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“Shoes on or off?”, you might wonder stepping into someone’s house. Well, it depends on where that house is located: if it’s somewhere in the US, for instance, walking inside with outside shoes might not be that big of a deal, but doing that in Japan is likely to be frowned upon.
This is just one example of how the same situation might be viewed very differently in different locations; and there sure are many more. Members of the ‘Ask Reddit’ community recently discussed such situations, after one of them asked netizens what is considered a taboo in their country but absolutely fine elsewhere. If you’re eager to learn something that might be good to remember when visiting one country or another, scroll down to find redditors’ answers on the list below, and feel free to share what are some things considered taboo in your own country in the comments.
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#2
In Alaska you can be put in a phone registry to go and pick up a road kill moose off the side of the road. This is considered a super lucky phone call as even the worst road kill moose has 100’s of pounds of good meat. Everyone is normally stoked for you if you get this call also and if during the day time people will normally honk and cheer driving past you getting the dead moose. I never realized the weirdness of all of this till explaining the excitement of road kill moose to some friends in San Diego. .
#3
Sitting on a desk or table. In Maori culture it's insulting to plonk your a**e on a surface where food might be prepared.
Some things in the world are pretty universal, that’s true. However, one can’t argue that most things we say, do, or experience differ not only with each country but with each region or household, even; what is completely normal in one might be considered out of line in another.
Such out-of-line things are usually considered taboo – “a subject, word, or action that is avoided for religious or social reasons”, as dictionaries describe it. And they can relate to any and every thing there is, from food to periods, and beyond. According to the person who started the thread, redditor ‘Auelogic’, even such a seemingly humdrum thing as chewing gum can be a taboo in certain places.
#4
Universal healthcare
Tobias Reaper 2 weeks ago
I don't understand why so many yanks are opposed to this its nice to have to worry about how much it costs to go in an ambulance or get treated at hospital. Its absolutely scandalous how much you have to pay for things And health insurance being linked to you job that just takes the p**s.
#5
Not offering a cup of tea to anyone entering the home including servicemen.
In the UK not doing so is punishable by death.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 weeks ago
I have black teas, yellow teas, green teas, purple teas, red read and more. if drink the teas in the correct order then later on in the day I am pissing a rainbow.
“In my country, there are many minor taboos, like the idea that selling gum is frowned upon. This made me curious about what other taboos exist in different countries,” the OP told Bored Panda in a recent interview, sharing why they decided to ask this particular question.
Discussing the netizens’ answers, the OP shared that they were interesting to read, especially as they related to numerous different countries. “I’ve learned a lot from this,” they admitted.
#6
As an iranian, where do you want me to start?
#7
I just went to Germany for the first time (I’m from the US). My colleague (from Germany) went to grab me a glass for my beer and I said that I could just drink it from the bottle, and you could almost hear a pin drop when about 10 Germans spun around to stare at me. One of them said “….. wafflekween, that’s a WHEAT beer. It must be drank out of a glass!”.
#8
Child marriage (thank god).
It’s safe to assume that the redditor wasn’t the only one who learned new information while browsing the list, as while we might be well-familiar with things that are considered taboo in our country, we might also be completely oblivious to what we shouldn’t say or do elsewhere.
That’s because our morals and values, as well as our mindset, tend to be shaped—or at least, largely influenced—by the culture we find ourselves in. As one TED speaker put it, “We all see the world through cultural glasses.”
#9
Foraging or even walking through private land (“safe passage”) -
In many countries foraging on private property is quite acceptable if you are only taking small amounts, as well as safe passage (hiking through private property but not staying there).
But in the USA, even WALKING onto someone’s personal property without express permission can get you shot. And taking something?? Omfg you have a death wish.
Foraging isn’t permitted on most public lands either. “Take nothing, leave nothing,” is the rule.
Every European person I have told this to is stunned.
Simon Chen 2 weeks ago
Then this person has not been to germany yet. Walking trough someones garden here is not something normal. You will not get shot, most likely, but people are not very excited about it either. That is why we have fences and hedges....
Lynchamigsakta 2 weeks ago
In Sweden we have the allemansrätt, meaning nature is for everyone to use respectfully. I can forage and camp in a privately owned forrest, it certainly doesn't include backyards
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Debby Keir 2 weeks ago
Once went on a road trip round Masschusetts. Saw the sea in the distance so we parked up and decided to walk to the shore - everywhere was 'no entry' or blocked and a woman told us that all the beaches were privately owned. In the UK, almost all of the shoreline belongs to 'the monarchy', and thus completely free to use.
Hobby Hopper 2 weeks ago
In California (and other states?) you explicitly cannot own private property below the mean high tide line, but property owners still try to claim the beach is theirs. A lot of water-front property is contested in the US. In Texas, you can travel down any "navigable" waterway and even land on the bank, but if you try it you're liable to get shot.
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Ron Man 2 weeks ago
Yes, in the US you can't just walk on to someone's property and start taking things from them. On public lands, not quite so true. I love how the author of this one makes it sound petty. No, you can't go into one of our public forests and start harvesting plants to take home with you. You are welcome to harvest things like mushrooms or anything else you want to eat. You can't kill plants. You can't chop down trees for firewood while camping, but you can pick up downed branches and cut downed trees for firewood.
Nicole Weymann 2 weeks ago
Hunting accidents, drunk/idiot people, and ar$eholes do happen - but you need more bad luck than in the US to encounter the unlucky combination.
Load More Replies... Verena 2 weeks ago
This only applies to some European countries where owning a forest or other big part of the landscape is the norm. "Right of way" and possibly camping one night is only allowed if you keep a certain distance to the house, are out of sight from the house, keep quiet and leave without a trace. Foraging beyond picking an occasional berry is not allowed.
Upstaged75 2 weeks ago (edited)
Oh please! It's exaggerating to say you're going to get shot in the US. Most likely you're just going to have some Karen (or grumpy old dude) screeching at you to get off the lawn. ;)
Kimberly Bailey 2 weeks ago
Go to Texas ,trespass, and stare down the barrel of a gun, then tell us we're exaggerating again...
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SewingStaffy 2 weeks ago
Umm, no. I've lived in both the UK and Italy, you don't go into someone's garden or on their land and pick stuff without permission or even just look around. It's a no no and I found in Italy, even neighbours who weren't on friendly terms would shoo people away
Nicole Weymann 2 weeks ago
I don't think OP was referring to gardens. The "land" they talk about is more likely farmland, meadows, pastures, and forests, which are fair game for hiking (NOT trampling the crops). And "foraging" doesn't mean "enter the enclosed apple orchard with a ladder and six buckets". It's more of a "stroll through the grove with a basket for some wild garlick" situation, or collecting some mushrooms on someone's paddock without annoying the horses.
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Ivona 2 weeks ago
I don't think people in Bulgaria, for instance, walk through other people's property without an invitation. As for taking, it depends on what. Most people aren't happy if a stranger picks fruit from their fruit trees.
Nicole Weymann 2 weeks ago
It's not done in Germany, either. I think OP was referring to privately owned forests or an harvested field, where people are allowed to hike without asking for a special permission, or maybe go on a horse paddock for some mushrooms you saw, or pick *one or two* apples from a tree in meadow.
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Christy Barrett 2 weeks ago
This isn't exactly correct. Especially about public lands. Yes on national Park Land you cannot forage but on public state land you can. You can forage and if you get a permit you can hunt and cut fallen trees. And on the private land it means more of people with large amounts of land. No one will be happy with anyone taking from their garden. But if someone has many acres and you want to forage for wild plants or do any hunting you have to get permission.
Kurtz Frausun 2 weeks ago
I love photographing abandoned buildings and ended up walking on property to take pics of one: Rundown house in a wooded area. About 15 minutes later, a guy showed up with a pistol and told me to get off his land. Seriously...be careful about walking onto property, especially in Texas.
Cathy Roberts 2 weeks ago
For the record, this US citizen thinks it's ridiculous that anyone would think trespassing is a murderable offense. But some do. Or, they say they do. Saying and doing are two different things.
Kimberly Bailey 2 weeks ago
Agree, trespassing on property doesn't deserve a bullet in my opinion. A good scary warning maybe. Break in my house though and the bullets are flying...too many bad things have happened here not to be a little overly cautious! (I live in Ohio)
Load More Replies... #10
USA: eating horse meat. Apparently this is relatively common in France or Italy, but would be greeted by horror over here.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 weeks ago
Used to be common in the UK. Gained popularity in WW2 as beef was rationed, horse meat wasn't. Also became unknowingly common not so long back when horse meat was found in Iceland beef lasagnes.
#11
Standing next to a stranger closer than 6 ft, unless the lack of space forces you to stand thay close.
(Google "Finnish bus stop".).
The aforementioned TED speaker, a cross-cultural expert and a rocket scientist, Julien S. Bourrelle, suggested that people tend to view the behavior or emotions of others through their own cultural glasses.
“The lens through which your brain sees the world shapes your reality,” he said, which explains why people might be surprised to find that something that seems completely normal to them is considered taboo in other places of the world.
That’s why lists as such can be not only fascinating, but useful, too, as not knowing that something is considered taboo when visiting a foreign country can create some rather awkward situations.
#12
Being gay
#13
Any kind of physical punishment for children. Maybe not exactly a taboo, rather downright illegal, but it’s shocking how normalised using physical punishment is in so many parts of the world.
Cammy Mack 2 weeks ago
For the right age, and the right temperament, there's absolutely no harm with a little swat on the bum. This is not beating, just light reinforcement. It is not always appropriate, though. Discipline takes many forms. Kids get away with murder these days.
#14
The word “c**t”. It’s a HUGE insult here in the US but it’s barely a swear in the UK and practically term of affection in Australia. (I might be stereotyping a little here though).
If you enjoy browsing content about cultural differences and life in different parts of the world, you might like this list of funny illustrations that depict the cultural differences between the East and the West, too. You might also want to consider viewing these stories about the biggest culture shocks people have ever encountered.
#15
Waltzing in someone's home wearing shoes.
LaserBrain 2 weeks ago
I grew up in Japan and I still find it mildly shocking if someone walks into a house with their outside shoes on.
#16
Any form of nudity shown in public. Americans sexualize everything, so nudity here is far more taboo than in France, for example.
Cathy Roberts 2 weeks ago
Which is dumb, right? It's a human body. We were all assigned one at birth.
#17
Mowing your lawn or other noisy activities on a Sunday.
#18
Being a bubbly positive person in eastern europe = you're crazy and delusional and lots of red flags
being not bubbly positive person in USA = something is wrong with him avoid him.
#20
Not exclusive to my country, Sweden, but we have draconic d**g laws here.
You can be dead drunk in the streets and ppl won’t bat an eye, but if you smoke weed you’re treated as criminal.
Hans Georg 2 weeks ago
We legalized weed in Germany. I do not care about people smoking weed, but the smell is awful and does not belong in public places or on playgrounds.
#21
Men who are friends or family casually holding hands in public. It'll never happen here.
I notice it's very common in the Middle East India, and Egypt. It's a safety thing as I understand and how to get across insane streets.
Cathy Roberts 2 weeks ago
Love it and wish it were a thing in the US, rather than the toxic masculinity.
#22
Children being naked.
In the US, people would lose their s**t and call CPS over a young child not wearing clothes in their back yard or on the beach. In Europe, it’s considered pretty standard for
#23
In my country, discussing mental health openly is taboo, but accepted elsewhere.
#25
Belgium: call them “French fries” and get effed up!
(Also: there is no such thing is as “a Belgian waffle”. You are likely referring to a Brussels waffle and not knowing there are quite a lot of different kind of waffles in Belgium.).
Gavin Johnson 2 weeks ago
I met a Belgian who loved to talk, you should’ve heard that Belgian Waffle……
#26
Talking to a stranger on public transport.
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 2 weeks ago
I read books on public transport. A sign meaning leave me alone. People still ask me what I am reading, then go on to tell me their life story.
#27
Abortion, divorce, not "paying back" your parents even when they were deadbeat.
Pandarosa 2 weeks ago
In Australia, it's becoming increasingly clear that even though a hospital or clinic may say they provide abortions, privately the board members/leadership will cancel or withhold the service because of their personal beliefs. It's a huge issue that is only now being covered in the news.
#29
Public displays of affection are taboo here, but normal elsewhere.
#30
Celebrating your birthday before its actually your birthday.
In your opinion, how important is it to follow local taboos when visiting another country?
Paul Rabit 2 weeks ago
This would have been a better article if they specified the country of the taboo in question.
Ellinor 2 weeks ago
Best way to not be hated in France : When you enter a room, say "Bonjour". It doesn't have to be to each person, but in general. And in waiting rooms, we don't do small talk. We say "Bonjour", go sit, and sh*t up.
Alexandra 2 weeks ago
And if you don't, they will tell you you should in no uncertain terms, Seen it happen. It was humiliating, on both sides.
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Júlia Fortes 2 weeks ago
In my country if you make eye contact with someone (even if its a stranger) you need to smile and nod (kinda like a way of saying good morning/afternoon/evening without saying it), its considered rude if you dont And also, if you're waiting in the crosswalk and a car lets you pass, you need to raise your hand to say thank (also valid if you're inside the car in a crossroad)
David Beaulieu 2 weeks ago
I was thinking of starting a website that just farms reddit for content. You find posts and then you just pretend they are your site's content. But that is frowned upon where I live.
Katie Allen 2 weeks ago
Some guy from the middle east asked me right after he met me why I wasn't married. I told him that question is considered rude in the US. His IMMEDIATE response was to ask me again.
Paul Rabit 2 weeks ago
This would have been a better article if they specified the country of the taboo in question.
Ellinor 2 weeks ago
Best way to not be hated in France : When you enter a room, say "Bonjour". It doesn't have to be to each person, but in general. And in waiting rooms, we don't do small talk. We say "Bonjour", go sit, and sh*t up.
Alexandra 2 weeks ago
And if you don't, they will tell you you should in no uncertain terms, Seen it happen. It was humiliating, on both sides.
Load More Replies... Júlia Fortes 2 weeks ago
In my country if you make eye contact with someone (even if its a stranger) you need to smile and nod (kinda like a way of saying good morning/afternoon/evening without saying it), its considered rude if you dont And also, if you're waiting in the crosswalk and a car lets you pass, you need to raise your hand to say thank (also valid if you're inside the car in a crossroad)
David Beaulieu 2 weeks ago
I was thinking of starting a website that just farms reddit for content. You find posts and then you just pretend they are your site's content. But that is frowned upon where I live.
Katie Allen 2 weeks ago
Some guy from the middle east asked me right after he met me why I wasn't married. I told him that question is considered rude in the US. His IMMEDIATE response was to ask me again.
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