One of the most common gestures is this one.

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

Lightly tapping your nose with your finger means that you are most likely not telling the truth. In England, this will be regarded as a sign that someone is telling you something in secret, in Holland they will indicate that someone is drunk.

An Englishman and a Spaniard, slapping his forehead, will thus express extreme admiration for himself, and a German - extreme indignation at someone.

Trying to show that someone is talking nonsense, we twist a finger at the temple.

The Dutchman, in this way, will report that he heard an incredibly witty phrase. Even laughter is interpreted differently. If we have a smile - it's fun, then in Africa - extreme amazement. There are generally global differences in etiquette between southern and northern countries. The farther from the equator, the more pedantic and punctual people are. In the south, a delay of 15-20 minutes is in the order of things. In addition, in northern countries, all kinds of touching is unacceptable, especially between members of opposite sexes. Exceptions are handshakes. The southerners, on the contrary, will hug, kiss, pat on the back of each guest. But, again, they will be careful with the opposite sex. Going to other countries, it would be nice to find out about the daily routine that is acceptable there. For example, in southern countries there are very long dinners. They last 2-3 hours.

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

The country where etiquette is most scrupulous is England. The table rules are especially respected there. The ability to properly handle forks and knives is a minimum that will not allow you to appear as a rude ignoramus in the eyes of the British.

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

In France, table etiquette matters. Lunch lasts 2-3 hours. Under no circumstances should you leave the table. Moreover, all participants in the dinner should participate in the conversation. Never break into small groups when you are having a conversation.

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

Nationalism is highly developed there. The French are very fond of their language, their culture. It would be nice to know a few words in French and have an idea about the culture of France.

A completely separate story is the etiquette of Muslim countries. Going there, first of all, pay attention to your clothes. It is desirable that the woman's arms, legs and shoulders be covered. A woman in our countries goes forward through the door, in Muslim countries a man goes forward, and after that all women.

You can not contact a woman, you should not clarify any questions with her. All issues in Muslim countries are decided only by men.

In Muslim countries, it is also not customary to sit cross-legged. You will offend the feelings of others if you show them the soles of your shoes or your bare feet. There are many subtleties in behavior in Eastern countries. Egypt has long become almost native. India and Thailand every year attract more and more new fans of their exotic.

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

In India, they 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’s better not to take very expensive shoes.

And know that Indian men are very fond of coming to the beach on weekends and looking at naked women. If suddenly you are faced with this, it is better not to argue, not to swear. If this bothers you, you can just cover yourself with a bathrobe.

In Thailand, it is not customary to step on the threshold. Local residents believe that good spirits live in it. Also in Thailand you can not sunbathe topless and get involved in nudism, you can not throw chewing gum on the sidewalk. For this you face a fine of 600 dollars. And if you do not have such money, then you can be put in jail.

In Thailand, in no case can not talk about the heat. This is considered the height of indecency. Muslim non-verbal etiquette

In Turkey, it is customary to invite people to the bathhouse as a sign of respect. Turks love to give and receive gifts. In Turkey, coffee will be poured to you 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. Going on a trip, it will not be superfluous to take souvenirs with you. But do not be intrusive in trying to hand them over to your new acquaintances.

There are a lot of cultures. Therefore, when going abroad, do not be lazy, get on the Internet 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. And this applies to almost everything: from clothing to the rules of etiquette. Therefore, in order not to get into trouble, we suggest that you study some rules of etiquette from different countries (we warn you, they are often strange).

In France people who eat quickly are treated with contempt. It is customary to enjoy food there. Maybe that's why the French have such tiny portions...

And in Korea it is unacceptable to start eating before the oldest person sitting at the table does it. If you start without waiting for the others, you run the risk of missing dinner.

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

IN Kazakhstan It is customary to serve cups of tea only half full. It is not worth commenting on this and asking for topping up, because a full cup means that the owner is looking forward to your departure.

IN Nigeria young children are not fried eggs, as it is believed that if they are fed with eggs, they will begin to steal.

And on Jamaica babies are not given chicken until the children can speak. It is believed that because of the meat of chickens, the child may not speak.

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

Also in Japan between snacks, the sticks should lie together right in front of you, parallel to the edge of the table. In no case should you stick chopsticks directly into a bowl of rice. The fact is that during the funeral in Japan a bowl of rice of the deceased is placed in front of his coffin, sticks are stuck directly into the rice ...

IN China do not cut long noodles while eating, since noodles are the embodiment of longevity, and cutting them shortens your life.

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

Parents from childhood forced us to eat up to the end. However, in some countries, a clean plate can confuse or even offend the host. On the Philippines, in North Africa and also 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, the host realizes that he has eaten. Failure to comply with this rule in some situations may offend the owner. He will take a clean plate of a guest as a sign that he is considered greedy.

The world is an unusual and amazing place that can be explored endlessly. In different countries, the culture can be completely different, so that what is considered acceptable in one place, in another will be unacceptable. 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 conduct from all over the world. Knowing them, you can avoid embarrassment while traveling.

Afghanistan: Kiss the bread that fell on the floor

In Afghanistan, bread is very respectful. If he falls to the floor, he should be immediately picked up and kissed.

Canada: be a little late

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

Chile: never eat with your hands

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

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

In China, the host understands that you enjoyed your meal if you made a mess on the table. When a piece of food remains on the plate, this is a good sign that you are full and satisfied with your meal. It's impolite to just leave rice on the plate. Burping is another way to show that you enjoyed the food, it 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 must refill your tablemate's drink if necessary. It is believed that the need comes when the glass is less than half full. If your neighbor forgets to refill your glass, remind him of this by adding a drink to his glass. It is strictly forbidden to pour yourself.

United Kingdom: 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 that this tradition has its roots in the Navy, but there is no exact explanation. If you have not been given a bottle, it is impolite to ask about it, instead you need to ask your table neighbor if he knows the bishop from Norwich. If he says no, you need to answer that he - good man, but always forgets to pass the port.

Ethiopia: Eat with your right hand from the same plate

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

France: use bread as a tool

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

Georgia: say a toast and drink the whole glass

In Georgia, they can exchange toasts for hours. Everyone around the table says toasts 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 again. During the evening they drink ten to fifteen small glasses of alcohol, as a rule, Georgians drink wine or vodka. It is considered bad luck to toast while drinking beer.

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 this. Don't clink beer glasses! In other cases, be sure to look at the one who said the toast.

Italy: Don't Sprinkle Parmesan on Pizza

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

Inuit Tribe: Passing Gas

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

Japan: Sip Soup to Thank the Chef

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

Korea: take the first drink

In Korea, you must agree when you are offered a drink for the first time, but do not pour yourself first. First pour the others, and then fill your glass.

Mexico: Eat tacos with your hands

Using a fork and knife for tacos is considered silly snobbery in Mexico. This food is politely eaten with your hands.

Middle East: use only your right hand

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

Portugal: don't 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 refuse

The offer of a drink is considered a sign of trust, so it is impolite to refuse. In addition, mixing vodka with juice or ice is not considered a good idea.

South America: Respect 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 on the ground.

Thailand: don't eat rice with a fork

In Thailand, food is only put on a spoon with forks. Rice dishes are not accepted with a fork.

Tanzania: hide your soles

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

Once in an unfamiliar country, wait to be polite and gallant. Sometimes it has a completely different meaning to which we are accustomed. And you won't look very pretty.

For example, if you habitually give way to an elderly person in Norway, you will thus demonstrate that he is physically healthier. And it's insulting.

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

Feel free to slurp away at the Chinese. So you show that you are tasty and like everything very much. For persuasiveness, it would be nice to splatter the tablecloth with sauce. And this is quite serious.

When making a compliment in Finland, you will first have to retire. All of them don't count.

In Norway, it is better not to praise anyone at all, not to show attention and sympathy. They will think that you are flattering or prying into other people's business.

If you are visiting Greek friends, be careful with enthusiasm about the interior and things in the house. Because the owners will have to give you the thing you like. And you don’t need it 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, made fun of them, mocked them, played a trick.

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

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

If you do not voice a belch in time in Mongolia and Buryatia, you will be fed until you burst. There is a burp - the stomach is full, everything is simple.

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

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

Indian families do not say words of gratitude to each other. All your own, there is nothing to spray on "thank you". However, you shouldn't say that to strangers either. If it is a gift, praise it, say that you really like it, and you have been dreaming all your life.

If in Central Asia, during a conversation, you are gradually poured tea into a bowl, this is a sign of respect, they want to spend more time with you. If you poured once and full, drink up, and go to yourself. Nothing to sit around.

Among the Chinese, fresh flowers are carried to the dead, and dead, that is, artificial, to the living. To not fade. In the same China, you need to bypass the number 4. They don’t even have fourth floors.

In the southeast, you cannot stroke a person on the head, and also point your foot in the direction of a person when sitting cross-legged.

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

Japanese employees cannot leave the workplace before their boss.

In Russia, as you know, you can "jinx it." Therefore, you are unlikely to hear that things are going well for a Russian person, everyone is healthy and everything is in order. And if you praise children, you will be forced to spit and knock on wood.

Don't finish your glass in Georgia. Because you will be poured more and more.

The ancient Chinese sage Confucius said that all virtues have etiquette as their source. The prehistory of etiquette, the formation of norms of decency in society, manners of behavior in society are contained in the traditions and customs of the ethnic group, the originality 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 successive use in the lives of people of the third millennium will help to avoid the spread of nihilism and radicalism in society.

Tradition - it is the transmission over a long time - from generation to generation - of such elements of social and cultural heritage as social attitudes, norms of behavior, values, customs, ceremonies, rituals. Traditions are the mechanism by which society, collectives bring their values ​​and norms into the minds of people. They stabilize society, the life of an individual team. For example, the traditions of both European and Eastern peoples provide for the groom to receive the dowry of the bride. Dowry, we read in the dictionary of V.I. Dahl, - “the wealth of the bride that 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 values ​​\u200b\u200bthat the bride and groom received after the wedding. In the Russian language, proverbs have survived to this day: “Believe the dowry after the wedding”, “The dowry is in the chest, and the fool is on the arm.” A train was equipped to transport the dowry, i.e. a row of wagons following one after another. To emphasize the richness of the bride's dowry, more or less heavy things were laid out on several wagons. The train moved along the most crowded streets, stopping at intersections. During the transfer of the dowry, the assembled guests, relatives of the bride and groom, with things in their hands, danced on the street, despite the bad weather. When the music subsided, merry songs were sung. This tradition is still alive today. For example, on the day of the wedding they demand a ransom for the bride (a symbolic payment for issuing the bride's dowry), the marriage cartege noisily passes through busy places.

Violation of established traditions is perceived as sacrilege, blasphemy. Researcher of ancient Russian culture B.A. Ouspensky introduces even special term "anti-behavior". In our opinion, the events in Moscow at the beginning of the 17th century can serve as an example of it. Representatives of the Polish gentry (nobility) arrived in the capital for the wedding of the Russian Tsar False Dmitry I(1605-1606) and daughter of a Polish magnate Marina Mnishek(died in 1614). The hatred of Muscovites for guests from the Commonwealth was the result of disrespectful attitude Polish side to Russian traditions. In Orthodox churches, they behaved without any respect: they entered there in hats and with weapons, leaned on the tombs with the relics of miracle workers. During the wedding ceremony, the customs that had developed in Russia were grossly violated. Having eaten and drunk, the gentry began to dance. In Russia, it was considered shameful and indecent for respectable people to jump and make knees. Dancing was the lot of buffoons. The Soviet poetess N. Konchalovskaya in the book “Our Ancient Capital” so vividly expressed this desecration of national traditions:

Polish pans dance to the music,

Russian beauties are ashamed to look.

Never seen such a shame:

The female sex to dance in hops.

It was not even necessary to hear that the Girls, bawling, passed through the Kremlin.

The nobility wanders around the ancient capital,

Mischievous on a clear day -

In the ancient cathedral they sit on the tomb,

Spurs brazenly ringing on the slabs.

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

Custom- a stereotyped way of behavior that is reproduced in a particular society or social group and is familiar to its members. To this day, we wave to those who leave. This is the custom of farewell, wishes of 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 fair wind was “wound”, helping the departing person to safely reach the house. Another custom has survived to this day: a woman should walk to the right of a man. It is rooted in the distant past, when men carried a sword or saber on the left, and when attacking, it became necessary to quickly pull it out of its scabbard.

Rite - the embodiment of everyday, religious and other customs in various situations. Since ancient times, the traditional Russian wedding ceremony consisted of two parts, to a certain extent opposed to each other: on the one hand, official, legal, church (weddings), on the other, family (fun spree, that is, the actual wedding). Moreover, the second part, the family, was considered the main, finally fastening the family union, among the people. If for some reason the wedding was postponed (although the wedding had already taken place), the young people were apart until the actual wedding ceremony. Today, just as before, the “wedding part” of a marriage lasts much longer (sometimes several days!) than the “official” part (in the registry office and in the church).

Ritual - a kind 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 ordered one to sit in chairs or on stools, in chairs with one or another back; some had the advantage of going ahead of foreign princes, others behind. There were also those who were allowed to hold a candle when undressing the king, although the chambers were brightly lit. In Russian culture, the following symbolism of color has historically developed in the attire of Orthodox clergy: golden (yellow) robes or white - worship in honor of Christ

Savior, prophets, apostles, during the performance of the sacraments (required) and the funeral service; blue and white - for holidays in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos; red - on the day of remembrance of the martyrs, etc. Even in the days of the USSR, when atheistic propaganda was carried out, in some Russian families one way or another the main Orthodox holiday, Easter, was celebrated. Soviet people, who did not even keep a church fast, rarely went to churches (or did not go there at all), dyed eggs, baked Easter cakes, turned to each other in a close circle on Bright Sunday with the traditional greeting for this day: “Christ is risen! ".

Traditions, customs, rituals, rituals embody the moral essence of society. “Morality is an ideological reflection of the general vital interests of the era,” wrote the German scholar Eduard Fuchs (1870-1940). At the end of XX - early XXI in. more and more often voices were heard about the "decline of morals", "universal immorality", the lack of modern people concepts of decency, etc. In this regard, we consider it appropriate to make a short historical digression into the depths of centuries, dwelling in more detail on the picture of the customs of Europe in 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 was formed with a new type of personality. We are talking about self-confident, enterprising, energetic, full of plans and hopes, not devoid of selfishness, even sometimes predation, an imperious, strong-willed person. He is interested exclusively in earthly problems, in a person high efficiency, initiative, the ability to be able to do everything, to know everything, to be able to do everything, to be in time, etc. are valued.

The man of the Renaissance, in contrast to the medieval ascetic, had a radiant health, a strong physique. In the book “Human Physiology” (XVI century, France), the physical data of a man are described as follows: “Men by nature have a large camp, wide faces, slightly curved eyebrows, large eyes, a square chin, thick sinewy necks, strong shoulders and ribs, broad chest, sunken belly, bony and protruding thighs, strong sinewy thighs and arms, firm knees, strong shins, protruding calves, slender legs, etc. Curvaceous forms were loved in a woman. A lady whose corsage (a part of a woman's dress that covers the bust) which portends a luxurious chest is valued above all else. Such are the women from the sensual canvases of the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens(1570-1640). A contemporary explains why large women are preferable to slender women for men: “It is much more pleasant to drive 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 the most important. Nature did not create anything for nothing and provided us with noble organs not only so that we neglect them, but so that we use them, ”say the heroes of 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 norms are becoming popular among the general 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 XVIII century. and in Russian, the concepts of "courtuasion" and "elegance" come. courtesy- court etiquette, courtesy, courtesy; elegance - politeness, outward gloss, secularity in the Renaissance. Hence the adjective elegant - beautiful, graceful. In the age of the Renaissance, ideas about court etiquette are 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 the order corresponding to their status.

Often we perceive this or that era, its great figures, representing the etiquette features of this society. Here is the beginning of V. Nabokov's poem "Shakespeare":

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

Blisters - collar on the chest in the form of frills. It was worn by contemporaries of W. Shakespeare, the philosopher F. Bacon. It is precisely such attire of men of that era that is captured on the canvases of great artists. For example, Rembrandt's "Portrait of a Man in a Bryzha and with a Goatee".

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

Of course, you shouldn't exaggerate. Elegance in the attire of courtiers was at odds with what we would now call "civilized behaviour." At royal receptions in France, there were not enough chamber pots with which the lackeys ran (dispensation of natural needs in the presence of others before early XIX century in Europe was not considered something indecent and fit into the existing mores). At Versailles, Fontainebleau, the Louvre, the courtiers "irrigate curtains, urinate in fireplaces, on walls, from balconies." Therefore, the court so often changes its place of residence: the royal residences are cleaned and washed after the feces of the guests.