One of the most common gestures is this one.

If in the USA it means “everything is OK,” then in Japan it means money, in France it means zero, and in Portugal it is a completely indecent gesture.

Lightly tapping your nose with your finger means that you are most likely telling a lie. In England this will be regarded as a sign that someone is telling you something in confidence, in Holland they will indicate that someone is drunk.

An Englishman and a Spaniard, slapping themselves on the forehead, will thus express extreme admiration for themselves, and a German will express extreme indignation at someone.

Trying to show that someone is saying something stupid, we twist our finger at our temple.

The Dutchman will thus report that he heard an incredibly witty phrase. Even laughter is interpreted differently. If in our country a smile means joy, then in Africa it means extreme amazement. There are generally global differences in etiquette between southern and northern countries. The further from the equator, the more pedantic and punctual people are. In the south, being 15-20 minutes late is par for the course. In addition, in northern countries, all kinds of touching are unacceptable, especially between representatives of opposite sexes. Exceptions are handshakes. Southerners, on the contrary, will hug, kiss, and pat each guest on the back. But, again, they will be careful with the opposite sex. When traveling to other countries, it would be a good idea to find out about the daily routine that is acceptable there. For example, in southern countries there are very long lunches. They last for 2-3 hours.

In Italy it is not customary to carry your own suitcases. There are specially trained people for this. Moreover, in Italy you don’t even call a taxi yourself. You need to go to any cafe and ask the owner to do it for you. This is done free of charge or for a nominal cost.

The country where etiquette is most scrupulous is England. Table rules are especially respected there. The ability to handle forks and knives with dignity is the minimum that will prevent you from appearing as a rude ignoramus in the eyes of the British.

In England, it is not customary to give compliments, give gifts, or talk about work after the working day has ended.

In France, table etiquette matters. Lunch lasts 2-3 hours. At the same time, you cannot leave the table under any circumstances. Moreover, all dinner participants must participate in the conversation. Never break into small groups when having a conversation.

In addition, in France it is customary to be 15 minutes late for lunch.

Nationalism is extremely developed there. The French love their language and their culture very much. It would be nice to know a few words of French and have an understanding of French culture.

A completely separate story is the etiquette of Muslim countries. When going there, first of all, pay attention to your clothes. It is advisable that the woman's arms, legs and shoulders are covered. In our countries a woman goes first through the door, in Muslim countries a man goes first, and then all the women.

You cannot contact a woman; you should not ask her any questions. All issues in Muslim countries are decided only by men.

In Muslim countries it is also not customary to sit with your legs crossed. You will offend the feelings of others if you show them the sole of your shoe or your bare foot. There are many subtleties in behavior in eastern countries. Egypt has long become almost native. India and Thailand attract more and more fans of their exoticism every year.

In India, it is not customary to touch other people. The greeting is not a handshake, but two palms folded side by side and a slight bow.

In India, people eat with their hands, and to show the owner that you are full, it is better to leave some food on the plate.

In addition, when going to India, you need to remember that it is better to have cheap sandals with you, because in almost all temples and museums you will have to take off your shoes and leave your shoes at the entrance. In order not to be upset later when you don’t see your expensive sandals, it is better not to take very expensive shoes.

And know that Indian men love to come to the beach on weekends and look at naked women. If you suddenly encounter this, it is better not to argue or swear. If this is unpleasant for you, you can simply cover yourself with a robe.

In Thailand it is not customary to step on the threshold. The locals believe that good spirits live in it. Also in Thailand you can’t sunbathe topless or indulge in nudism, and you can’t throw chewing gum on the sidewalk. For this you face a fine of $600. And if you don’t have that kind of money, you may be sent to prison.

In Thailand, you should never talk about the heat. This is considered the height of indecency. Muslim non-verbal etiquette

In Turkey, it is customary to invite someone to the bathhouse as a sign of respect. Turks love to give and receive gifts. In Turkey, they will pour you coffee almost endlessly. It is very strong, without sugar, usually with cardamom. In order to refuse, you need to move the cup from side to side or even turn it upside down. When going on a trip, it would be a good idea to take souvenirs with you. But don’t be intrusive in trying to give them to your new acquaintances.

There are a lot of cultures. Therefore, when going abroad, do not be lazy, go online and find out a little more about the country where you are going.

If you dream of traveling a lot, you should know that people from other countries are very different from Russians. Moreover, this applies to almost everything: from clothing to etiquette rules. Therefore, in order not to get into trouble, we suggest that you study some of the rules of etiquette of different countries (we warn you, they are often strange).

In France People who eat quickly are treated with contempt. It's common to enjoy food there. This is probably why the French have such tiny portions...

And in Korea It is unacceptable to start eating before the oldest person sitting at the table has done so. If you start without waiting for the others, you risk being left without dinner.

IN Italy asking for more cheese with a dish is an insult to the cook. Although no one has complained about the amount of cheese yet. Putting Parmesan on pizza is like putting jelly on chocolate mousse. Even many pasta dishes are not designed for Parmesan. So, in Rome, for example, pecorino is considered a traditional cheese, which is added to many classic recipes pasta. Rule number one: if they don't offer it to you, don't ask.

IN Kazakhstan It is customary to serve cups of tea only half full. There is no point in commenting on this or asking for a refill, because a full cup means that the owner is looking forward to your departure.

IN Nigeria Small children are not fried eggs because it is believed that if you feed them eggs, they will start stealing.

And on Jamaica Children are not given chicken until the children learn to speak. It is believed that chicken meat may prevent a child from speaking.

As for tips, Japan, for example, they never leave them at all. Most often, the waiter begins to wonder why they left him extra money. Moreover, tipping can be seen as an insult or a pity gift. If a client wants to express gratitude, the best thing to do is a small gift. Or put the money in an envelope and then give it to the waiter.

Also in Japan Between snacks, the chopsticks should lie together directly in front of you, parallel to the edge of the table. Under no circumstances should you stick chopsticks directly into a bowl of rice. The fact is that during the funeral in Japan a bowl of rice for the deceased is placed in front of his coffin, sticking chopsticks directly into the rice...

IN China Do not cut long noodles while eating, since noodles are the embodiment of longevity, and by cutting them, you shorten your life.

The Chinese will consider you rude if you point your chopsticks at someone while eating.

Since childhood, our parents forced us to finish our food. However, in some countries, a clean plate can confuse or even offend the host. On Philippines, V North Africa, as well as in some regions China the host is obliged to refill the guest's plate if he has eaten everything that was in it. Only when the guest leaves some food on the plate does the host realize that he is full. Failure to comply with this rule in some situations may offend the owner. He will interpret a guest's clean plate as a sign that he is considered greedy.

The world is unusual and amazing place, which can be studied endlessly. Different countries can have very different cultures, so what is considered acceptable in one place may not be acceptable in another. If you are interested in the peculiarities of etiquette in different countries, you should familiarize yourself with this list. It includes the most interesting rules of behavior from all corners of our planet. Knowing them will help you avoid any embarrassment while traveling.

Afghanistan: kiss the bread that fell on the floor

In Afghanistan, they treat bread with great respect. If he falls to the floor, he should be picked up immediately and kissed.

Canada: a little late

In Canada, you shouldn't arrive early. On the contrary, a slight delay is quite acceptable. He is treated much better than arriving much earlier than necessary.

Chili: Never eat with your hands

In Chile, it is not customary to take even small snacks with your hands. Chileans always use cutlery exclusively; other behavior is considered extremely impolite.

China: Make a mess and don't be afraid to burp

In China, the host knows you enjoyed your meal if you make a mess on the table. When there is a piece of food left on your plate, it is a good sign that you are full and satisfied with your meal. It's just impolite to leave rice on the plate. Burping is another way to show that you enjoyed your food and is not considered impolite.

Egypt: Don't refill your own glass

In Egypt, it is customary to wait for someone else to fill your glass. You should top up your fellow drinker if necessary. It is believed that necessity occurs when the glass is less than half full. If your neighbor forgets to fill your glass, remind him by adding a drink to his glass. It is strictly forbidden to pour it yourself.

UK: Pass the port to the left

In England, it is customary to pass port wine at the table to the neighbor on the left until the bottle goes around the entire table in a circle. Some believe this tradition has its roots in the navy, but there is no exact explanation. If you haven't been handed a bottle, it is impolite to ask; instead, you should ask your tablemate if he knows the Bishop of Norwich. If he says no, you need to answer that he is good man, but always forgets to hand over the port wine.

Ethiopia: Eat with your right hand from one plate

Ethiopians believe that eating with cutlery is wasteful, as is using more than one plate for the whole group. It is customary to eat from one dish using right hand. In some regions of the country, a tradition called “gursha” is used, when people feed each other.

France: use bread as a utensil

The French never eat bread as a snack. They supplement their meals with it and use a piece of bread as a device to collect food from the plate and put it in their mouth. It is even customary to place bread directly on the table, like a fork or knife.

Georgia: Make a toast and drink the entire contents of the glass

In Georgia people can spend hours exchanging toasts. Everyone at the table makes a toast in a circle, after which it is customary to empty the entire glass in one gulp. When everyone has said a toast, the circle can repeat itself again. During the evening they drink ten to fifteen small glasses of alcohol; as a rule, Georgians drink wine or vodka. Making toasts while drinking beer is considered bad luck.

It is believed that the Austrians celebrated the defeat of Hungary in 1848 by clinking glasses of beer, which is why some Hungarians still remember it. Don't clink your beer glasses! In other cases, be sure to look at the person who made the toast.

Italy: Don't put Parmesan on pizza

If your pizza doesn't have Parmesan on it, don't ask for it. In Italy this is considered a culinary crime.

Inuit tribe: passing gas

You may not plan to visit these tribes, but it is interesting to know that in their culture it is customary to pass gas as a sign of approval after a good meal.

Japan: Sip the soup to thank the chef

In Japan, it is customary to loudly slurp soup or noodles. It is believed that this is a way to show your gratitude to the cook.

Korea: Take your first drink

In Korea, you have to accept when you are offered a drink for the first time, but not pour it for yourself first. Pour the rest first, then fill your glass.

Mexico: Eat tacos with your hands

Using a fork and knife for tacos is considered stupid snobbery in Mexico. It is polite to eat this food with your hands.

Middle East: Use only your right hand

In Middle Eastern countries, eating with your hands is quite normal, it is only important to use your right hand exclusively. The left one should not be used for eating.

Portugal: don't add salt

In Portugal, a cook will be offended if he sees you adding salt or pepper to a dish he has prepared.

Russia: drink vodka without additives and don’t give up

Offering a drink is considered a sign of trust, so it is rude to refuse. In addition, mixing vodka with juice or ice is considered not the best idea.

South America: Honor the Goddess of Nature

In some regions of Peru or Argentina, it is customary to honor the goddess of nature by pouring a few drops of the drink onto the ground.

Thailand: Don't eat rice with a fork

In Thailand, food is only served with forks on a spoon. It is not customary to eat rice dishes with a fork.

Tanzania: hide your soles

In Tanzania they eat while sitting on the floor. The main thing is not to show your feet, it’s impolite.

When you find yourself in an unfamiliar country, wait to show politeness and gallantry. Sometimes it has a meaning completely different from what we are used to. And you won't look very nice.

For example, if you habitually give up your seat to an elderly person in Norway, you will thereby demonstrate that you are physically healthier than them. And this is insulting.

Feminism knows no boundaries, therefore, if you try to pay the bill for a woman in America, you risk running into a lecture on gender equality, and that she is able to pay for herself, and there is no need to show that you have more money, than hers. For the same reason, don't try to carry her bags. And for compliments, if she is not in the mood, you can even end up in court, as for harassment.

Feel free to slurp when visiting the Chinese. This way you show that you have delicious food and really like everything. To be convincing, it would be nice to stain the tablecloth with sauce. And this is quite serious.

When giving a compliment in Finland, you will first have to be alone. In front of everyone, it doesn’t count.

In Norway it is better not to praise anyone at all, not to show attention or sympathy. They will think that you are flattering or minding your own business.

If you are visiting Greek friends, be careful with your enthusiasm for the interior and things in the house. Because the owners will have to give you the thing you like. And you don’t need her at all, you just said it out of politeness.

Many nations perceive a raised thumb as a sign that you have deceived them in some way, teased them, mocked them, or played a prank.

It is not known whether it is worth warning, but do not wash dishes at a party. The omen is bad.

When in South Korea you are tortured with insanely spicy food, it is considered normal to sneeze, cry, choke and cough. It's like you said that it tastes great to you.

If you don’t voice a burp in time in Mongolia and Buryatia, they will feed you until you burst. There is a burp - the stomach is full, it’s simple.

Unlike us, the Japanese and Norwegians carry odd number colors.

Don't blow your nose in front of everyone if you're in Japan.

In Indian families, words of gratitude are not spoken to each other. Everything is ours, there is no need to waste time saying “thank you.” Although, you shouldn’t say that to strangers either. If we are talking about a gift, praise it, say that you really like it and have been dreaming of it all your life.

If in Central Asia, during a conversation, they gradually pour tea into your bowl, this is a sign of respect, they want to spend more time with you. If you pour it once and it’s full, finish it and go. There's no point in sitting around.

The Chinese bring fresh flowers to the dead, and dead flowers, that is, artificial ones, to the living. So as not to fade. In China, for example, you need to avoid the number 4. They don’t even have fourth floors.

In the southeast, you cannot stroke a person’s head, or point your foot in the direction of the person when sitting cross-legged.

If we pass a hookah into each other's hands, then the Arabs put it on the table. Don't put it in your hands, they will think you are forcing it.

Japanese employees cannot leave workplace before their boss.

In Russia, as you know, you can “jinx it.” Therefore, you are unlikely to hear that a Russian person is doing great, everyone is healthy and everything is in order. And if you praise children, they will make you spit and knock on wood.

Don't finish your glass in Georgia. Because they will give you more and more.

The ancient Chinese sage Confucius said that all virtues have their source in etiquette. The background of etiquette, the formation of standards of decency in society, and manners of behavior in society are contained in the traditions and customs of the ethnic group, the uniqueness of the cultural and historical development of the people. Culture always implies the preservation of previous experience. Therefore, understanding the traditions of etiquette, their study and continued use in the lives of people of the third millennium will help avoid the spread of nihilism and radicalism in society.

Tradition - this is the transmission over a long period of time - from generation to generation - of such elements of social and cultural heritage, as social attitudes, norms of behavior, values, customs, rites, rituals. Traditions are the mechanism by which society and groups introduce their values ​​and norms into the consciousness of people. They stabilize society, the life of an individual group. For example, the traditions of both European and Eastern peoples provide for the groom to receive the bride's dowry. Dowry, we read in the dictionary of V.I. Dahl, - “the wealth of the bride, which follows her by inheritance, or as a gift from relatives; wife's property." It was put on public display so that anyone could see the valuables that the bride and groom received after the wedding. In the Russian language, proverbs have been preserved to this day: “Believe the dowry after the wedding,” “The dowry is in the chest, and the fool is in the hand.” A train was equipped to transport the dowry, i.e. a series of carts following one after another. To emphasize the wealth of the bride's dowry, more or less heavy things were laid out on several carts. The train moved through the most crowded streets, stopping at intersections. During the transfer of the dowry, the gathered guests, relatives of the bride and groom, with things in their hands, danced on the street, despite even the bad weather. When the music died down, they sang funny songs. This tradition is still alive. For example, on the wedding day they demand a bride price (a symbolic payment for the bride's dowry), and the marriage cart noisily passes through busy places.

Violation of established traditions is perceived as sacrilege, blasphemy. Researcher ancient Russian culture B.A. Uspensky even introduces special term "anti-behavior" In our opinion, the events in Moscow in early XVII centuries. Representatives of the Polish gentry (nobility) arrived in the capital for the wedding of the Russian Tsar False Dmitry I(1605-1606) and daughters of a Polish magnate Marina Mnishek(died in 1614). The hatred of Muscovites for guests from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a consequence disrespectful attitude Polish side to Russian traditions. IN Orthodox churches they behaved without any respect: they entered there wearing hats and weapons, leaning on the tombs with the relics of miracle workers. During the wedding ceremony, the customs established in Rus' were grossly violated. Having eaten and drunk, the nobles began to dance. In Russia, it was considered shameful and indecent for respectable people to jump around and do kneeling. Dancing was the lot of buffoons. The Soviet poetess N. Konchalovskaya in her book “Our Ancient Capital” figuratively expressed this desecration of national traditions:

Polish gentlemen dance to the music,

Russian beauties are ashamed to look at.

I have never seen such shame before:

The female sex dances intoxicated.

I had never even heard of girls walking through the Kremlin loudly.

The gentry wanders around the ancient capital,

Playing mischief in the middle of a clear day -

In the ancient cathedral they sit on a tomb,

Spurs brazenly ringing against the slabs.

Religious etiquette was also violated: only an Orthodox wife could be the wife of the Russian Tsar, and Marina Mnishek adhered to the rituals of the Roman Church. The marriage to a Catholic and her coronation became the last straw in the patience of Muscovites: a popular uprising broke out, during which False Dmitry I was killed.

Custom- a stereotypical way of behavior that is reproduced in a certain society or social group and is familiar to its members. To this day, we wave to those leaving. This is the custom of saying goodbye and wishing you a good journey. It is based on the pagan ideas of our ancestors, who worshiped the elements of fire, water, air, etc. In this way, a tailwind was “winded”, helping the person leaving to get home safely. Another custom has survived to this day: a woman should walk to the right of a man. It goes back to the distant past, when men carried a sword or saber on the left, and during an attack there was a need to quickly pull it out of its sheath.

Rite - embodiment of everyday, religious and other customs in various situations. For a long time, the traditional Russian wedding ceremony consisted of two parts, to a certain extent opposed to each other: on the one hand - the official, legal, church (wedding), on the other - the family (merry revelry, i.e. the wedding itself). Moreover, the second part, the family part, was popularly considered to be the main part, the one that finally cements the family union. If for some reason the wedding was postponed (although the wedding had already taken place), the newlyweds were separated until the wedding ceremony itself. Nowadays, just as before, the “wedding part” of a marriage lasts much longer (sometimes several days!) than the “official” registering part (in the registry office and in the church).

Ritual - a type of ritual, an ordered system and sequence of actions, speeches, ceremonial. Rituals in different cultures have their own characteristics. For example, in European court circles there was a struggle for the slightest privilege to participate in the ritual, since such participation confirmed aristocratic advantages over other, less noble nobles. Some ladies were allowed to sit near the king, others were forced to stand. There was an etiquette that required some to sit in armchairs or on stools, in chairs with one back or another; some had the advantage of going ahead of the foreign princes, others - behind. There were also those who were allowed to hold a candle while the king was undressing, although the chambers were brightly lit. In Russian culture, the following color symbolism has historically developed in the attire of Orthodox clergy: golden (yellow) robes or white - worship in honor of Christ

the Savior, prophets, apostles, during the performance of sacraments (requirements) and funeral services; blue and white - for holidays in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary; red - on the day of remembrance of martyrs, etc. Even during the times of the USSR, when atheistic propaganda was carried out, some Russian families celebrated the main Orthodox holiday - Easter - in one way or another. Soviet people, who did not even observe church fasting, who rarely went to churches (or did not go there at all), painted eggs, baked Easter cakes, and addressed each other in a close circle on Easter Sunday with the traditional greeting for this day: “Christ is Risen! "

Traditions, customs, rites, and rituals embody the moral essence of society. “Morality is an ideological reflection of the general vital interests of the era,” wrote the German scientist Eduard Fuchs (1870-1940). At the end of XX - beginning of XXI V. voices were increasingly heard about the “decline of morals”, “general immorality”, the lack of modern people concepts of decency, etc. In this regard, we consider it appropriate to make a short historical excursion into the depths of centuries, dwelling in more detail on the picture of the morals of Europe during the Renaissance.

In the XVI-XVII centuries. There was a great revolution in the system of spiritual values. Medieval asceticism was replaced by a desire for the fullness of life, the joy of earthly pleasures. European individualism with a new type of personality was formed. We are talking about a self-confident, enterprising, energetic, full of plans and hopes, not without selfishness, even sometimes predatory, powerful, strong-willed person. He is interested exclusively in earthly problems; high performance, initiative, the ability to do everything, know everything, be able to do everything, do more, etc. are valued in a person.

The man of the Renaissance, unlike the medieval ascetic, had excellent health and a strong physique. In the book “Human Physiology” (16th century, France), the physical characteristics of a man are described as follows: “Men by nature have a large frame, wide faces, slightly curved eyebrows, large eyes, a quadrangular chin, thick sinewy necks, strong shoulders and ribs, a broad chest, a sunken belly, bony and protruding thighs, sinewy strong thighs and arms, hard knees, strong legs, protruding calves, slender legs,” etc. They loved curvy figures in a woman. A lady whose corsage (part of a woman's dress covering the bust) foreshadows luxurious breasts is valued above all else. These are the women from the sensual paintings of the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens(1570-1640). A contemporary explains why large women are preferable to smaller ones for men: “It is much more pleasant to ride a tall and beautiful horse, and the latter gives the rider much more pleasure than a small nag.”

Sensuality, turning into voluptuousness, is perceived as a natural manifestation of human nature. “The laws of nature are most important. Nature created nothing for nothing and provided us with noble organs not only so that we would neglect them, but so that we would use them,” say the characters in the novel “The Decameron” by the Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio(1313-1375). “Marriage to a strong and well-built man” is the basis of a woman’s physical health.

For the first time in Europe, etiquette standards are becoming popular among broad sections of the population: the nobility, merchants, and city dwellers. Good manners were necessary for a gentleman to charm a lady. From France to European languages, and in the 18th century. and in Russian, the concepts of “courtiness” and “elegance” come. Courtoisie- court etiquette, politeness, courtesy; elegance - politeness, external gloss, secularism in the Renaissance. Hence the adjective elegant - beautiful, graceful. During the Renaissance, ideas about court etiquette were formed. They are based on standards and rules of behavior in a given society. The man was perceived by society as the owner of the house, the father of the family. In the living room, his chair was on a raised platform, and the guests were arranged in order corresponding to their status.

Often we perceive a particular era and its great figures by imagining the etiquette features of a given society. Here is the beginning of V. Nabokov’s poem “Shakespeare”:

Among the nobles of Elizabeth’s time, you too shone, honored the magnificent covenants, and the circle of rump, the thigh covered with satin silver, the wedge of the beard - everything was like everyone else...

Mysteries - collar on the chest in the form of frills. It was worn by contemporaries of W. Shakespeare and the philosopher F. Bacon. This is exactly the attire of men of that era that is depicted on the canvases of great artists. For example, “Portrait of a Man with Jockstraps and a Goatee” by Rembrandt.

The monarch's meals were furnished extremely sumptuously. Below is a contemporary description of the ritual of lunches and dinners of Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558-1603). First, two gentlemen bring into the monarch's chambers the symbols of royal power - a staff and a shroud. They kneel three times, spread the tablecloth on the table and leave. Then two other gentlemen bring salt, a dish and bread. Having knelt, they also leave. Next, two noble ladies bring a knife for tasting. They curtsey (a respectful bow with a squat) and remain in the room until the end of the meal. The queen's bodyguards bring in twenty-four dishes in golden dishes, and one of the noble ladies cuts off a piece of the food and gives it to the bodyguard to try, in order to protect the first person in the state from poisoning. Then Elizabeth I herself begins the meal. The dishes not eaten by her go to the ladies-in-waiting.

Of course, one should not exaggerate. The elegance of courtiers' dress was at odds with what we would now call "civilized behavior." At royal receptions in France, there were not enough chamber pots with which footmen ran around (performing natural necessities in the presence of others before early XIX centuries in Europe was not considered something indecent and fit into existing mores). At Versailles, Fontainebleau, and the Louvre, courtiers “water the curtains, urinate in the fireplaces, on the walls, from the balconies.” That is why the court so often changes its location: royal residences are cleaned and washed after guests defecate