Each society in the world has its own cultural traditions that identify their heritage and makes them uniquely different.
Like language, cultural traditions identify a person’s heritage. Cultural traditions and customs are ingrained in a person. They are practices and beliefs that are learned since birth. That is what makes this unique tradition a characteristic of an indigenous community in various countries to be recognized by outsiders. This unique tradition can also make tourists willing to come to the place.
Learn these 10 unique cultural traditions and customs around the world.
1. Karen Long Neck Tribe – Thailand
This neck-stretching tradition takes place in the Karen Tribe that originated from the Tibetan plateau. The woman in the Karen tribe believes that the longer her neck will make her appearance more beautiful.
2. Dancing With The Corpse-Madagascar
Dancing with a corpse or Famadihana is a hereditary tradition in some areas of Madagascar. This ritual is usually performed from June to September. Not only dancing, but they also changed the cloth that covered the corpse.
3. Thaipusam Day- Tamil
Thaipusam Day is celebrated by Hindu communities in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and also Thailand.
Thaipusam was named in honor of the Hindu War God, Muragan. As evidence of honor and redemption, some people will pierce the sides of the chest and back. This ritual is held in the 10th month of the Hindu calendar.
4. Hanami, Japan
In Japan, there is a tradition called Hanami when the cherry trees begin to flower. Initially, this activity came from aristocratic families, then spread to the samurai circles to the wider community.
Unlike now, Japanese people used to gather under a cherry tree to make classical poetry. There are only a few locations for Hanami, namely Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Kyoto, and others.
5. Tulip Times -Netherlands
In the Netherlands, they welcomed the blooming of tulips in the Tulip Time tradition. The event starts from May 5-13 by holding a parade where local people will wear traditional Dutch clothing, dance with a partner, and sing a special song.
6. Body Tattoo, Tribal-Philippines
Like the Dayaks in Kalimantan, the Kalinga in the Philippines also has a tradition of tattooing their bodies. Tattoos carved by being hit with a wooden beater, the ink is made of sugar and soot.
The tattoo is not just a picture, there is a meaning behind it all. For Kalinga women, tattoos are like jewelry.
7. Cheese Rolling Face -England
Based on the book Fotheringham’s Sporting Trivia by Will Fotheringham, Cheese Rolling Races has been going on since 400 years ago. Race from the top of this hill as a marker of the start of summer and rituals to ensure a good harvest.
8. Horn Hair Miao- Chinese
The women in the Miao Tribe, Guizhou, China, have a unique tradition in styling their hair. The bun will be passed down from generation to generation.
9. Nose Cover
The Apatani tribe women believed that each woman inserts nose plugs and also have facial tattoos to make them less attractive to the raiders.
Perhaps the practice began as a precautionary measure to protect the women from abduction, but it grew to become a vital part of Apatani culture and tradition.
10. Laying plates on lips, Mursi tribe – Ethiopia
Women of the Mursi tribe may have their lips cut at the age of 15 or 16. A small clay plate is then inserted into the lip. The larger the clay plate, the more the woman is worth before she gets married. It is said that the clay plates were originally used to prevent capture by slave traders. Although very unique and part of their tradition, the Mursi women only wear the plates for a short time because they are so heavy and uncomfortable.
Sources: Idntimes.com