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30 Peculiar Things That Seem Normal In Some Countries But Not In The Rest Of The World
If you're still unsure (or need reminding) that the concept of normal is relative, there's one online thread that should, once and for all, convince you.
It began when Reddit user SackOfPotatoSacks made a post on the platform, asking everyone to share what's considered routine where they live but would probably be seen as something crazy everywhere else.
Immediately, people started describing the peculiarities of their local area that they've grown accustomed to, proving that culture seeps deeper into us than we often realize.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
My city is EXTREMELY bilingual, everyone speaks both English and French. You’ll hear people speak both languages in conversations quite often, sometimes in the same sentence. In stores, most of the time, people greet you with both languages and you reply in one of them, which tells them which language you prefer to talk in. They go "Bonjour, Hi!" And you say Bonjour back if you want to continue in French or Hi if you rather speak English. It’s kinda crazy.
I’m from Montréal, Canada.
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#2
I live in Dublin and when we tell people who live in America that we put crisps in sandwiches they laugh at us. Just try it mate. It’s so good
#3
Free Sundays (germany)
Everything, literally everything is closed on Sundays which is amazing cuz everyone (except from the most essential like doctors, firefighters and the police) have a free day which is awesome!!
#4
In Austria around Christmas/St Nicholas time we have events called "Krampusläufe" where people, mostly young (drunk) men dress up as demonic devil-like creatures called Krampus with fur suits, creepy masks and cow bells and pull of shows that include lots of fire, smoke, witch burns etc while mainly Ramstein plays in the back. They also like to whip people in the audience with cow tails. And hell yea we enjoy the show while getting drunk on hot punch. We even bring our kids along.
#5
In Australian rural towns we all had our back doors unlocked; and friends are allowed to go through the back door and make themselves a cup of tea/coffee while they wait for you to get back from whatever you were doing.
Ivanh 2 years ago
It's not just rural towns. I grew up in Melbourne and this was true for everyone we knew in melbourne suburbs. We would come home and my mates would be in the living room or garage watching tv waiting for me to get home. Doors would never be locked...still rarely are to this day.
#6
Experiencing 4 seasons every day. Jacket on, jacket off, it's sunny but it's raining, freezing and windy, then it's hot again... I like to wear shorts and puffer jacket combos for both extremes. Tasmania.
Miyuu Catspaw 2 years ago
Snowed in Hobart, Tasmania on Christmas Day 2006 : 4 days after the Summer Solstice !
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Alethea Wiesner 2 years ago
In Calgary, Alberta, Canada we've had sun, rain, wind and snow in the same day, often. The local adage is: if you don't like the weather wait 20 minutes.
Luna Crow 2 years ago
We also say that in Oregon, US. You learn to dress in layers that can be removed or added accordingly
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Liz Downing 2 years ago
Very cool! We experience this in our mountains (Colorado, USA, Rocky Mountains.)
Jason 2 years ago (edited)
I remember in Denver having an emergency one day going into the hospital in the morning and by the time I got out that evening it was over 50f cooler than when I went in
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Randolph Croft 2 years ago
Another island, on the opposite side of the Earth, that has the same weather, is Newfoundland.
Nathan Wolfe 2 years ago
Montana USA. I've literally seen it snow on June 14th, while it was 94F out. Its memorable because that was the last day of school my junior year, and I was allowed to stay home from finals (perfect attendance and straight A's)
MygrandsonscallmeNia 2 years ago
From October -the end of December, sometimes January is like that too. In West Virginia. You have to watch the weather report constantly to know how to dress for the day. The weather bug app, is my go-to weather app.
Marie-Stephane Art 2 years ago
Same in Ireland, you can (often) have the 4 seasons multiple times in a day.
Barbara Perry 2 years ago
Also happens in Finger Lakes region of Western NY state...don't forget the 'blaster' winds! Extremely short hair is a plus in windy places, btw.
Denise Stanley 2 years ago
New Zealand is exactly the same. Sun rain hail Thunder lightning wind and snow. all of the above in 1 day
Bonny Saxon 2 years ago
Maine is like that too. Always bring a jacket with you and there is always a blanket in the car.
Robert Rosenthal 2 years ago
To me that's not people doing something others find strange, it's just dressing for the expected weather.
Elaine Elder 2 years ago
It may be this way in more countries, states, cities than you know. Georgia (state) in USA frozen water for animals has to be broken because it froze overnight. By noon, I'm in tank top and shorts, sweating moving water troughs to next corral because it is 75 F
Fester Sixonesixonethree 2 years ago
It's like that in Chicago during the Fall... Bands of different weather cross the area heading to the east. If you're going North or South you can cross four or five different weather bands.
Patti Wagner 2 years ago
And I think its hard for us knowing how to dress here when the weather is changing from Winter to Spring and we have the temperatures go up and down!
Sabrina Bowen 2 years ago
This happens in Pittsburgh, PA, USA too! I've left my house in a t-shirt and come home to snow.
Gareth Baus 2 years ago
Sounds like Kansas, I once literally went for a run on a warm sunny day and ended up running through rain, sleet, and snow, before finishing my run with it being warm and sunny again.
Nikki Angulo 2 years ago
It snowed on June first last year where I was living (northern Ontario) I was not impressed! We did have a later start to winter this year, and some unusually warm days in Sept/Oct. even today (end of Nov) it was only a few degrees above freezing, which is unusual.
Helen Lawson 2 years ago
It's not every day, some are 38 degrees celsius and unbearable. I loved the cold windy weather, it's the best part of Tassie.
SirDigbyChickenCaesar 2 years ago (edited)
Sounds just like North Carolina. Don't like the weather? Just wait an hour or two.
Lea 2 years ago
So many Colorado mornings start with snow on the ground and when it's time to leave school/work it will be 70°F and sunny. CO is a good place to see a sun showers if you have never seen one or if you are lucky sunny while it's hailing, snowing, or sleeting. Or all within the same day 🙃
James Cox 2 years ago
Was like this in Hawaii too. One minute you're sunburnt, dehydrated, and sweating your nipples off and the next you're freezing cold, rain soaked, and could barely see 20 feet ahead
Lea 2 years ago
Yeah no, the adventure temp in Hawaii in the summer vs the winter is only about a 20°F different. HI does get sun showers and heavy downpours during the wet season. The weather here is so ridiculously consistent. Like the same weather patterns will last for more than 3 days in a row.
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#7
In the Eifel, germany, on the night to 1st of may, people paint a long line from one house to another. The line means that someone in these households is having an affair. Every year several relationships break up because of this. I love it.
#8
Alligators. Just...everywhere. I live in a swampy area of Florida, and it's pretty normal to come across alligators in small ponds, ditches, around pools, or just chilling in a parking lot. I've nearly tripped on alligators more times than i'd like to admit. Thankfully they're pretty chill and won't really bother you unless you mess with them or go near a nest. The police are even trained to deal with rogue alligator calls.
#9
I live next to a game reserve in South Africa. It's not that surprising to hear baboons in your back yard, or spot a rhino 10 meters from your fence.
One time a whole troop of baboons ran over our roof. It's only corrugated iron and we all shat our pants.
#10
Madagascar. Every now and then we dig up corpses of our loved ones, bring 'em through the village where they lived for a visit, change the tissues they where covered in (several layers) with new ones and put them back in the grave and all that while partying.
#11
I live in NJ and it’s illegal here for you to pump your own gas/fuel. All stations are full service by law. I believe Oregon is the only other state in the USA that has this law.
#12
In Norway it's normal to release two million sheep (read: ***two*** ***million*** ***sheep***) into the *wild*, mostly unsupervised, where an estimated *100.000* of them die to either injuries, illness or predators, with the farmers crying and complaining (usually only to that last one), and then repeat the same process again the next year, and every year after that.
Does Norway kind of have a f****d up and moronic sheep farming practice? Yes, yes we do.
#13
Where I used to live in Manitoba, nobody had fences, mainly because when the properties were divided up, the town planners left space that belonged to the town behind all of them, that was just a strip of forest and Canadian shield. So almost nobody put up fences because it cut off their view & access to what was essentially a super cool nature trail network throughout the town. Everyone knew once you hit mowed grass, that belonged to someone. Us kids barely ever went anywhere on foot via roads or sidewalks, we always took the trails (we rode bikes on the roads though, there were too many rocks on the trails for a regular kid's bike)
Of course, living in a forest had some unintended consequences. We frequently had bears, so I remember when I wasn't even 5 yet being taught what to do if I saw a bear. And two separate years we had a mountain lion, which was a lot worse. The town would hire someone to trap and relocate these animals but it always took a while. I remember watching a bear lying down under the crabapple tree in our front yard just eating all the windfall apples for ages, not a care in the world.
Quinn Enestvedt 2 years ago
Important distinction: was the bear a black bear or a grizzly bear? One is significantly more dangerous than the other.
#14
Driving 3 hours at 100km/h and still being in the middle of nowhere (Australia). In parts of Europe you’d have crossed 3 borders in that time
#15
Starting college, meeting your class on week 1 and then having introductory sauna the next week, boys and girls all drunk & nekkid. Finland :3
moon_magic 2 years ago
Sounds like a good way to instill a healthier attitude towards the human body.
#16
People who are 12-14 driving tractors on the roads in rural Ireland. The legal minimum age is 16, but most farmers don't really care.
EDIT: I didn't realise that this is a rural thing. Still comes as a shock to urban people though.
#17
Driving over the mountains and shouting "mint sauce" out the window to the sheep....
Wales
( And fellow welshys... Don't lie..you know you've done it)
#18
Free public transport in the whole country: buses, trains, trams.
Caroline Sinclair 2 years ago
If this were universal it would make such a difference to so many people, as well as to the planet's carbon budget.
#19
Having your birthday party look like this:
Your livingroom is transformed so that there's a great circle of chairs with a coffeetable in the center.
If it's an afternoon party, guests will visit between 14:00 and 17:00 or 18:00 - 21:00, but not both! there's 1 timeslot for friends and 1 for family).
As a guest, you arrive, you congratulate the birthday boy or girl, hand over your present. Then you introduce yourself to the group if you don't know them yet. Then, you go over the circle and shake everyone's hand and ALSO congratulate them with so-and-so's birthday.
After making your way through the circle, you take your empty chair and that is now your seat for the rest of the party.
After everyone arrived, the birthday person will bring you a piece of cake and a beverage (usually coffee or tea). Everyone eats their cake and talks to the person sitting next to him/her.
After everyone is done, there'll be a tour of the house and any new things will be pointed out to you. Now is your moment to ask some questions like "oh, was it expensive?" and also compliment the host on how great it is.
After the tour there'll be another round of food and drinks, snacks will be laid out on the coffeetable, but you shouldn't eat much of it. This is the only food that will be brought out and everyone has to share it.
After guests were there for about 3 hours they'll leave again. Everyone knows they're expected to leave but you need to come off as really wanting to stick around longer but you just couldn't because the dog needs to go for a walk or something, make up any excuse that sounds probable.
Then, repeat the cycle again in the evening with the other group. The weekend after that, invite your close friends to come over and have the real party.
#20
Brazil: Apparently being in a restaurant for hours and hours and only eating in 1% of the time. We talk for hours before and after eating here, so we don't leave right after eating. Everyone I knew from other country found it strange
#21
Drinking alcohol for the first time when you're around 14 y/o. In Germany, it is legal to buy beer and wine when you're 16. So the majority of parents don't see it as a problem when the first drunk experience happens a few years earlier. Actually it is hard to find a teenager here that never tried alcohol before.
#22
Calling an uber instead of an ambulance or going to work while sick during a pandemic.
Gotta love freedom
#23
Romania. Being a witch/medium is an official job, meaning you need a permit, your profit is monitored and you pay taxes.
When killing a pig, raw skin covered in salt is the first food consumed, as it is considered a delicacy.
We also fill the pig's small intestine with a mixture of meat, rice and garlic and put it in the oven for about an hour. Yum!
Many people believe that if you look at a baby for too long, you can unknowingly put a curse on it, which will make it cry until you pour holy water on the child and pray to make the curse go away. Parents are an exception, they can not curse their own child.
moon_magic 2 years ago
Ah yes, that well known method of quieting a crying baby, tipping water on them
#24
Many (but not all) Germans restricting themselves to exactly one hot meal per day. I've heard sentences such as:
"No I can't, I already ate warm at lunch"
"I tried so hard to find a breakfast place that sells cold food"
"Let's just eat bread, I've had hot lunch"
"You can't eat two hot meals, that's too much"
I still don't get why it has to be no more and less than one hot meal? And why do breakfast pancakes not count as hot food?
BakedKahuna 2 years ago
This is one thing I struggle with. I am Asian, born and raised in Germany. While being little i hated having rice every day. Sometimes up to three times. Then I moved in with my ex, with whom I still live with. He has bread for breakfast and bread for dinner, almost every day. If you add two pickled cornichons and two cherry tomatoes and maybe even a soft boiled egg for dinner, it's considered a feast. I couldn't function without proper hot meals and learned to appreciate my rice now 😅
#25
Today (in Japan)over a hundred people lined up (staggered for social distancing) at 9:00 am on a Saturday. First one hundred get a ticket. At 10:30 we all line up again. One at a time we draw a number; 1 to 5. Then we go over to a big basin of the best quality of rice and take as many scoops as the number we drew. You are encourage to make each scoop heaping. This is not a food bank thing (I hope) just the promise of “good rice” draws a crowd.
It was at a roadside tourist shop/complex.
#26
Israel. Where I live, it is normal.for about 15% of the population not to work and get paid by the government since they are praying to God and that's important too. Off course, the rest of the ppl pay for them. f**k them and their god
Kat Min 2 years ago
15% unproductive adults is a hell of a lot for a society to carry. Although, I read, it's just the men that do this. The women are raised to be the workhorses in those cults (sorry, but if you raisechildren into this, it's a cult not a cloister/temple/monestary) and do ALL the work.
#27
Welp, in Lithuania we have hill of crosses with over 200 k. crosses, we have a hotel where you live in a jail cell and ex KGB agents shout at you and dogs bark at you all the time.
#28
Sweden: The government has monopoly on any alcohol above 3.5% and can only be bought at one store dedicated to it.
#29
In Cincinnati we eat spaghetti noodles topped with a soup-like chili and a 1/4 pound of shredded cheddar cheese.
And it’s delicious.
#30
Putting a block of cheese in your hot chocolate. Colombia.
What do you think ?
Ali H M Salehuddin 2 years ago
I'm Malaysian. We have the culture of 'open house' during festivities. During this time, anyone, even strangers can come to your house to celebrate. They'll be treated with foods, drinks and a token sum of money (only for kids) . Back when I was little, my friends and I made rounds to neighbors' houses to collect these token money. And kids from neighboring villages did come to my house and my parent gave them money too. Nowadays though, only relatives and close friends come for a visit. No strangers come anymore. I suppose if strangers do come, we are still culturally obliged to offer them food and drink. In the last 20-30years, our Government has adapted this culture by having open house for major Malaysian festivals. During Eid celebration for example, our prime minister will set 1 day for an open house for anyone to come; regardless whether they are Malaysians or not. This year, the attendance was in excess of 100K people.
David K 2 years ago
I was wondering if the Easter whip tradition we held in Czech Republic will be on the list because I know that people from different countries find it quite crazy. On the morning of Easter Monday, men gently spank women with a special handmade whip. The whip called pomlázka consists of withies (willow rods or other twigs), is usually from half a meter to two meters long and decorated with coloured ribbons at the end. Women wear multiple long dresses to avoid the minor pain that would be caused by the whipping. If men arrive at women's houses after 12 o'clock, women throw a bucket of cold water on them. In some regions the men also douse girls with water or spray perfume on them. When going house to house, the male first sings a verse relating to eggs and spring themes like bountifulness and fertility. If the young woman doesn't have any decorated eggs she turns around and the man takes a few whacks at her legs with the whip.
AD 2 years ago
Ah yes, so many of my friends are still traumatized by this idiotic, degrading tradition. Someone tries to whip me now I'll whip them right back. What does a stranger or WORSE a creepy uncle or a family member have to do with my fertility. F**k it so much.
Load More Replies...
Epona 2 years ago (edited)
Is anyone else getting ads at the top of the page that take up 3/4 of the page? I use an add blocker, but it doesn't seem to always do its job properly. It is very frustrating! It wasn't happening yesterday when I was on the site. Why is it happening today? Anyone have any tips?
Edison Michael 2 years ago
Here in Brazil, the host at a birthday part is expected to lay all gifts over their bed and show the guests how many gifts they got before leading them to the actual party. Also, you *HAVE* to cut the first piece of the cake yourself if it is your birthday and can only give that one to the friend you love the MOST! While you are cutting, it is common that those around you will start shouting the reasons why you should give THEM the first piece (things like "remember that time we did X together?", "remember when we went to that place?" etc), which is a cool way of being reminded of good moments with your friends in a humorous tone. If you are too shy, confront adverse, a huge spoilsport or simply a coward, you can take the safest, most diplomatic (and by far the most boring) road and give that precious first slice to one of your parents, a significant other or your own kid. People will usually boo that a bit as being super artificial and a coward's choice, but it's all in good fun.
Dodo 2 years ago
I remember seeing a video online of a kid giving the first slice to his little brother. It was adorable, little brother burst into happy tears.
Load More Replies...
lauralett50 2 years ago
This an interesting look at other cultures. I am fascinated by all the different things that each area does . Sometime soon I hope to travel to each place . Thank you to all whom contributed.
Merilyn Horton 2 years ago
Growing up in country Australia, we wandered at will into all our neighbours houses, called everyone’s parents Aunty and Uncle.
Reddog McGraw 2 years ago
The State of Texas has a rich history. Being that it was literally once considered (and in some parts, still is) the "Wild West" there are a lot of things that happened. So when you drive through the state, even in the middle of nowhere, be on the look out for Black Iron Plaques called Historical Markers, that tell the story of what happened there. Growing up there was one near our home that told the story of a Comanche raising party that slaughtered (and I do mean, in detail how they died) a small family of settlers and stole the children. Sure enough, you go back into the woods in the middle of nowhere and there is still a tiny family plot of graves with nothing but prairie grass and oak trees to watch over it
AD 2 years ago
It's really not, the water throwing happens on a very small scale compared to the whipping. It would also happen quite often that the men get progressively drunker during the day and end up basically whipping the s**t out of women and calling it "a bit of fun".
Load More Replies... 
ADHD McChick 2 years ago
Well, here's another BP post with nothing but negativity for the US. Look, I know there's a lotta things that suck here. We're aware of that. But there's also a lotta GOOD things, and good PEOPLE. Please stop putting us all in one ugly basket. Thanks.
Mimi M 2 years ago
We all say this all the time - that all countries have their negatives and positives, just like all people have their negatives and positives. But the people at BP that make these continuous divisive, stereotypical and biased posts do not care. But we keep saying it anyway. Maybe just for our fellow Pandas to know that we object and that it's unbalanced and unfair. Oh well.
Load More Replies... Ali H M Salehuddin 2 years ago
I'm Malaysian. We have the culture of 'open house' during festivities. During this time, anyone, even strangers can come to your house to celebrate. They'll be treated with foods, drinks and a token sum of money (only for kids) . Back when I was little, my friends and I made rounds to neighbors' houses to collect these token money. And kids from neighboring villages did come to my house and my parent gave them money too. Nowadays though, only relatives and close friends come for a visit. No strangers come anymore. I suppose if strangers do come, we are still culturally obliged to offer them food and drink. In the last 20-30years, our Government has adapted this culture by having open house for major Malaysian festivals. During Eid celebration for example, our prime minister will set 1 day for an open house for anyone to come; regardless whether they are Malaysians or not. This year, the attendance was in excess of 100K people.
David K 2 years ago
I was wondering if the Easter whip tradition we held in Czech Republic will be on the list because I know that people from different countries find it quite crazy. On the morning of Easter Monday, men gently spank women with a special handmade whip. The whip called pomlázka consists of withies (willow rods or other twigs), is usually from half a meter to two meters long and decorated with coloured ribbons at the end. Women wear multiple long dresses to avoid the minor pain that would be caused by the whipping. If men arrive at women's houses after 12 o'clock, women throw a bucket of cold water on them. In some regions the men also douse girls with water or spray perfume on them. When going house to house, the male first sings a verse relating to eggs and spring themes like bountifulness and fertility. If the young woman doesn't have any decorated eggs she turns around and the man takes a few whacks at her legs with the whip.
AD 2 years ago
Ah yes, so many of my friends are still traumatized by this idiotic, degrading tradition. Someone tries to whip me now I'll whip them right back. What does a stranger or WORSE a creepy uncle or a family member have to do with my fertility. F**k it so much.
Load More Replies... Epona 2 years ago (edited)
Is anyone else getting ads at the top of the page that take up 3/4 of the page? I use an add blocker, but it doesn't seem to always do its job properly. It is very frustrating! It wasn't happening yesterday when I was on the site. Why is it happening today? Anyone have any tips?
Edison Michael 2 years ago
Here in Brazil, the host at a birthday part is expected to lay all gifts over their bed and show the guests how many gifts they got before leading them to the actual party. Also, you *HAVE* to cut the first piece of the cake yourself if it is your birthday and can only give that one to the friend you love the MOST! While you are cutting, it is common that those around you will start shouting the reasons why you should give THEM the first piece (things like "remember that time we did X together?", "remember when we went to that place?" etc), which is a cool way of being reminded of good moments with your friends in a humorous tone. If you are too shy, confront adverse, a huge spoilsport or simply a coward, you can take the safest, most diplomatic (and by far the most boring) road and give that precious first slice to one of your parents, a significant other or your own kid. People will usually boo that a bit as being super artificial and a coward's choice, but it's all in good fun.
Dodo 2 years ago
I remember seeing a video online of a kid giving the first slice to his little brother. It was adorable, little brother burst into happy tears.
Load More Replies... lauralett50 2 years ago
This an interesting look at other cultures. I am fascinated by all the different things that each area does . Sometime soon I hope to travel to each place . Thank you to all whom contributed.
Merilyn Horton 2 years ago
Growing up in country Australia, we wandered at will into all our neighbours houses, called everyone’s parents Aunty and Uncle.
Reddog McGraw 2 years ago
The State of Texas has a rich history. Being that it was literally once considered (and in some parts, still is) the "Wild West" there are a lot of things that happened. So when you drive through the state, even in the middle of nowhere, be on the look out for Black Iron Plaques called Historical Markers, that tell the story of what happened there. Growing up there was one near our home that told the story of a Comanche raising party that slaughtered (and I do mean, in detail how they died) a small family of settlers and stole the children. Sure enough, you go back into the woods in the middle of nowhere and there is still a tiny family plot of graves with nothing but prairie grass and oak trees to watch over it
AD 2 years ago
It's really not, the water throwing happens on a very small scale compared to the whipping. It would also happen quite often that the men get progressively drunker during the day and end up basically whipping the s**t out of women and calling it "a bit of fun".
Load More Replies... ADHD McChick 2 years ago
Well, here's another BP post with nothing but negativity for the US. Look, I know there's a lotta things that suck here. We're aware of that. But there's also a lotta GOOD things, and good PEOPLE. Please stop putting us all in one ugly basket. Thanks.
Mimi M 2 years ago
We all say this all the time - that all countries have their negatives and positives, just like all people have their negatives and positives. But the people at BP that make these continuous divisive, stereotypical and biased posts do not care. But we keep saying it anyway. Maybe just for our fellow Pandas to know that we object and that it's unbalanced and unfair. Oh well.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
