It's a Wacky World Out There

Do you know what Karaoke business meetings are?

Would you like your new born to be spat on by someone?

And, how about cutting off your fingers as a part of a ritual?

Bizarre… isn't it? These rituals may be common for some, yet they appear completely bizarre to many when observed from a distance. When you start digging into the traditions and practices of different communities throughout the world, it becomes even more intriguing and perplexing. Because the universe is a mystery, earthly humans are likewise said to be perplexed - beings that are difficult to comprehend. This post will look at a selected few. While some occurred in the distant past, others continue to occur now, even if they are not practiced as rigorously as they once were. However, if you read through, you might gain some understanding into why they were/are being done. So, let's get going.

Ftou Ftou (Greece)

Spitting for good luck isn't as absurd as it may appear. Usually this happens with babies, where people make the spitting sound to protect them from harm. The spitting sound “ftou ftou ftou” is also a typical occurrence at Greek weddings today, and while it may appear unusual at first, there's a good explanation behind it. In Greek, “ftou ftou” means “worthy of jealousy”, hence giving you a negative (the spitting gesture) protects you from envy and the evil eye.

Drinking Bat Blood (Bolivia)

Bats are readily available for purchase in Bolivian markets. Bolivians have a strong cultural belief in traditional medicine, which includes animal sacrifices and herbal cures. Those who buy them do so to drink fresh bat blood, which is said to treat epilepsy, among other problems. The practice is entrenched in tradition, and the origins of bat blood's purported powers are unknown. So, it is difficult to establish or disprove the theory that bat blood can help heal epilepsy patients. Despite the fact that hunting bats is prohibited, the freedom to perform traditional medicine is protected by the law. There have been no arrests related to bat killing or trading so far.

The Crying Ritual (China)

The Chinese tradition calls for the bride to cry for an hour on purpose each day for a month before her wedding. The mother of the bride will join in after one week, the grandmother after two weeks, and finally the bride's sisters after three weeks. The custom represents tremendous joy in anticipation of the forthcoming wedding. A tearful wedding song must also be sung on the wedding day, and the bride will be graded on how well she sings it.

Karaoke Business Meetings (South Korea)

Prepare to sing if you ever do business in South Korea! Companies in Korea support corporate entertainment, which tends to favour hard core boozing and even the country's sex trade. Karaoke is a popular after-dinner activity. You must be able to manage alcohol properly, as drinking less than your South Korean hosts is considered impolite. You should also refrain from leaving the pub earlier than necessary, possibly to continue working in your hotel room. You should declare medical reasons if you do not want to drink alcohol. However, refusing to sing karaoke is not an option. South Korean civic groups and a few MPs have long advocated for business to be cleaned up and made more welcoming to women and foreigners. Hence, this practice is now banned.

Finger Cutting Ritual (Indonesia)

When a person dies, it is not detrimental to him, but it is extremely agonising for his loved ones. To show their respects to the departed, people engage in a variety of funeral rites and ceremonies. There are, however, a number of distinct traditions to choose from and study thoroughly. The Dani tribe of Indonesia has a unique style of mourning the death of a loved one. Grieving is particularly traumatic for women of this tribe, both mentally and physically, because, as a part of this ritual, they have to cut their fingers and apply ashes and clay on their faces. The obligation for amputating the upper part of the fingers would fall to the brother or a parent. Once done, the severed finger is burnt and buried in designated locations. They believe this as a means of satisfying their ancestral ghosts. Women with stumped fingers are typical in their society, but seeing them working with those severed fingers would be as painful to someone from outside. Thankfully, this ritual is now rarely practiced.

Dear readers, what are your thoughts on them, and have you ever encountered or heard about similar customs? Please share your thoughts with me in the comments box below.