Taboos and traditions: 8 fascinating cultural quirks
Across the globe, hidden cultural taboos and traditions shape everyday behavior in surprising ways. In the Philippines, a karaoke performance can spark unexpected conflict, while in Chicago, the perfect hot dog is defined by what it lacks. From the sacredness of the Thai head to Japan’s careful chopstick courtesy, here are eight examples of some of the most unusual yet fascinating examples of unspoken cultural etiquette.
United Kingdom: Rabbits at Sea
In British maritime culture, saying the word “rabbit” on a ship is a perilously unlucky taboo. The origins of this superstition are unclear. Some attribute it to 19th-century sailors who carried rabbits as cargo; the rodents’ tendency to chew through ropes and hulls made them harbingers of doom. Another theory traces the taboo back to linguistic symbolism. Rabbits are land-dwellers and inept in water, evoking the idea of exposure at sea. Particular dialects also conflated “rabbit” with drowning or ill fortune.
So as not to jinx a journey, sailors would employ coded language such as “underground mutton” or “long-eared folk.” The taboo persists in traditional fishing communities, where rabbits—or even the presence of rabbit meat aboard—are not spoken of. Modern crews might laugh, but many still avoid the word “just in case.”
The Philippines: Karaoke Etiquette and the “My Way” Phenomenon
Karaoke is a cornerstone of Filipino culture, a beloved source of entertainment in homes, bars, and parties. However, Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” has become a notorious point of contention. Between 2002 and 2015, Philippine media outlets such as GMA News and the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported numerous violent altercations linked to karaoke performances of this song, resulting in at least five fatalities.
A 2010 study by University of the Philippines sociologist Dr. Nestor Castro examined twelve “My Way” brawls, attributing the violence to the song’s lyrics and the competitive nature of karaoke. While media outlets coined the term “My Way killings,” police officials maintain there are no records substantiating a surge in violence specifically caused by the song.
Cultural critics suggest that the song’s emphasis on individualism and aggressiveness, particularly the line “I did it my way,” may clash with core Filipino values like pakikisama (social harmony) and hiya (shame). This focus on self-assertion risks being perceived as excessive individualism, undermining the collective ethos cherished by many Filipinos and even appearing egotistical or confrontational.
Chicago, America: Ketchup “Banned” for Hot Dogs
The Chicago hot dog is a meticulously crafted culinary tradition, dating back to the 1920s when immigrant street vendors, primarily from Germany, introduced it. Its foundation is an all-beef frankfurter, nestled in a poppy seed bun and adorned with yellow mustard, vibrant neon-green relish, chopped onions, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. This harmonious blend, affectionately known as “dragged through the garden,” offers a symphony of spicy, savory, and tangy flavors. Notably absent is ketchup.
Food historians attribute this omission to early 20th-century preferences, where mustard, a German immigrant favorite, reigned supreme. Tomato ketchup, associated with milder tastes and often paired with fries and burgers, was deemed too sweet to complement the hot dog’s savory profile.
This taste preference evolved into a cultural marker, with locals viewing ketchup use as a rejection of Chicago’s culinary heritage. While not legally mandated, vendors routinely decline ketchup requests, and prominent Chicago figures, like former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, have playfully enforced this rule.
Thailand: The Sacred Status of the Head
In Thai culture, the head holds profound spiritual significance, believed to house a person’s soul and inherent dignity. This Theravada Buddhist and animist-based belief renders touching another person’s head, even unintentionally, a grave etiquette faux pas. This taboo extends to all individuals, from strangers to close friends, and even to images of the Buddha.
This reverence subtly shapes Thai social behavior. For example, Thais instinctively duck slightly when passing someone older or of higher status, acknowledging the head’s symbolic elevation. Similarly, public conflicts are often diffused through indirect communication, as directly “confronting” someone’s head (through aggressive gestures or shouting) violates the ethos of preserving spiritual harmony.
Conversely, the feet are considered the body’s lowest and most impure region. Consequently, pointing at the feet of humans or divine beings, walking over someone sitting or lying down, or placing feet on furniture are socially unacceptable. While locals may tolerate accidental violations by foreigners, repeated offenses are unlikely to be forgiven.
Italy: Bread Placement and Cultural Superstitions
Bread in Italy is not merely food; it is imbued with significant cultural and religious meaning. In Catholicism, for example, bread is identified with the Eucharist and is symbolic of the body of Christ. Therefore, in this system, placing a loaf of bread face down is widely taboo; to do so is not only careless but is, for many, tantamount to sinning and crossing a boundary into thoughtlessness.
Historical backgrounds also influence the tradition. Upside down bread was previously associated by seafaring communities with overturned ships, a belief that persists in coastal communities. The bread was also a mainstay in the diets of low-income families in the past, and to be wasteful with it—by cutting it with a knife instead of tearing it with one’s hands—was seen as ungrateful.
While young Italians may disregard these rules, most restaurants and older individuals still abide by them. Observing good bread manners—right-side placement and hand-tearing—is a sign of respect for Italy’s religious and rural heritage.
China: Clock Gifting Symbolism
Clocks carry morbid connotations in Chinese culture due to a linguistic coincidence: the phrase “to give a clock” (送钟, sòng zhōng) is a homophone for “to attend a funeral rite” (送终, sòng zhōng). Although the two phrases share the same pronunciation, their written forms differ. This phonetic overlap has associated clocks with death and mourning since at least the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), though historical documentation of the taboo’s origins is scarce.
Instead, the association has been perpetuated through oral tradition and cultural practices, solidifying clocks as ill-omen-ed gifts for birthdays, weddings, or holidays. This extends to all timepieces, including wristwatches, wall clocks, and desk clocks, as they universally symbolize the passage of time and, by extension, life’s impermanence.
The taboo is primarily observed by older generations and in formal settings. Practical loopholes include paying a token sum (e.g., ¥1) to transform the transaction into a purchase rather than a gift. Acceptable alternatives include fruit baskets (representing prosperity), tea sets, or red envelopes containing money.
Iran: The Etiquette of Taarof and Repeated Offers
Social interaction in Iranian culture, particularly hospitality, is governed by a complex social ritual known as Taarof (تعارف). This involves a subtle dance of refusal and insistence. When offered food, drink, a gift, or a seat, one is expected to politely decline, not once but several times, before accepting. Immediately accepting is considered impolite, demonstrating a lack of understanding of this long-standing tradition of politeness.
Taarof is more than mere manners; it represents a delicate balance between modesty and respect. Declining an invitation should avoid any hint of snobbishness or superiority, while accepting should be done with gracious benevolence.
All interactions are ultimately gestures of goodwill and graciousness. To Iranians, this type of interaction is a sign of bonding, a way to honor both the giver and the recipient through unspoken gestures. This applies not only to food and drink but also to payment for services. Guests should initially decline offers with a polite phrase like, “Mamnoon, dastetoon dard nakoneh” (Thank you, may your hand not hurt).
Japan: Upright Chopsticks in Rice
Leaving chopsticks standing upright in a rice bowl, tsukitate-bashi, is strongly associated with death in Japan and is generally avoided. It resembles a Buddhist funeral practice where a rice bowl containing vertically standing chopsticks is presented to the deceased. The upright chopsticks evoke senko (incense sticks) burned on ancestor altars and during funerals, creating a visual association with mourning.
Performing this in non-funerary settings is considered tempting fate or even foretelling death. The taboo reflects broader cultural values of awareness and respect for ritual.
Even informally, it is customary to lay chopsticks horizontally on a rest or the rim of the bowl. Breaking this rule at home or in a restaurant may result in a gentle admonishment, a polite reminder to use the chopstick rest, or embarrassment, especially among older generations. Other chopstick taboos include passing food directly from chopstick to chopstick, which resembles a bone-passing ritual at Japanese funerals.
