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The more you learn about people, the more you learn about the world. After all, there are so many cultures around the globe—each with something important to teach about life and nature.

So, to broaden his cultural awareness, Nasr, who is known on social media as Nas Alive, asked TikTok users "What is something that's normal in your country but weird to the rest of the world?"

"Growing up in an immigrant family from Syria, while living in Canada and going to a French school, I was naturally exposed to many languages and cultures," Nasr told Bored Panda. "So I tend to find myself asking a lot of questions. For example, what's the origin of phrases like 'break the ice' and 'break a leg'? And why do we knock on wood?" This TikTok was a result of such thoughts.

And it went viral. As of this article, the video has over 2.4 million views and 18.7K comments, many of which are replies to Nasr's interesting question. From installing saunas in Finnish apartments to congratulating someone on getting their degree in Argentina, continue scrolling and check out some of the most popular ones.

More info: TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

#1

Pre-Pandemic Mask Wearing In Asian Countries

Pre-Pandemic Mask Wearing In Asian Countries

Wearing a mask. In Hogh Kong, if you're even slightly sick, you wear a mask. If you feel ugly, you wear a mask, if you're just lazy, and don't want to do anything - you wear a mask. Most Asian countries actually wear masks, and it's not because we want to, it's because we grew up knowing that as a society, we need to protect each other

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engineer_nope.avi
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Vietnam, we have a thing for wearing masks LONG before the pandemic simply because our main transportation are motorbikes and let's just say that we have a lot of dust and smoke coming from bikes and other sources (construction, cars, etc.)

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Nasr believes that languages are a reflection of cultures, so his passion for the two is equally immense. "You'll find that languages have opinions too!" he said. "For example, topics like sex and God are taboo in Arabic. But say 'omfg' in English and no one bats an eye."

"Here's another example: time travels vertically in Mandarin from up to down. That's why in Mandarin last week is 'shangge xingqi' (up week) and next week is 'xiage xingqi' (down week). In English, however, time travels from back to front. That's why we say phrases like 'leave the past behind you' and 'I look forward to it'."

#2

In Norway, Parents Leave Their Babies Outside To Nap, Even If It's Cold

In Norway, Parents Leave Their Babies Outside To Nap, Even If It's Cold

I thought this was a normal thing everywhere until my American friends were like "what the [hell], why do you do that? That is so weird".
So we leave our babies outside when they're supposed to sleep. For example, If you're going to a restaurant, there will often be strollers outside with babies sleeping in them. It's normal in most of the Nordic countries. I just thought it was a thing everywhere. And also when they're in kindergarden and it's nap time, you'll just see a bunch of strollers outside. And no they are not cold, they are always packed in the stroller with a bunch of clothes

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engineer_nope.avi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tbh, most countries find it weird and, albeit, dangerous simply because of the sad truth about child kidnapping in these countries. This really goes to show how much trust the Nordic people put on each other without fear. It's remarkable.

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"I believe learning about other languages and cultures makes us more empathetic as people. Every culture has something cool that we can learn from, and that's what I hope to share in my videos."

Right before he came up with the idea for his now-viral TikTok, Nasr was at home for lockdown, just like all the locals in Ontario, Canada. "I was trying to brainstorm new video ideas. TikTok has a feature that allows people to 'stitch' your video so they can respond to it. So I thought it would be fun to ask basically the world 'what's something normal in your country but weird to the rest of us?' and see what kind of quote on quote weird things people in other countries do."

#4

In Slovakia, We Keep Live Fish In Our Bathtub Before Christmas

In Slovakia, We Keep Live Fish In Our Bathtub Before Christmas

You go to a store, you purchase a live fish, that you bring home in a plastic bag, and you let it live in your bathtub. Because this kind of fish, it's a karp I believe, and it live in muddy waters. And it's kinda gross, so it needs to cleanse itself in clean water before you can eat it. My family used to do this every year up until a few years ago, and every year, I named the fish Michael. So before people took a shower, we needed to put Michael in a bucket.

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The culture and language fan said the collective response to his video has been thrilling. "People 'stitched' the video from all around the world. It got attention from big Internet celebrities and even a news anchor from the US," Nasr cheered.

#5

In Ireland, If Your Friend's Mom Offers You Food, You Have To Say 'No' A Bunch Of Times While She Insists And You Finally Give In

In Ireland, If Your Friend's Mom Offers You Food, You Have To Say 'No' A Bunch Of Times While She Insists And You Finally Give In



In Ireland, we Speak English, so the way you say you say 'no' is 'no', and the way you say 'yes' is 'yes'. However, if you're in your friend's house nad your friend's mom offers you food, 'yes' is then pronounced 'ah, no sure, I'm grand'. To which she'll respond 'ah, you will'. To which you'll respond ah, no honestly'. To which she'll respond 'ah, go on you will'. To which you'll finally respond 'ah, sure, wouldn't say no'. Despite the fact, you've just said 'no' twice, and you've been secretly starving the whole time. It's a linguistic tradition, not the most time efficient, but it is what it is.

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Marcellus the Third
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

See Mrs Doyle in Father Ted: "Oh do go on, Father. Go on. Go on. Go on. Come father go on." [ad infinitum]

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#6

In Denmark If You're Not Married By The Time You Turn 25 Years Old, Then On Your Birthday You Get Tied To A Pole And Get Cinnamon Thrown At You

In Denmark If You're Not Married By The Time You Turn 25 Years Old, Then On Your Birthday You Get Tied To A Pole And Get Cinnamon Thrown At You

However, if you are still not married by the time you turn 30, it's pepper.

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Charlotte A.
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could survive the cinnamon but.... pepper? And why would everyone have to get married anyway? Anyways I hope the poles can be inside as my birthday is in winter.... o.O

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The man has learned a lot from the 'stitches' attached to his original TikTok. "In Nordic countries, it is normal for parents to leave their babies in prams outside in temperatures below zero," Nasr highlighted what has really stood out for him. "They apparently sleep longer and have overall better quality sleep."

#7

Everything In Switzerland Has To Be In Al Least 3 Languages

Everything In Switzerland Has To Be In Al Least 3 Languages


Everything has to be translated into at least 3 languages. I live in Switzerland, a small country in the center of Europe with 8.5 million population. There are 4 national languages: German, French, Italian & Rhaeto-Romance. Rhaeto-Romance is spoken by a small part of the population so it's not widely used in businesses. If you have a nation-wide business, your website needs to be translated into at least 3 languages, same with brochures, instructions, product boxes. Sometimes if large companies do a presentation, they will actually do it in 2 languages, or people will receive headphones with a live translation. In some small villages, cinemas will have 3 sets of subtitles, taking up half the screen.

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Teucer T
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Florida, government forms are available in 76 different languages... So far... Another few are already in the pipeline. The US has no official language.

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#8

In Sweden, People Cool Drinks Outside In The Snow

In Sweden, People Cool Drinks Outside In The Snow

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#9

That’s How We Greet Each Other In UAE

That’s How We Greet Each Other In UAE

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engineer_nope.avi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In France and some other countries, people kiss each others' cheeks when greeting each other so I think this is OK.

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"I learned about the practice of throat singing by @Kayuulanov who is an Inuk from Canada. I also learned that unfortunately in many parts of the world, kids smoke and drink at ages as young as 13 years old," he said, adding that it's the good and the bad but it's also the reality."

Nasr dreams that one day he will be able to travel the world, and show off different cultures first-hand, and judging by how excited he is about these things, I'd say he would do a great job as well.

#10

The Ridiculously Large Size Of American Soft Drinks

The Ridiculously Large Size Of American Soft Drinks

The sheer amount of carbonated beverages that we drink. I've never been to a country where this is a normal standard amount of sugar. Even when I was in Europe, none of the soft drinks were ever this big, this is a purely American thing. And probably for the best, because nobody needs 44oz of coke.

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#11

In Russia, We Have 2 Passports

In Russia, We Have 2 Passports

One is for internal use, which is basically an ID card for most countries. But here in Russia, we have many pages of information about our citizens, like who your children are, where are you living, and other things like that. The second passport is an international, Russian Federation passport. And not every Russian has it, you need to pay about $60 to $70 to get one. And all my visas are stored here.

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Hans
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think most countries have this information, but not in a identity document.

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#12

In Sweden, You Can Google A Lot About A Person, Like Their Address, What Car They Drive, How Much They Earn

In Sweden, You Can Google A Lot About A Person, Like Their Address, What Car They Drive, How Much They Earn

In Sweden, you can just type in the name of the person on Google. The results will come up, his full name, date of birth, where he lives, what car he drives, how much he earns, everything. It's free for everyone to just check, I think that's very unnatural

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engineer_nope.avi
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As much as this may seem convenient if you want to find somebody, I can see that this can be misused by stalkers and creepy folks if this is implemented elsewhere.

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Culture is a huge part of people's lives. It influences their views, their values, their humor, their hopes, their loyalties, it pretty much is a blueprint for their personalities. It's TikToks like this that foster building bridges between these differences rather than fighting over them.

#13

I'm From Papua New Guinea, And It's Chewing Betel Nut

I'm From Papua New Guinea, And It's Chewing Betel Nut

If you ever visited, you might be surprised to see so many people with red-stained mouths. Well, it's from chewing betel nut. It's a social practice that every Papua New Guinean does. From the elders to the young ones. And there are 2 ways to chew betel nut. You can just crack open the green nut and chew the flesh regularly, or you can dip the dake, which is the green stem, into the kambang, which is a white powder, to produce a red paste in your mouth. And basically, this is a drug, it's a stimulant, it's like coffee, it gives you a burst of energy, people usually chew this in the mornings.

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#14

In Argentina, When You Graduate University Your Friends And Family Attack You With Food And Paint

In Argentina, When You Graduate University Your Friends And Family Attack You With Food And Paint

In Argentina, when you graduate university your friends and family attack you with eggs, flour, contiments, oil, food in general, paint, foam, anything. And they just drench you in head to toe as a celebration. The way it works is you let everyone know when your final exam is, and if you pass, you change into comfy clothes and everyone gathers around you and throws stuff at you. In the past few years it has changed from food to paint, foam, confetti, as to not waste food, but a lot of people still do the food thing. So you go with a carton of eggs and just whack them at the person who graduated.

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#15

In Brasil, We Are Very Obsesive About Oral Hygene

In Brasil, We Are Very Obsesive About Oral Hygene

It's very common to see a Brazilian brushing their teeth or flossing in a public bathroom or workplace bathroom. We also take multiple showers a day, usually 2 or 3 showers. And we eat pizza with a fork and a knife, I don't really know of any other country that does this, I'm sure there are, but we eat pizzas with a fork and a knife.

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#16

Toilet Bidet Sprayer In Iran

Toilet Bidet Sprayer In Iran

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Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, it saves space over a bidget. I think the context here is that, as far as I know, wiping the butt is considered nasty in arabian countries, to a point where people do it with the left hand only because they shake hands with the right one.

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#17

Swedish Cheese Slicer

Swedish Cheese Slicer

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Zoe
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep England has them. Isn't it just a regular piece of kitchen equipment?

I want cake
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe it's regional ? Even a few years ago a lot of Brits who came into the Dutch cheese shop where I worked had no idea what it was or how to use it.

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N G
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in the UK and have one of those in my kitchen. My parents had one in the 80s too - pre-Ikea. I had no idea it was Nordic

S. Tor Storm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should say NORWEGIAN come on!! where credit is due and all that!

Doggo Froggo
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know quite a few British people who have those - they are incredible! So much easier than using a knife.

Karin Gibson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have that slicer in the U.K. too. There is one in my kitchen drawer.

Daphne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wiki says that in 1925 a Norwegian woodworker by the name of Thor (cool name) Bjørklund invented it. Brilliant!

Marika Miettinen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have these in Finland as well. Don't all countries have something like this?! How the hell do you slice cheese for sandwiches without one?

Lily Mae Kitty
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

wait, these aren't universal?? we've had them in the US at least since my childhood.

Dónal Ó Murchadha
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you have a 4 sided cheese grater there is usually 3 slots on one side, that side is for slices. I'm Irish and my folks had one for 40 years

Thindy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The tower grater! When I was a kid that was one of my chores to grate cheese or veg and not grate my fingers along with it.

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Barrie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Available in UK and Spain though not a stallwart of every kitchen.

The 1and Only
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am Slovenian (a small country between Croatia and Italy) and we use them quite often

banana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never used one of those and none of my American friends have them. I didn't know it existed until I saw this, so I'm surprised people say it's common in the US.

Fixin'Ta
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Norwegian in-laws introduced me to the cheese plane, and my husband and I now have 3, one with a serrated edge for cutting the kind of cheese that you don't plane into thin bits.

David Retsler
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have two in my kitchen in the USA. But only because my wife got tired of the "cut the cheese" comments. Now I can only "slice the cheese."

Hehehehehehehehe (ve/ver)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a Norwegian cheese slicer. Looks exactly like that. I still can't cut cheese correctly without it

Giles McArdell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We do have these in the UK (also often found on the side of a cheese grater). Also I have heard them referred to as a Cheese Plane.

Dark Pearl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We should have these in the UK. But we don't. Because we are IDIOTS who can barely throw together a decent government.

Johan 123
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's an norwegian invention, don't try to steal it you damn swede

Petra Schaap
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Belgian cheese loving boyfriend never saw one untill he first had breakfast at my moms house (im Dutch) he still doesnt know how to use it :-D

Ramen
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

we use cheese graders which i think would be more useful cuz they have more ways to cut the cheese (edit: i just realised what i said but imma leave it)

Memere
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've used one of those, we've had them in the U.S. for decades.

Lydia Juerss
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perhaps its more a useage thing - nearly everyone had one in their kitchen draws in the 70's in the UK but I think I only ever saw one used once (definately my mum, nan and aunties)

Lord Ponsonby
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In England we use a spoon that is cut into three prongs, we call it a fork and it's great for picking food off your plate. Crazy eh?

A Head
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live in the US and have two. My kids use them every time they have cheese as a snack.

The Deez
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have one of these, for some reason - I don't remember buying it, actually... ANYWAY, about a week ago, I realized that I needed to peel some carrots but had forgotten to replace my vegetable peeler that had broken. Pulled this thing out of the drawer and it worked really well on the carrots!

Hans Olav Kongsvik
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's actually Norwegian, not swedish. Invented by a guy called Thor Borklund, he had it copy-righted in 1925.

TakingThePee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother still has her English one from the 1970's, how the hell is it Swedish?

Carol Tuthill-Lewis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen this before, I am a 64 year old American and have always had one in my kitchen as most I know.

Indigo Hue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Waaaaaiiittt....I have one of these!! That is what that is for?? :O

DanieLegz
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3 years ago

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Aahzmandus Pervect
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope, those look a bit different. But I bet it would be fun watching you try to peel a potato with this cheese slicer.

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Computernaut
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are great. I don't know why they haven't just become ubiquitous everywhere. Slicing cheese with a knife is a nightmare.

Metric Jester
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dutch descendant in Canada here, we have more than one of these in the house.

Joonas Meriläinen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is already a third Swedish thing on the list which is pretty common. They just like to think they are somehow special. Why don't you put the fact that you can't buy alcohol over 3.5% in a shop to the list?

Hufflepuff
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is one of these in my kitchen, and I have never seen my mom or dad use it, so I never knew what it was for. Now I know!

Lucia B...
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Slovak here, we've got this at home for years. We don't use it that much, though.

DogMom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have several in my Canadian home but I married a Swede

Joan Harburn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm in Canada and for at least 30 years I've always had one of these in my kitchen drawer. Love it!

Antonia Ferrier
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a cheese slicer and I'm not Swedish ... I'm Trinidadian. But yeah, most people are like why? Just use a knife! lol.

Jonathan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember we got our first cheese slicer in the early 90s, kitchen drawer necessity ever since (UK)

Mia Hamsa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe this is either a Norwegian or a Swedish invention.. for the sake of the discussion, let's say Scandinavian and it became popular around the world as IKEA spread around the world. My parents use to buy them as presents in Sweden for friends and family who clamored for them outside Sweden in the 70's. Still have my dad's one that he bought in early 70's, birch handle with stainless steel cutter.

Lubica Acker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen a similar thing sold by Scholl for your feet. Not the same thing, but very similar. s-l1600-60...292f2d.jpg s-l1600-6022737292f2d.jpg

Andrea Kriegl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This needs an explanation! This is a cheese slicer for hard cheese. So the piece your slice can rest on the ‘blade’ and not break of fall apart. The one for soft cheese has a shorter ‘blade’. We sell these in the Netherlands in every shop.

D. Pitbull
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have seen this regularly - did not know it was Swedish. This thing is awesome. Thank you Sweden!!!

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