Culture | Customs & Taboos

Summary

In this week's travel blog, we explore fascinating cultural differences around the world. From the surprising ban on chewing gum in Singapore to the noisy slurping tradition in parts of Asia, the blog highlights unique customs and practices. Learn how gestures for calling someone over differ between Vietnam and Western countries, and discover how tooth traditions vary from the Tooth Fairy in England to the roof-throwing custom in Greece. These insights provide a fun and educational look at how diverse cultural practices can be!

Takeaways

• 😀 Chewing gum is illegal in Singapore, with fines of up to $100,000 for selling it.
• 😀 In some Asian countries, slurping noodles is a sign of appreciation and politeness.
• 😀 Eating noisily is considered rude in England, unlike in some parts of Asia where it is seen as polite.
• 😀 In Vietnam, gesturing for someone to come over is done with the fingers pointing down, unlike in the U.S. and Europe where it is done with fingers up.
• 😀 In Vietnam, gesturing with fingers up is considered an insult, akin to calling someone a dog.
• 😀 In England, children put their lost baby teeth under their pillows for the tooth fairy.
• 😀 In Greece, children throw their lost baby teeth onto the roof instead of placing them under their pillows.
• 😀 Chewing gum has been banned in Singapore since 1992, and there are strict regulations around it.
• 😀 The tooth fairy tradition is common in England, but Greece has a unique custom of throwing teeth onto the roof.
• 😀 Cultural differences in how people eat and gesture can have significant variations across countries.

Q & A

Why is chewing gum illegal in Singapore?

Chewing gum has been illegal in Singapore since 1992, mainly due to its impact on cleanliness and public hygiene. People caught selling gum can face a fine of up to $100,000.

What is the cultural significance of slurping noodles in some Asian countries?

In some Asian countries, making noise while slurping noodles is considered polite as it signals to the chef that you are enjoying the meal. However, this practice is not acceptable in all cultures.

How does eating noisily in England differ from some Asian countries?

In England, eating noisily, such as slurping noodles, is considered rude. In contrast, in some Asian cultures, slurping is seen as a sign of respect and enjoyment of the food.

How should you gesture for someone to come over in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, you should gesture with your fingers pointed down and brush your fingers towards you to signal someone to come over. Using fingers pointed up could be considered disrespectful.

What is the proper way to call someone over in the U.S. or Europe?

In the U.S. and Europe, it is common to gesture for someone to come over by holding your fingers up and waving them towards you. This is the opposite of the gesture used in Vietnam.

What does it mean if you use an upside-down gesture in Vietnam?

In Vietnam, using an upside-down gesture to call someone over (with fingers pointed up) is highly disrespectful and can be interpreted as calling the person a dog.

What do children in England do with their baby teeth when they fall out?

In England, children place their baby teeth under their pillows, where the tooth fairy will come to take the tooth and leave a coin in its place.

How is the tradition of losing baby teeth different in Greece?

In Greece, children do not place their baby teeth under their pillows. Instead, they throw the teeth onto the roof, which is a different cultural practice from the tooth fairy tradition in England.

Why is chewing gum illegal in Singapore and what is the penalty?

Chewing gum is banned in Singapore due to concerns about public cleanliness. If someone is caught selling gum, they could face a fine as high as $100,000.

What should someone do if they want to enjoy noodles in England and avoid being rude?

In England, it’s important to avoid making noise while eating, including slurping noodles, as it is considered impolite. Instead, eating quietly is expected.