party will make two or three sounds (bah, bah!). If we don't understand why, we will look confused. According to the old saying in Russia, the eyes concentrate a person's power, so a vicious person can ruin his life with just one look.

In other words, looking at people with poisonous eyes will cause them to encounter misfortune. There is a saying in Russian (poisonous eye). People in ancient times were worried that they would suffer misfortune after being looked at by such eyes, so they spit three times to ward off evil spirits. Later, the meaning was extended to the fact that the wife was worried about unlucky consequences when she heard good words such as praise and praise. People were worried that the devil would hurt people after hearing these good words. For example, in ancient times, Russians often gave their children some unpleasant names, such as: (pockmarked), (squinted), etc., thinking that the devil would not be interested in children with these names, thus preventing them from misfortune.

When you see someone sneezing, wish them good health

When interacting with Russians, you often encounter this situation: suddenly someone sneezes, then your Russian friend will definitely Saying "I wish you good health!" has become a routine that everyone follows. This is because the ancient Russians believed that sneezing had special magical powers. There were many omens about sneezing among the people, such as: (If you sneeze on an empty stomach on Monday, someone will bring you a gift; If you sneeze on Tuesday, someone will come; on Wednesday, someone will come. Sneeze. When news arrives; when you sneeze on Thursday, someone will praise you; when you sneeze on Friday: you have a date; when you sneeze on Saturday, your wishes will come true; when you sneeze on Sunday, "guests will come to your door." Related legends: God created man and went to his home. Blow on the face. Then there is life. From this there is a saying: when breathing in, the breath will escape, and the person will be seriously ill (Russian idiom means "death". , breathe out"). When people sneeze, they inhale first and then exhale, usually with their mouths wide open, devil