T’aarof is a custom followed by the Persians and the Iranians, andis a form of civility highlighting deference and social rank. Do you know: While T’aarof exists as a form of social behaviour, it appears less when the two parties share a close relationship. There are various types and styles of negotiations that are prevalent […]
The Masai tribe of Kenya is known for its bright colourful attire and stretched earlobes. Do you know: Stretching the earlobe in the Masai customs is a sign of wisdom. The Masaitribe, particularly the women, pierce their ears with a knife or twig. After the piercing, they usually use animal bone or an elephant’s tusk
Common name : Gibbon Scientific name : Symphalangus syndactylus Family : Hylobatidae Native to : The forests of Malaysia, Thailand and Sumatra Interesting fact : It has a throat sac (also called a gular sac) which it can inflate as large as its head. This sac makes its calls louder! Conservation status : Endangered The
The Sati Custom is a banned Hindu custom that was widespread in India. Do you know: While the name Sati itself may have religious origins, the practice may have originated from Scythian invaders in India. Known to have social origins, this custom was long prevalent amongst various Hindu sects. The custom called for the wife
Common name : Savannah stalker, Bush cat, Giraffe cat Scientific name : Leptailurus serval Family : Felidae Native to : Africa Interesting fact : It is the fastest running cat. Conservation status : Least Concern It is a medium-sized carnivorous African wild cat. The serval is spotted black on a tawny fur, with two or
The Giraffe Women are of the Kayan tribe, native to Myanmar. Do you know: The coils around a woman’s neck do not actually elongate her neck itself. The Giraffe women along with their tribe are economic refugees in Thailand. These women wear coils weighing 25 pounds that compress their chests and shoulders, giving them the
Scientific name : Felis catus x Leptailurus serval Family : Felidae Interesting fact : It is a cross between a serval and a domestic cat. The Savannah is a medium-sized hybrid cat breed. Savannahs have deeply cupped, wide, rounded, erect ears, fat, puffy noses, and hooded eyes with a black marking that runs from the
Skull Binding was an ancient custom that predates written history and was present amongst various tribes irrespective of the geographic diversity. Do you know: While this practice is largely extinct now, it is still practised in a few places, like Vanuatu. The earliest examples of cranial deformation date back, to the ninth millennium BC. Newborn
Teeth Chiselling is considered an enhancement of one’s beauty in certain tribes of Indonesia. Do you know: Only the women are subject to this custom so as to help them balance their souls with their bodies and also enhance their appearance. Various tribes in Indonesia, including the Mantawaian tribe, believe that women must undergo a
The Masai tribe from Kenya and Tanzania has numerous Spitting Customs. Do you know: For a Masai, spitting into his hand before offering it fora handshake to an elder is a sign of respect. For the Masais, many of their customs revolve around spitting. However, this is not any ordinary spitting. When the Masais greet
The Ainu tribe, which reside in the parts of Russia and Japan, practises the Iyomante Ritual. Do you know: This ritual, which involves killing a bear as it hibernates in its cave, evolved from the fact that they worshipped Nature. The Ainu tribe believes that by killing the bear, they send its soul to heaven
There are a number of pregnancy customs that are a part of Chinese tradition. Do you know: The Chinese believe that to ward off evil spirits knives are to be placed under the bed of the pregnant lady as she sleeps. Pregnancy in the Chinese culture has many customs surrounding it. Some of them include,
Common name : Sunda sambar Scientific name : Rusa unicolor Family : Cervidae Native to : Indian sub-continent, Southern China and South-East Asia Interesting fact : The male’s antlers are almost 43 inches high! Conservation status : Vulnerable The appearance and the size of a sambar vary widely across its range. They have hairy coats
The Torajan are an ethnic group, practising unique burial rituals living in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Do you know: The Torajan create an effigy of the departed and place it in the mouth of the cave where the deceased is placed, looking outward. For the Torajan people, funerals are an important aspect of their life. Until
In India, amongst the Hindus the Aghoris are a sect that practise cannibalism. Do you know: For the Aghoris, their temple and place of stay are cremation grounds. The Aghoris believe in Lord Shiva. Their belief is that Lord Shiva created everything; hence nothing is taboo–not meat, not alcohol, not even drugs. This sect resides