The unusual customs of the world

The unusual customs of the world

Lobbing tomatoes at fellow visitors… water fights with the locals… gorging on haggis, tatties and neeps and listening to poetry… some of the world’s most beloved travel experiences sound wacky and weird to outsiders – that’s the joy of global travel though, isn’t it, throwing ourselves into a culture and customs so very different from our own?

Many of us know about Spain’s La Tomatina (the tomato-flinging fest), Songkran in Thailand (the wild water fight), and the UK’s very own Burns Night in bonny Scotland; these long-observed customs have crept into the social calendar and are now well-attended festivals.
There are plenty of little-known customs, however, that are still certain to raise an eyebrow. From everyday traditions said to bring luck, to curious customs that welcome visitors, the world is home to millions of marvellous – and quite peculiar – traditions.
Grab your camera, pack your sense of adventure, bring an open mind, and let’s journey through some of the world’s most unusual customs, writes Jeanette Parkin.

1. 
   Welcome to Fiji – drink this!
   

Welcome to the strange world of traditions aimed at arriving guests. In the Pacific Ocean paradise of Fiji, where palm trees crown islands ringed with white sands, islanders ply newcomers with kava.

Made by squeezing the juices from a local root, the concoction tastes as muddy as it looks. Served in a bucket or wooden bowl, kava is eagerly lapped up by locals as well as many visitors who get a taste for the strange earthy cocktail.
It will numb your tongue (perhaps even your face), make your gums feel fuzzy and probably send you off to sleep. It’s also rude to refuse it.