The Dos and Don'ts for the

USA

The United states is an extremely

diverse, multicultural society. As
such, all of the following rules will
change depending on the location,
setting, and people involved.

Not looking someone directly in the

eye when speaking can be seen as
evasive; this is in contrast to much of
the rest of the world, where looking
someone directly in the eye may be
rude.

Not leaving an appropriate tip or

gratuity at a restaurant (typically 10
20% of the bill) will make any dinner
guests at your table feel extremely
uncomfortable. In the U.S., tips
represent a large portion of a waiter's
income and your guests may feel
embarrassed if the tip was considered
too small. Ten percent can be
considered a rebuke to the waiter,
15% is considered an average tip, and
20% is typically given for satisfactory
to excellent service. Tips higher than
20% can be considered ostentatious
by dining companions (though
undoubtedly appreciated by the wait
staff).

Tipping is also customary for taxi

drivers, barbers and hair stylists, for
those who deliver food to your home
or office, for casual handymen
(neighbor teens who cut the lawn,
and the like) and some others.
Tipping for food deliver usually is two
to five dollars (as opposed to being a

percentage of the food cost).

It is considered impolite to ask people

how much money they earn. It is not
considered rude to ask someone what
he or she does for a living.

It is considered impolite not to cover

your mouth and nose when sneezing
or coughing. When someone else
sneezes, it is customary to say "Bless
you." (The German word for health,
"Gesundheit", is also generally
acceptable.) If someone says "Bless
you" to you, it is customary to reply
with "Thank you."

At an initial introduction, it is
considered awkward to ask someone
if they are married or have a
boyfriend or girlfriend.

At an initial introduction, it is
considered awkward to ask someone
their political views.

It is considered impolite to ask a

woman how old she is or inquire
about her weight.

Strangers in America interact with

one another generally in a friendly,
informal way. This varies from region
to region. In the South, for example,
greetings such as hugging and
patting on the back are considered
friendly. However, in the Northeast,
interaction tends to be more reserved
and such greetings are seen as
overbearing. Many foreigners who
travel to America thus unjustly find
Americans superficial. Although
Americans treat one another in a very
friendly way, they nevertheless

understand and maintain the limits of

their relationships and the distinction
between acquaintances and friends.
Conversely, foreigners who cannot
interact with Americans in a relaxed,
casual manner, may be perceived as
awkward, aloof, rude, or even
arrogant.

It is considered a rude violation of

personal space to stand within an
arm's length of another person,
unless you are very close friends. In
crowded situations it is tolerated, but
makes some Americans uneasy.

Profane words are not allowed on

broadcast television or radio, and
generally are seen as lower class to
use in common discussion, but many
people use them regularly in familiar
discussion.

Emitting any odor or smell, whether

due to lack of hygiene, diet, or
applied perfumes, is considered a
violation of others' personal space.
Only in close personal proximity is the
detection of perfume or cologne
tolerated.

Getting the attention of waiters,

servers or store workers with
gestures or by snapping fingers, is
considered offensive. It is better to
move toward a sales clerk and say
something along the lines of "Excuse
me . . ." In a restaurant, simply
making eye contact with the waiter,
or eye contact with a slight smile and
nod should be enough to signal your
need - in crowded situations, eye
contact and raising the hand casually
about shoulder high with index finger

extended up is fine.

Calling a Southern person a "Yankee"

will be taken as an insult. Baseball
fans in the Boston area may also find
the term offensive due to the intense
rivalry between the Boston Red Sox
and New York Yankees baseball
teams. This rule doesn't seem to
apply to the British, however, to
whom all Americans are "Yanks".

In most business settings, physical

contact should be limited to a
handshake at the beginning and end
of the meeting.

When giving a handshake, the corner

of your hand between the thumb and
first finger should be met firmly with
the other person to avoid an
uncomfortable weak handshake.

It is considered polite to bring

something for the host or group when
invited to a dinner in someone's
home. A bottle of wine is very typical.
Bringing a dessert is not uncommon,
but only after checking with the hosts
(to ensure they haven't gone through
the trouble of making dessert
themselves).

It is considered impolite to give cash

as a gift, except to close family
members. A few exceptions include
graduations, bar mitzvahs, and bat
mitzvahs. Weddings can also
appropriate situations for cash gifts
to people who are closer than
acquaintances. Gift Certificates are
generally considered appropriate in
all gift giving situations.

It is usually impolite to refer to how

someone looks at all-mentioning
someone's weight is very impolite.
Complimenting someone on lost
weight can be acceptable if remarked
upon honestly.

References to someone's ethnic or

racial identity are inappropriate
unless the subject is broached
generally.

It is generally considered impolite to

begin eating one's dinner before all
seated have been served. If one's
food hasn't arrived and is likely to
take a long time (or already has taken
a long time), it is appropriate for that
person to invite the others to begin
eating.

One must address those significantly

older than them as Mr., "Sir", Mrs.,
"Ma'am", "Madam", Ms. or Miss. For
example, it would be rude to address
a friend's parent by their first name
unless he has invited you to do so.
Conversely, addressing someone near
to your own age group by title is
usually considered stand-offish unless
it is in a professional setting.

Scatological, bodily function and

sexual topics are considered off limits
except to close friends. Americans
have a cultural history of
conservative behavior, and jokes
about these subjects is uncomfortable
and rude. Full or upper body nudity is
forbidden for females, but males may
remove shirts in instances of hard
work or extreme heat. Nursing
mothers are allowed in public, but it
does make some men uncomfortable.

Males are uncomfortable with small

clothes on the lower half of the body
of men, but sexually mature women
are encouraged to wear revealing
bathing suits in a beach or pool
setting before middle age.

Many Americans embrace informality

and would consider taking faux pas
too seriously a sign of snobbery. In
general one must judge the situation
and respond accordingly (This is most
likely true for most countries placed
on this list). Giving reference to a list
of this type, and to how people
"should" act to an American can cause
a response of mild amusement to mild
offense depending on the person you
are speaking with. A plain T-Shirt and
jeans is acceptable dress in almost all
public context.

AFRICA
Ghana

When greeting people in a home, it is

considered improper if the guest
ignores any person present. Guests
are expected to acknowledge and
greet every person at a social
occasion, including children and
babies, by shaking hands. When
shaking hands, it is appropriate for
the guest to first greet the person on
his/her right-hand side and work their
way left. This ensures that the guest's
palm makes contact with the palm of
the person receiving the handshake -

touching the back of the hand instead

of the palm is considered insulting.
Guests are expected to begin by
greeting the most elderly person
present. The same ritual is expected
to be observed upon leaving as well
as arriving.

In Ghana, asking a person to a social

event (e.g. a bar or restaurant)
implies that the person offering the
invite will be paying for everything.
Inviting a person out and then
expecting them to pay for their own
drinks, etc is considered extremely
rude.

South Africa

It is the custom to look someone in

the eye whenever touching glasses
for a toast. Varying superstitious
results can follow should you not do
so.

Conversely, it is considered rude and

inappropriate in many of South
Africa's cultures to look an elder or a
superior in the eye when one is being
spoken to. Humility and tradition
dictate that one should cast one's
eyes downwards in such a situation.
This can easily be misinterpreted as a
sign of inattention or indifference,
when it actually indicates great
deference and respect.

ARAB COUNTRIES

Throughout most of the Middle East

the left hand is reserved for bodily
hygiene and considered unclean.
Thus, the right hand should be used
for eating. Shaking hands with one's
left hand is considered an insult.

Public displays of women are frowned

upon.

Displaying the soles of one's feet or

touching somebody with one's shoes
is considered rude.

In Iraq, the "Thumbs Up" gesture is

considered an offensive insult.

In some Arab cultures, it is considered

disrespectful to not stand when
speaking to elders or when they enter
a room. Similarly it is expected that
elders will be the first to be greeted
and served in social gatherings.

Entering the living room with shoes

on is considered rude.

In some Middle Eastern countries it is

considered rude for an individual to
step away when another individual is
stepping closer.

In most Arab countries, it is

considered polite and a sign of
friendship to hold hands when
walking. This does not have the
romantic connotations it does in the
West.

Bringing all five fingers together with

the fingers pointing upwards is a sign
meaning - slow down, give me five
minutes. It should not be mistaken for

a fist and a show of threat.

In Morocco, after shaking hands the

right hand is commonly placed
against the heart - a sign of
friendship. In other settings when a
handshake is not possible - such as
across the street, or when one's hand
is dirty - the right hand placed over
the heart can substitute for the
absent handshake.

It is not uncommon to be invited to

lunch or dine by somebody you are
meeting for the very first time; it is
best not to decline if you cannot
accept the invitation, but rather
postpone, adding "inch'Allah" (if God
wills it) to your offer of a raincheck.

Hosts will often feed guests until

literal exhaustion - and still offer
more. Westerners, who usually see
insistence after their refusal as a sign
of rudeness, should leave this
mentality at the doorstep, and
instead refuse with good humour;
perhaps see it as a game, a battle of
wills. It may be adviseable to slow the
pace of consumption so that when
offered more, you can accept the first
few times, then finally decline.

South and East Asia

Confusing or thoughtlessly
considering groups of very distinct
Asian peoples (eg: Japanese, Chinese,
Koreans etc) as "all the same" is
considered rude and impolite.

It is common in many Asian countries

that the person cooking a meal will
say that there was something wrong
with it ("Oh, it was too salty.") You are
expected to disagree ("No, no, it was
incredible!")

Breaking commitments, especially

social commitments, is a major faux
pas. Asians are bound by duty to their
families. Tearing an Asian away from
an arranged commitment, especially
with their families, is considered rude.

Bangladesh

While it is acceptable for men to

shake hands in greetings, women are
only permitted to nod.

Eating should be done with only the

right hand.

The American thumbs up gesture is

considered obscene.

China, Taiwan
Faux pas derived from Mandarin
pronunciation
The following faux pas are derived from
Mandarin pronunciations (with Hanyu
Pinyin noted), so they may also apply in
other Chinese-speaking areas:

Giving someone a timepiece, such as

a clock or a watch, as a gift is a very
unlucky faux pas. Traditional
superstitions regard this as counting
the seconds to the recipient's death.
Another common interpretation of
this is that the phrase "to gift a clock"
(Traditional Chinese: , Simplified

Chinese: ) in Chinese is
pronounced "sng zhng" in
Mandarin, which is a homophone of a
phrase for "terminating" or "attending
a funeral" (both can be written as
(traditional) or (simplified)).
Cantonese people consider such a gift
as a curse.

Giving someone a fan or an umbrella

as a gift is frequently unfriendly. The
words fan "shn" () and umbrella
"sn" (Traditional Chinese: ,
Simplified Chinese: ) sounds like the
word "sn" (), meaning scatter or to
lose. "sn ki" (Traditional Chinese:
, Simplified Chinese: ) means to
split up.

Giving someone a knife as a gift is a

faux pas, indicating that you mean
them harm or you wish to kill them.
Giving them even numbers of knives
DOES NOT negate them.

As a book (Traditional Chinese: ,

Simplified Chinese: , pinyin: sh) is
a Mandarin homophone of a loss
(Traditional Chinese: , Simplified
Chinese: , pinyin: sh), carrying or
reading (looking at) a book
(Traditional Chinese: , ,
Simplified Chinese: , , pinyin:
di sh, kn sh) when betting, such
as gambling or investing in stocks,
may be considered an unlucky faux
pas while being homophones of
carrying or looking at a loss
(Traditional Chinese: , ,
Simplified Chinese: , , pinyin:
di sh, kn sh). This unlucky faux
pas does not apply to carrying or
reading newspapers (Traditional
Chinese: , , Simplified Chinese:

, , pinyin: dibo, knbo) as

newspapers (Traditional Chinese: ,
Simplified Chinese: , pinyin:
bozh) are not books.

Traditionally, the bride gives her

parents a fan, symbolizing that she is
leaving them for her husband.
(Chinese society is traditionally
patrilocal.) [16]

Sharing a pear with your loved ones is

unlucky. "Sharing a pear" () is a
homophone of "separate" (Traditional
Chinese: , Simplified Chinese:
), both pronounced "fnl" in
Mandarin. Sharing with distant
friends is okay.

When eating at a reunion dinner on

the eve of the Chinese New Year,
eating fish completely is widely
considered an unlucky faux pas. See
Reunion dinner for the reason why
partially-eaten fish is customarily
stored overnight.

Other faux pas

It is considered polite to decline a gift

when it is first offered and the giver is
expected to offer it multiple times.
Also the gifts are generally not
opened in the giver's presence.

Giving a married man green-colored

head wear as a gift is unfriendly. The
Chinese saying "wearing a green hat"
(Traditional Chinese: , Simplified
Chinese: , Pinyin: di lmo)
means that someone's wife is
unfaithful. The gift would be an insult
to the couple.

At a dinner table, always serve the

oldest person at the table first. If you
do not know their age, serve the
guest first. It is very important to
show respect to the elders.

Sticking your chopsticks into your rice

and leave them standing there is a
very unlucky faux pas. This looks like
sticks of incense in a bowl used to
honor dead ancestors, and such a
symbol of death is extremely
offensive at the dinner table. In
Cantonese funeral tradition, a pair of
chopsticks is used to stick a saltpreserved duck egg into a bowl of rice
on the altar as an offering to the
deceased.

Attending a Cantonese wedding while

you are still in mourning for a death in
the family is unlucky. It is believed to
bring bad luck to the marrying couple.

Tapping ones chopsticks against the

side of a bowl imitates the gesture of
beggars on the street, and is
considered a sign of extreme hunger
or impatience, similar to banging fork
and knife on the table.

Giving white flowers is considered

unlucky, as they evoke the ritual of
white flowers at a funeral.

It is considered impolite for a person

to pour their own drink. Generally an
individual will offer to pour a
companion's drink and the
companion, in return will pour the
individual's drink.

It is considered bad luck for a

pregnant woman to attend a funeral.

India

It is advisable for men and women to

avoid wearing revealing clothes in
public. For women, bikinis, short
skirts, and dresses with exposed
shoulders are frowned upon. Shorts
should be avoided by both genders, if
possible. A plain white sari / dress
should be avoided by women as it is
the traditional wear of a widow in
mourning.

Entering the "pooja" room of a house

(where the altar of the gods is placed)
with shoes on is considered impolite
in Hindu culture.

In most Hindu homes, shoes are not

permitted beyond the foyer. Keeping
with Hindu norms of hospitality, the
hosts will never object if you do walk
in with shoes (especially foreigners).
Though it is appreciated if the guests
do take their shoes off before
entering. If it is a traditional floor-sitdown dinner, then the shoes most
definitely must come off.

If you accidentally touch someone

with your feet or if the feet come in
contact with some objects of respect
like coins, currency, books, paper etc,
you are expected to apologize. The
accepted norm of apologizing for this
is touching the object / person with
your right hand and placing the hand
on one's forehead. The body is
considered sacred and touching with
the feet is considered an act of
disrespect.

While dining in an Hindu household,

food will be offered multiple times.
These are generally second and third
"rounds" and it is fine to decline
them.

Guests are generally offered food or

drink depending on the season and
the time of visit. Meal times will
usually result in an invitation to the
meal. It is acceptable to decline the
offer if you are not staying for a long
time. Otherwise, you might be
delaying the host's meal.

Other than meal times, it is perfectly

acceptable to decline or accept what
is being offered. Like in many other
countries, asking for coffee
(especially in south India) or tea will
be polite. If the day is too hot, you
could ask for water.

It is considered immature and hoggish

to open a gift in front of the person
who has given it. This is in stark
contrast to many Western cultures.
Gifts are opened in private.

As in many other countries, India with

all its varied languages has three
versions of you (polite, friendly and
informal forms, see T-V distinction) in
every language - not using them
appropriately can be a cause of lot of
disapproving frowns.

Accepting goods or making payments

with the left hand (the left hand is
considered unfit and dirty) is
considered impolite. The right hand
should always be used. However,
using both hands together is a sign of

respect.

While giving someone a gift, it is

polite to remove the price tag. It is
considered inappropriate to indicate
the value of your gifts.

Often, calling someone older than you

by their first name can be offensive.
Either avoid using the name during
conversation or use Mr./Ms./Mrs.
<Last name>. You can also address
them generically as 'Uncle' (for men)
or 'Aunty' (for women).

It is considered condescending or
patronizing to place the hands on the
shoulders of an older person,
especially someone from an older
generation, unless the latter is a close
friend.

It is customary to stand up when an

older person enters the room. It is
also impolite to sit on a chair / sofa if
the elder person is sitting on the floor
/ carpet. This does not happen
nowadays since most places you visit
will have sofas or chairs.

Many men / women in South Asia

avoid shaking hands with individuals
of the opposite gender. When meeting
a person of the opposite gender, it is
prudent to verbally greet and then
wait to see if the other person
extends the hand first.

India has had a complicated history

with its neighbors (Pakistan,
Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka),
and confusing an Indian with any of
these is seriously offensive. This rule

extends especially to Westerners.

For a man to comment to another

person about the appearance of the
latter's adult female relative (wife,
sister, daughter, etc) is considered
inappropriate behavior. However, it is
acceptable for a woman to do so.

Eating should be done with only the

right hand.

In India, asking a person to a social

event (e.g. a bar or restaurant)
implies that the person offering the
invite will be paying for everything.
Inviting a person out and then
expecting them to pay for their own
drinks, etc is considered extremely
rude.

In India, birthdays are celebrated by

the host giving a party. People who
attend the party are not required to
spend money on the host.

Japan
Main article: Customs and etiquette of
Japan

Business cards should be accepted

with both hands as a sign of
deference.

In Japanese culture it is considered

polite to decline a gift when it is first
offered and the giver is expected to
offer it multiple times. Also the gifts
are generally not opened in the
giver's presence.

In greeting or thanking another

person, it may be a little insulting if

someone does not bow lower than the

other person when the other person is
older or has a higher social status.

Guests entering a Japanese home are

expected to remove their shoes in the
foyer and have socks or stockings in
good condition.

Holding anything with chopsticks by

two people at the same time, or
passing an item from chopsticks to
chopsticks is considered very
impolite, as it will remind bystanders
of the Japanese funeral ritual. Sticking
them into food (and especially rice) so
that they stand straight up has similar
connotations.

It is considered impolite for a person

to pour their own drink. Generally an
individual will offer to pour a
companion's drink and the
companion, in return will pour the
individual's drink.

Blowing the nose in public (also, the

Japanese do not use their
handkerchief for hanakuso, literally
'nose shit') (However, if you find that
you must, you must.)

Not using polite language and

honorifics when speaking with
someone having a higher social
status. (Though most Japanese are
very lenient with Westerners in this
regard.)

Expressing outward anger, annoyance

and losing one's temper causes them
to lose face in Japanese culture.
(Much like Western culture--what is
your opinion of the man screaming at

the customer service desk?)

Not sending a New Year's postcard to

someone who sent you one.

Sending a New Year's postcard to

someone who suffered a death in the
family during the past year.

Tipping is considered rude and is

never done in Japan. However, gifts of
cash at holidays (for example,
otoshidama for New Year's Day) are
considered acceptable, unlike in many
Western countries.

Philippines

It is impolite to refuse an offer of

hospitality if you are a guest in
someone's home. Take it as a great
compliment if they offer a room from
one of the members of the household.

When you are attending a funeral,

avoid wearing any loud color,
especially red. It is considered rude if
you wear a red shirt at a funeral.
Black, white, greys, muted and earth
tones are proper colors for funeral
attire. Money, flowers or prayer cards
are acceptable gifts.

Cupping your chin with your hands at

the dinner table is considered rude.

It is usually the birthday celebrant

who treats everyone for his/her
birthday. If you know that you are
invited by the celebrant to a birthday
celebration at a restaurant, do not
assume that you are buying the
celebrant dinner (unless you are
offering to pay for everyone's meal, as

a gift), unless specified. Bring a gift

instead.

Gift giving is important to an

occasion. Coming to a party empty
handed is considered rude. If you
can't get a gift on short notice, buy
something for the party instead (and
that is why you will often see 3
birthday cakes at a birthday party).

Most Filipinos are fluent in English,

and most insults and gestures
translate pretty well, even the snide,
sarcastic insults. The language is also
Spanish-based, so do not try to pass
off Spanish insults as well.

Traditionally, it is rude to try to ask

someone out on a date at a public
place. Women usually don't ask men
out on dates.

Gentlemen rules: you always give

your seat to the handicap, pregnant
women, elderly, and women in
general. If you are a woman, don't
bother getting up to give up your
seat, someone else will offer you their
seat eventually.

As for introductions, introduce the

senior to the junior first. Introduce
the man to the woman. Introduce the
group to an individual (because the
individual is not expected to
remember all the names at first
introduction).

Always acknowledge the presence of

the elder in the room first, by shaking
their hand or if you are many years
younger, ask for their hand ("Mano")
and bring it to your forehead. (Not to

be confused with the custom of

hand/ring kissing. There are no kisses
involved with this gesture.) There are
no rules for "clean" "unclean" hands.

In restaurants, condiment use is

acceptable. The waiter usually only
comes several times to take your
order, refill your drink and bring your
check. Most will not ask you if you
need anything else, you will have to
"summon" the waiter if you do. It is
rude to yell "Waiter!". Your waiter will
be watching your table from the
service area. Make eye contact if you
want something. You may ask for your
check without asking for the waiter by
drawing a small box in the air after
making eye contact with the waiter.

If someone is buying you a meal, the

invitee orders first. The invited should
order items equal to or below the cost
of the invitee's meal.

Hide if you want some alone time.

Refusing to socialize with anyone,
especially if invited, could be
considered offensive.

Children under your care are expected

to avoid interjecting or "butting in"
adult conversations. You are expected
to apologize for any distraction or
unruly behavior on your child's behalf
and take appropriate measures.
Usually, this means you will have to
extract yourself from the conversation
and bring your child outside for a
talking to.

As much as Filipinos like to bash their

own country, it is considered rude if
you join in to criticize the

surroundings, especially if you are a

foreigner. You are a guest, and it is
offensive if you are not happy.

South Korea

Wiping or blowing your nose in a

restaurant, even if the food is spicy, is
considered mildly offensive. It is
expected that you should take a trip
to the toilet if you need to do this.

In Korean cultures, it is considered

disrespectful to not stand when
speaking to your elders or when they
enter a room. Similarly it is expected
that elders will be the first to be
greeted and served in social
gatherings.

When entering a restaurant you are

expected to take off your shoes and
leave them by the door. Some
modern, western style, restaurants
are an exception. These can be
identified as they have higher tables
with chairs. This also includes walking
into any homes in Korea.

In restaurants and bars, pouring your

own drink is considered rude. You
should keep an eye on your neighbors'
glasses and fill them if they are
empty. In return, they will fill your
glass when it's empty. If you do not
want to get drunk, try to leave your
glass half full.

When pouring drinks, hold bottle in

right hand, lightly place left hand on
forearm near elbow, as a sign of
respect. Also when drinking your
drink, turn head and look away and

drink.

Never show the bottom of your foot.

This is a sign of disrespect.

Patting the head of an elder or a

superior is extremely insubordinate. It
is not acceptable to call elders by
their first name, this includes parents.

Leaving tip/gratuity is usually or

almost always not accepted or
expected.

Thailand

Touching somebody on the foot (in

Buddhism the foot is the most impure
region of the body). Strictly speaking
this also applies to children.

Touching somebody on the head.

Thais regard the head as the highest
part of the body, literally and
figuratively. If you accidentally touch
someones head, offer an apology
immediately. This doesn't apply to
touching the head of a child or people
who are younger than you.

Stepping over or standing on bills or

coins (money is another symbol of
good fortune and prosperity) signifies
disrespect. Currency usually depicts
the King, and it is a sign of utmost
disrespect to place your foot above
the head of the King. Similarly, licking
the back of a postage stamp - which
also features the King's image - is
also considered disrespectful.

Pointing your sole or foot at

somebody. Following the logic that
the head is the most sacred part of

the body, the foot is the least sacred.

In Buddhist temples particularly, it is
important to sit with the soles of your
feet not pointing at the Buddha.

Kissing in the streets and any public

display of affection are considered
rude.

Malaysia
Major Faux Pas:

When entering Malaysian homes,

shoes must be left outside. Wearing
shoes into the house is extremely
rude.

As well, never enter a Muslim mosque

or Indian temple without removing
your shoes. For other Chinese
(Buddhist, Taoist, etc) temples,
observe the local customs carefully
with regard to footwear (some allow,
some don't).

Though handholding (and other minor

acts of affection) is tolerated among
the Chinese community, public
affection with a Malay woman is more
than a faux pas: it is considered a
"Khalwat" (close proximity) offence
which could lead to an arrest
(typically punished with fines).

In some States with a more Islamic

majority (e.g. Kelantan, Terrenganu),
a woman should not wear revealing
clothes in public (it is considered
vulgar). This includes shorts (or miniskirts), halter tops, sleeveless
garments, anything that shows belly
or cleavage, etc.

Nudity (as is toplessness with regard

to women) is absolutely prohibited on
the many tropical beaches.

Placing/slapping an open palm on the

top of a sideways held fist of the
other hand is a rude gesture.

As well, inserting the thumb between

the fore and middle fingers of a closed
fist is a rude gesture.

Minor Faux Pas:

Pointing with your forefinger is

considered impolite (especially when
pointing at people). Instead, a closed
fist held sideways (thumb at the top)
with the thumb pointing the direction
is used.

Many Indians and Malays (esp. in rural

communities) eat with their hands - if
you are in that circumstance, it is
customary to follow their lead, using
only your right hand to eat. Using the
left hand to handle food is impolite,
as it is considered unclean.

Shaking hands should only be done

with the right hand. Among Malays, it
is customary to lightly hold the right
forearm with the left hand when
shaking hands (as well as when
giving/receiving money). As well, it is
customary to touch your heart/chest
with the right hand immediately after
ending the handshake. It is only very
minor faux pas if these customs are
not observed (esp. with Westerners).

Touching anyone's head. Some

Malaysians, like Thais, also regard the
head as the most important part of

the human body. If you touch

anyone's head, offer an apology.

Crossing your legs in the presence of

elderly people is sometimes
considered impolite.

Addressing strangers in formal

situations by their names (even if
they have nametags) is rude. Instead,
use the honorific "Encik" (pronounced
"in-check") for a man, or "Cik"
("check") for a woman - you may
append their name after the honorific.
"Mister" and "Miss" are also
acceptable (esp. for Westerners).

Vietnam

When going out to eat with other

people, it is considered very polite to
pay for the meal. It is therefore also
rude to prevent someone who has
offered to pay from doing so (don't
argue). If you want to pay for a meal,
then, simply make sure you offer to
do so before the other person. This
will often occur before you even
arrive at the restaurant. Offer as early
as you can.

OCEANIA

Australia

Requesting items like a fanny pack in

Australia can be considered obscene
due to the usage of "fanny" as
referring to a woman's vulva. Bumbag
is an acceptable local variation.

When riding alone in a taxi, it is

considered polite to sit in the front
passenger seat next to the driver.

When using public transport, always

let passengers leave the bus/train
before attempting to board.

When paying a cashier, always place

the money in their hand. Placing the
money on the table/bench is
considered rude.

When paying at a restaurant, it is,

however, acceptable to leave the
money on the table.

While giving someone a gift, it is

polite to remove the price tag. It is
considered inappropriate to indicate
the value of your gifts.

You should shake hands when leaving

the company of a person you have
just met or someone you have not
seen for a long time.

Queuing is expected when there is

any demand for an item. The only
exception to this is a pub or bar,
where finding a space at the bar
displays your intention. However it is
still considered rude to allow a
barperson to serve you before
someone who has been waiting longer
than you

When asked to "bring a plate" to an

event such as a party, bring a plate of
food and not just a plate.

Tipping is not expected in Australia in

any situation. Tipping someone

personally can be unexpected or

awkward; some employees are
forbidden from accepting tips.
However, if you have received
particularly good service in a cafe or
restaurant, it is polite to add a few
coins to the 'tip jar' on the counter,
which is usually shared among staff.
It's also acceptable to suggest that
taxi drivers or waiters 'keep the
change', especially if the difference is
small.
New Zealand

Requesting items like a fanny pack in

New Zealand can be considered
obscene due to the usage of "fanny"
as referring to a woman's vulva.
Bumbag is an acceptable local
variation.

When riding alone in a taxi, it is

considered polite to sit in the front
passenger seat next to the driver.

In New Zealand, bus fares should

never be handed directly to the driver,
but should be placed on the small tray
used for that purpose.

Confusing Australians with New

Zealanders. The mistake will generally
be taken in good humor, provided an
apology is given; it would, however,
be considered ignorant and boorish to
dismiss the difference.

In the Mori community of New

Zealand, it is a faux pas not to remove
one's shoes when entering a Mori
sacred building, such as a marae. In
the dominant European community
not removing shoes when entering a

building is not a faux pas, therefore

Europeans can sometimes forget to
observe this tradition. This can offend
Maori and sometimes cause tension.

Sitting on or resting one's backside

against a table or desk can also
offend Mori. The desk-top is where
one focuses one's mind, so should not
be touched by the 'dirty' nether
regions.

You should shake hands when leaving

the company of a person you have
just met or someone you have not
seen for a long time.

Queuing is expected when there is

any demand for an item. The only
exception to this is a pub or bar,
where finding a space at the bar
displays your intention. However it is
still considered rude to allow a
barperson to serve you before
someone who has been waiting longer
than you

When asked to "bring a plate" to an

event such as a party, bring a plate of
food and not just a plate.

Tipping is not expected in New

Zealand in any situation. Tipping
someone personally can be
unexpected or awkward; some
employees are forbidden from
accepting tips. However, if you have
received particularly good service in a
cafe or restaurant, it is polite to add a
few coins to the 'tip jar' on the
counter, which is usually shared
among staff. It's also acceptable to
suggest that taxi drivers or waiters
'keep the change', especially if the

difference is small.

Avoid using the term "mainland" for

specifically either the North or South
Islands of New Zealand as this is a
sensitive issue.

It is considered rude not to greet

someone when passing in the street.

Correct pronunciation of Mori placenames, and the word 'Mori' itself, is

important. Careless mispronunciation
or Anglicization can be offensive to
both Maori and non-Maori NZers - it
implies a lack of respect for the land
and people.

Europe

Balkans
Serbia

Giving somebody an even number of

flowers. Even numbers of flowers are
used at funerals.

When saying 'cheers' and clinking

your glass with someone, always look
at the person in the eyes.

Pointing at something and especially

someone with your index finger is
common and regarded as ordinary
behavior.

Serving yourself an alcoholic drink.

One must ask other people if they
want some, serving them, and serving
himself afterward.

Greece

Signifying "five" or even "stop" by

holding up five fingers, with the palm
of the hand facing the listener,
especially when the palm is vertical,
can be mistaken for an offensive
gesture (similar to the finger). When
signifying "five" the norm is to have
the palm of the hand facing the
speaker. Similarly for "Stop" closed
fingers should be used.

The expression "Hello" is conveyed

with a raised index finger and a
closed palm. The American style hand
waving is considered obscene.

"Goodbye" is indicated by facing the

palm towards yourself with fingers
raised and then moving the fingers up
and down (this is exactly like the
American version of "come here" and
is therefore a serious source of
confusion to Americans in Greece).

Making a fist with the thumb placed

between the middle and index fingers
is an offensive gesture.

Nodding and head shaking ("yes" and

"no") is performed by moving the
head only once. The American method
of shaking the head several times is
considered bizarre, uncivilized, and/or
may not be understood, although it is
not necessarily rude.

No is sometimes conveyed by a slight

raise of the eyebrows, often

accompanied by a "tsk" sound.

Greeks revere water, and they have a

saying about stingy people that
amounts to, "he would not even offer
a glass of water." It is therefore
customary when having guests to
offer them water.

When eating spoon sweets, it is

encouraged to just barely lick the
sweets off the spoon. Because a visit
is generally over when the sweets
have been consumed, it is rude to lick
or eat them with gusto or in a fast
manner (it indicates you can't wait to
leave).

Bulgaria

Giving somebody an even number of

flowers. Even numbers of flowers are
used at funerals. This does not apply
to bouquets larger than a dozen
items.

When saying 'cheers' and clinking

your glass with someone, always look
at the person in the eyes.

When you give money to somebody,

do not put them in his/her hands. If
possible, you better put the money on
a table or similar place close to the
person.

Central Europe
Czech Republic and Slovakia

Whistling in a clapping or cheering

crowd is negative; it is identical to

booing.

It is considered mildly impolite to

wear baseball caps inside.

Women's last name tend to carry the

appendix "-ova". For example Mr.
Johnson's wife's last name would be
Mrs. Johnsonova. Addressing a man
with a female form of his last name
(e.g., Mr. Johnsonova) is a serious
faux pas.

Hungary

Simple generalizations about Eastern

Europe can be considered incorrect;
confusing Hungarians with Russians is
particularly offensive because of
Hungary's occupation by the USSR.
Similarly, not knowing that
Hungarians are not of Slavic origin,
unlike most of the neighboring
nations, and that the Hungarian
language has different linguistic roots
from the Czech, Slovak, Russian,
Serbian etc. languages can be
considered as rude.

In Hungary, people traditionally

consider clinking their glasses/mugs
when drinking beer as impolite.
Clinking with any other alcoholic
beverage, such as wine, champagne
or hard liquor is customary, however.
(This custom - or rather keeping from
a custom - is receding nowadays.)

When Transylvania (a region in

Romania with a significant Hungarian
minority) comes up in a conversation,
don't react by mentioning Dracula or
the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Transylvania has a particular

significance in Hungarian history, and

Hungarians may get offended when
people recognise this region only
because of a popular horror story.

When giving flowers to a lady (girl,

etc.), the number of them should be
odd. Unless you are in love with the
lady and want to compete for her, the
flowers should not be red roses. White
and yellow roses are OK in Hungary,
they do not have negative meaning,
like in several other countries.

Referring to the freedom fighters or

revolutionaries of 1848 and 1956 as
rebels.

Poland

In Poland, it is considered rude to use

someone's first name before they
introduce themselves to you or use
their name first

In Poland, Serbia, and Armenia:

sitting at a corner of a table is
considered bad luck for an unmarried
girl, as she will not find a husband.

In Armenia, while meeting or greeting

someone, it is proper for you shake
hands, then kiss both cheeks.

In Poland: entering someone's home

for an event/dinner without a token
gift is impolite. This rule is rescinded
among good friends, and no longer in
place among younger generation of
Poles.

In Poland: greeting guests and

conducting transactions (i.e. paying
the pizza delivery man) over the

doorstep. This is considered unlucky:

wait for the person to step inside or
step outside yourself.

In Poland: dressing casually for

Easter, Christmas or other family
celebrations is very rude (only in little
towns where Christian traditions
remain strong, no longer important in
bigger towns and cities).

In Poland: eating or offering horse

meat, is a faux pas since to many
Poles eating a horse is like eating a
friend; a result of the 1000 year
tradition of the Polish cavalry and the
well known and admired paintings by
Wojciech Kossak.

In Poland pointing at something and

especially someone with the index
finger is considered an extreme lack
of good manners.

Asking an unfamiliar woman for her

age is considered rude or cheeky.

In Poland, when offering a cigarette,

open the box and allow the receiver to
take one out. Do not take the
cigarette out and give by hand. It is
also customary to light cigarettes,
especially for women.

In Poland, when offering a candy, a

chocolate, a small gift toy for kids,
etc. from a set or an assortment, it's
considered extremely impolite to
select one for the receiver. It's also
considered very impolite to take more
than one item when selecting one
from the set/assortment.

In Poland, in schools, it's rude for

those children who celebrate their

birthdays not to bring wrapped candy
for the whole class.
Romania

For men shaking hands while wearing

gloves is considered impolite. This
does not apply to women.

For men to sit while women are

standing.

Giving somebody an even number of

flowers. Even numbers of flowers are
used at funerals. This does not apply
to bouquets larger than a dozen
items. [citation needed]

Pointing at something and especially

someone with your index finger is
considered an extreme lack of good
manners.

Placing a phonecall to somebody after

22:00.

Not removing the head cover indoors

is considered very rude.

Sitting down to eat without removing

outer garments and especially
keeping your head covered (e.g.
wearing a baseball cap when you eat)
is considered very bad manners.

It is impolite to begin eating before

others have been served.

Serving yourself an alcoholic drink.

One must ask other people if they
want some, serving them, and serving

himself afterward.

Do not confuse the Romanian

language roots and associations with
any of their neighbours who speak
non-related languages, except
Moldovans who speak the same
language, referring to Moldovan as
anything other than Romanian is
considered an offensive political
statement.

As is the case in many languages

featuring a T-V distinction addressing
somebody you don't know well,
especially in a formal context, using
the singular form of "you".

Eastern Europe
Russia

Sitting at a corner of a table is

jokingly considered bad luck for an
unmarried person, as it is believed
he/she will not find a spouse.

Greeting guests and conducting

transactions (i.e. paying the pizza
delivery man) over the doorstep. This
is considered unlucky: wait for the
person to step inside or step outside
yourself.

Leaving an empty bottle on the table

is considered wrong. If after pouring a
drink the bottle becomes empty do
put it on the floor (or into trashcan if
found nearby).

When passing people in a theater row,

face them. It is considered rude to
pass with your back (or rear) toward

the other person.

Whistling indoors is considered to

bring bad luck (poverty).

Prolonged direct eye contact may be

considered aggressive or as invitation
to more intimate relationships
(especially with opposite sex), so it
should be avoided in business
relationships.

If someone enters your "personal

space" (about 1 meter away from you)
moving away can be considered
disrespectful, but often it is best to
avoid direct contact, like patting etc,
except with your close friends maybe.

Northern Europe
Finland

Talking too much. Finns are not

uncomfortable with silent pauses in
conversations; thus, cultural
misunderstandings may happen when,
for example, an American is trying to
be friendly by constantly making
small talk and a Finn is trying to be
friendly by being silent and listening
to what he is saying. They both may
make an unfriendly impression on
each other.

The things listed under Norway,

Sweden, Denmark also apply to
Finland.

Norway, Sweden, Denmark

Placing a phonecall to somebody after

22:00.

Sitting down to eat without removing

outer garments, such as a winter
jacket. This also applies to headgear,
although some young people like to
wear their headgear almost all the
time.

In some Scandinavian countries, not

finishing your food implies that the
food was terrible and could not be
eaten. In Norway, Sweden and
Denmark a person does not have to
finish all of their food if someone else
served, but it would be rude if they
don't finish what they served
themselves. [citation needed]

Smoking indoors is illegal in public

places according to Norwegian and
Swedish law and smoking indoors in
private places without asking
permission is considered rude. Offer
the host to smoke outside and he/she
may grant you permission to smoke
indoors. Even if the host smokes or
has ashtrays indoors, you should still
ask if it is okay if you smoke (as long
as he/she doesn't offer you a
cigarette).

In Norway and Sweden it is

considered very impolite not to
remove one's shoes when entering
someone's house and going further in
than the foyer. This room is intended
for exactly shoes, coats and the like.

Iceland

Lighting a cigarette from a candle is

by some people regarded as rude,
many Icelanders are fishermen and it
is believed that this act "kills a
fisherman". The origin comes from the

custom of lighting a candle in your

window when someone in your house
is returning from sea, this was
believed to help them find their way.
Lighting something from the candle
might kill the flame and subsequently
the fisherman as he won't find his way
home.

In Iceland it is considered very rude to

leave a dinner table without thanking
the host for the meal. In Icelandic, the
phrase used is, Takk fyrir mig. The
host then normally responds with
Veri r a gu.

Most of the items mentioned for

Norway, Sweden, Denmark and
Finland also apply to Iceland.

While at a dinner party it is

considered rude to leave the table
while others are still eating.

Estonia

Cutting a slice of bread with a knife is

considered disrespectful. It should be
ripped with the fingers.

If bread is dropped on the ground it

should be kissed before being thrown
away. This is a way of honoring the
tradition of baking.

Western Europe
Austria

In Austria it is impolite to begin

eating before all others have been
served, unless asked to do so by your
host or hostess.

Referring to Austrians as Germans.

Opening a door that someone has

closed for privacy without knocking or
otherwise seeking permission is
considered rude and an invasion of
privacy.

Austrians tend to be more reserved

than e.g. Americans. They value their
privacy more and use phrases like
"thank you" etc. more sparingly. They
do not hug guests by default. To the
unaccustomed ear the German
language Austrians use perhaps
sounds "harsh" (this also applies to
Nordic languages). This does not
mean, however, that they are in fact
less friendly.

As is the case in many languages

featuring a T-V distinction, addressing
someone with the familiar second
person pronoun (du) when they
should be addressed with the formal
form (Sie). This is becoming less
strict with younger people, but should
always be observed in older or more
conservative circles.

Placing a phone call to somebody

after 10 p.m. (22:00) , unless by
previous appointment or calling a
friend. Furthermore, do not call
between 7.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m
(19:30 - 20:00), as most Austrians
watch the prime time daily news at
that time.

The tapping of one's index finger on

the side of the head or the waving of
one's hand up and down in front of
their face (palm of the hand towards
the face) are both considered

offensive gestures. Both of these

gestures, along with the phrase, Sie
haben einen Vogel (lit.: You have a
bird), insinuate that the other person
is crazy or deranged. In some cases,
i.e. regarding police officers or
judges, the offense may be fined. The
severity of this offense has lessened
to some extent in the last decades.

Displaying a swastika and other Nazi

symbols as well as certain Nazigestures is generally illegal in Austria
and even a criminal offence in some
cirsumstances for which you can be
sentenced to prison. It can be
considered rude to mention or refer to
Nazi Germany during normal
conversation, unless the topic was
started/offered by a Austrian. Even for
Austrians, this topic is often
considered thin ice. Although most
Austrians do not feel responsible for
what happened several generations
ago, they feel that it is important to
show a sensitive and mature approach
to their past. So, before taking part in
discussions about fascism and the
Third Reich in Germany and Austria,
make sure that your knowledge of the
historic past is sufficient.

Asking an unfamiliar woman for her

age (especially if she appears older
than yourself).

Letting women open a door for a man.

Male persons should always offer to
open a door for women. This applies
to many other aspects of life as well.
Generally, let women walk first in
narrow spots, except stairs or
ladders.

Austrians are hesitant to speak about

money or "how much they make a
year". Bringing up this topic is
considered crude.

Belgium

Belgians are very reserved when it

comes to money. They will not say
how much money they make or have
on their bank accounts. When you
give someone a gift, make sure that it
does not include a price tag. Giving
cash is accepted however.

The northern part of Belgium is

Flanders, where Dutch is spoken.
French is used in the south of
Belgium, the Walloon region. There is
also a relatively small Germanspeaking community in the east of
Belgium. Both Dutch and French are
spoken in Brussels. Considering
Belgium to be a country where only
Dutch or French is spoken is
considered to be very offensive. It is
considered extremely offensive to
speak French to a Flemish local or
Dutch to a Walloon local.

The Flemish political party Vlaams

Belang, which is the former Vlaams
Blok, one of the largest parties in
Flanders, is excluded from any
coalition government: the cordon
sanitaire. This cordon sanitaire is a
very sensitive political issue.
Questioning it will often have you
frowned upon.

Voting preferences are not made

public in Belgium, especially not if the
party is Vlaams Belang. This explains
the discrepancy between exit polls

and actual election results.

France

Like in many languages featuring a TV distinction, addressing people with

the familiar "tu" (like in Middle
English thou) when they should be
addressed with "vous" (you) is seen
as derogatory, insulting, or even
aggressive. Conversely, addressing
familiars with "vous" is considered
snobbish and introduces distance.

Assuming that people speak English

without inquiry may be found
unpleasant; being able to greet in
French and ask whether the
interlocutor speaks English is highly
appreciated.

Offering chrysanthemums is in bad

taste, since they are traditionally
reserved for mourners.

Offering red roses to a hostess or for

professional reasons is inappropriate,
as they express love.

Not finishing one's meal implies that

the food is so poor one cannot finish
it, or the host does not correctly
balance the quantity of food one
needs.

Serving yourself wine first. One must

ask other people if they want some
more wine, serving them, and serving
himself afterward. If you just opened
a bottle, it is customary to pour a
little bit of wine in your own glass so
that the little bit of cork that was
dropped in the bottle when opening it

doesn't go in somebody else's glass.

Putting a piece of bread on one's

plate. Leave it on the table beside the
plate. (Bread is not considered a part
of the meal, but rather more like salt
and pepper. This is why they do not
charge for bread at the restaurant.)

Biting into the piece of bread directly

(unless you have something on it
-butter, pt,...). One should break a
small piece off, and put it into one's
mouth. (Same reason as above).

It is inappropriate to rest one's hands

under the table or to have the elbows
on the table.

Crossing the fork and knife on the

plate when the dish is finished; they
should be more or less parallel or else
it expressess that one hasn't eaten
enough.

Bringing a bottle of wine to a formal

dinner in somebody's home suggests
that the hosts are unable to provide
their own wine. One may do so if you
explain your hosts that you want
them to discover a good wine that one
like and that they do not know . (One
should not bring a "good" bottle if one
is not sure if it is good - it is not a
question of price of the wine, it is a
question of taste.)

Putting a loaf of bread upside down. It

is a bad omen because it is said that
the loaf that was put upside down by
the baker was reserved for the
executioner.

Holding one's umbrella open indoors

may be seen as an omen of bad luck.

For a man, not taking off one's hat (or

cap) when saluting. This was a
practice of the Victorian age as it is
now less practiced.

For a man, giving a handshake while

wearing a glove. Coming out of use
and was also present in the early 19th
century England.

For both sexes, shaking hands with a

woman in a casual context introduces
distance. Embracing (holding each
other loosely in the arms while lightly
kissing each other's cheek) is usually
expected. The number of cheek-kisses
varies from region to region between
2, 3 or 4.

Giving the American "O-K" gesture,

which in France means "zero" or
"worthless".

Germany
A rather comprehensive introduction on
what is considered good manners in
Germany can be found in the
"Knigge". The original Knigge is a
book on manners by Adolf Freiherr
Knigge written in the 18th century.
Nowadays, there are a bunch of books
with a similar title, adapted to newer
times. Much of what is described in
the Knigge doesn't necessarily apply
to everyone, especially when dealing
with younger people, the rules are far
more relaxed.

Opening a door that someone has

closed for privacy without knocking or
otherwise seeking permission is

considered rude and an invasion of

privacy.

In German business dealings, scooting

your chair closer to the host is
considered an insult.

Germans tend to be more reserved

than e.g. Americans. They value their
privacy more and use phrases like
"thank you" etc. more sparingly. They
do not hug guests by default or ask
everybody "How do you do?". To the
unaccustomed ear the German
language perhaps sounds "harsh"
(this also applies to Nordic
languages). This does not mean,
however, that they are in fact less
friendly.

As is the case in many languages

featuring a T-V distinction, addressing
someone with the familiar second
person pronoun (du) when they
should be addressed with the formal
form (Sie).

Placing a phone call to somebody

after 10 p.m. (22:00) , unless by
previous appointment or calling a
friend. Furthermore, do not call senior
citizens between 8 p.m. and 8.15 p.m
(20:00 - 20:15), as many of them
watch the prime time daily news at
that time.

The tapping of one's index finger on

the side of their head, or the waving
of one's hand up and down in front of
their face (palm of the hand towards
the face) are both considered
offensive gestures. Both of these
gestures, along with the phrase, Sie
haben einen Vogel (lit.: You have a

bird), insinuate that the other person

is crazy or deranged. The same
applies to pointing one's index finger
to one's temple, and imitating a
screwing motion. The corresponding
expression in german is eine
Schraube locker haben (lit.: to have a
loose screw). In some cases,
especially regarding police officers or
judges, the offense may be fined. The
severity of this offense has lessened
to some extent in the last decades.

Displaying a swastika and other Nazi

symbols as well as certain Nazigestures is illegal in Germany and
considered extremely rude and will be
fined. It can be considered rude to
mention or refer to Nazi Germany
during normal conversation, unless
the topic was started/offered by a
German. Even for Germans, this topic
is often considered thin ice. Although
most Germans do not feel responsible
for what happened several
generations ago, they feel that it is
important to show a sensitive and
mature approach to their past. So,
before taking part in discussions
about fascism and the Third Reich in
Germany, make sure that your
knowledge of the historic past is
sufficient.

When eating, starting to eat before

the hostess or eldest lady on table is
considered rude. This also counts for
taking the last bit of a dish without
asking if any other person would like
to have some, or taking a second
portion while other people have not
finished their first yet.

Offering yellow roses to a married

woman, since yellow roses are

considered as a symbol for adultery
by some people.[citation needed]

Asking an unfamiliar woman for her

age (especially if she appears older
than yourself) or weight.

In Germany, as well as in Austria, it is

impolite to begin eating before others
have been served. Also it is impolite
to begin eating without wishing
everybody Guten Appetit (lit.: good
appetite) first.

During a meal, crossing your cutlery

on the plate means that you are
taking a break, but have not finished
eating. If you are finished, place you
knife and fork parallelly on the plate.

If you served yourself, or had the

opportunity to tell the serving person
to stop serving you (so, almost always
except in a restaurant), it is
considered rude to not finish your
plate. Kids are told that not finishing
your plate causes bad weather the
next day.

Especially in the north of Germany,

using a candle to light a cigarette is
said to kill a fisherman. The reason for
this is that in former times fishermen
earned their living during wintertime
by producing matches.

Putting your glass down on the table

after clinking glasses (and before
drinking) is considered rude in some
parts of Germany. It is said to
"invalidate" the Prost (cheers).

When clinking glasses you are

supposed to look into the person's

eyes who you are toasting. Not doing
so results in seven years of bad luck
(or, more specifically, bad sex).

Not closing your umbrella before

stepping inside any building, even if
there is more than enough room for it
open. (It is considered bad luck to
open an umbrella indoors)

It is considered impolite to not cover

your mouth and nose when sneezing,
coughing or yawning.

Letting one or both hands rest under

the table or on your lap during eating
is considered rude.

Addressing someone by their first

name without mutual agreement is
considered overly familiar.

Never touch someone who is not an

intimate or very close friend. It is
considered very rude.

When eating, use a knife and fork.

Normally the fork is held in the left
hand throughout the meal, but the
North American custom of holding a
fork in the right hand and switching
will be overlooked provided a knife is
held at all times. The North American
custom of eating with just a fork is
considered bad table manners.

It is good manners to greet strangers

when entering an elevator, a waiting
room, and when sharing tables, and to
say goodbye. It is not customary to
greet strangers on the street.

It is not common in Germany to talk

about someone's income or financial

situation.

People normally don't tell their

political preference or even their
voting decision. Asking for this is
considered very nosy and intrusive,
especially by elder people.

Germany is a smoking society, and

non-smokers are expected to accept
this. It is considered gauche to make
a fuss or object to someone smoking.
Simply remove yourself quietly.

In the workplace, you are expected to

bring cake or buy lunch for colleagues
when it is your birthday, or when you
are leaving the company.

Ireland

Referring to Britain and Ireland as the

British Isles, or to Britain as the
"Mainland". Most Irish people will
consider this offensive.

Referring to the Republic of Ireland as

a part or special case of the United
Kingdom rather than the independent
nation that it is.

Referring to the Republic of Ireland as

ire can sometimes be taken as an
insult. Although ire is the official title
of the state, it can be considered a
patronizing term when used by the
English media (see ire for further
clarification). It is more common to
refer to the country as "Ireland" or
"the Republic of Ireland" in everyday
conversation.

Referring to Derry city or county

Derry as Londonderry among the

nationalist community, including the
Republic of Ireland; OR referring to
Londonderry as Derry among the
unionist community.

When out for drinks with work

colleagues or friends, it is sometimes
considered rude not to pay for a
"round" of drinks (i.e. each individual
present pays for a set of drinks for all
present). However this practice is
most common amongst groups of
friends. Should the first set of drinks
be bought by a single person, then it
is polite to continue that practice.
This usually does not apply if it is
understood that you are only going to
be having one or two drinks or if you
are in unfamiliar or casual company. It
may still apply if you are not drinking
alcohol but still staying for more than
two or three drinks.

It is illegal to smoke indoors in any

workplace in Ireland including all
bars, restaurants and offices. This is
almost universally observed. Smoking
indoors is becoming increasingly
frowned on, especially in the presence
of others who do not smoke or in
another person's home. It is not
considered rude to ask permission,
but it is often considered more polite
to go outside to smoke.

The Republic of Ireland shares many

faux pas in common with the United
Kingdom, many of which are listed
below under the title United Kingdom.

Italy

It's forbidden to enter a church if you

don't have your upper arms and

(male) legs covered by clothes; for
women a skirt within a couple of
inches of the knee is acceptable. You
will be shown outside if you wear very
short sleeves or short pants in church.
Locals often complain about tourists
breaking this rule.

Like in many languages, there are two

distinct way of addressing people; one
familiar used with friends and
relatives ("tu"), and one formal used
with strangers and (usually) coworkers ("lei"). Thus, it's considered
impolite (or even aggressive) to
address people with the familiar one
when the formal one is seen as
appropriate.

Biting into the piece of bread directly

(butter, pt, etc should be placed on
a small piece broken off, and then put
whole into one's mouth).

Bread must be broken with hands and

not with a knife or other cutlery. This
is because hungry peasants crammed
their mouths with food; the better
bred were less hungry, and displaying
teeth tearing off chunks of bread is
not attractive to behold.

Crossing the fork and knife on the

plate when the dish is finished; they
should be more or less parallel (at the
"four o'clock position").

After entering, leaving one's coat

without being invited to do so. One
must ask first.

Putting one's hat on a bed is

considered ominous by some.

Entering into a shop without greeting

the proprietor. A friendly "Buona
Sera" or some other polite greeting is
expected, even if just browsing.

Asking for the check immediatly after

finishing one's meal is generally seen
as rude, take the time to relax and
enjoy your surroundings and "un
cappucino".

Wearing white socks is seen as a sign

of weakness or of being a "mamma's
boy".

Netherlands

Addressing the country as Holland is

considered incorrect in most parts of
the Netherlands, since Holland only
covers two of the provinces of the
country. Although it is considered
formally incorrect, few people will
object to it in informal speech.

Addressing a stranger, especially

older person with the familiar second
person pronoun instead of the formal
form, is considered as a friendly form.
Addressing someone in a formal
manner is considered too formal.
Business people in general always use
the formal form in initial
correspeondence and formal
correspondence, but in direct
communication people will quickly
insist on using first names.

Not closing your umbrella before

stepping inside any building, even if
there is more than enough room for it
open. (It is traditionally considered

bad luck to open an umbrella indoors,

a belief only still held by the very few
Dutch people who are superstitious)

Unlike in other countries like Russia,

being asked to come and visit in the
afternoon does not include an
invitation to dinner. Staying longer in
the expectation to be served dinner is
considered rude. In general you will
always announce your visit and it is
considered rude to be late even 5
minutes, while it is considered
unpleasant to be early more than 5
minutes.

Opening the door for women or

offering to help and carry luggage for
women, is considered overly
considerate and as sexist by most
women.

Making fun of people is considered a

way to break down formality between
people, so to behave in a too formal
manner being overly polite is
considered a refusal to reach more
friendly terms. Formality in general is
considered as keeping your distance
or even as coming across hypocrite.

It is considered obligatory to kiss

family and friends three times on the
cheek when meeting.

Portugal

Asking an unfamiliar woman for her

age.

Spain

At Spanish restaurants it is
considered rude for the staff to bring

a customer the check without the

customer first requesting it.

Using the pronoun "t" instead of

"usted" (formal you) when talking to
an elder stranger might be seen as
impolite.

Leaving a tip at restaurants and bares

is a common practice, though not
always necessarily observed, and
usually a low amount. Normally you
would leave the minor coins of the
change when paying the bill with
cash, and no tip at all when paying by
credit card.

There are at least four distinct

languages (Galician, Catalan, Spanish,
Basque). Nearly everyone speaks the
dominant language, Spanish
(Castellano), but betraying ignorance
of the subcultures (especially the one
you happen to be in) will appear rude.

You should not question the political

beliefs of those who want their state
(usually one of the former kingdoms
conquered by Castile) to be
independent from Spain. Although it
may sound unfamliar, this is a very
controversial issue in Spain nowadays
and you should show some knowledge
as well as respect for their intentions.

There are some traditional issues that

you should avoid to discuss about:
fighting bulls ("Toros"), religion and
fascism/nationalism. Regarding the
last one, Spain is still divided after a
relatively recent Civil War.

Most spaniards have very low spokenEnglish skills and some of them even

refuse to try to speak it and ask

foreigners to speak spanish. You
should avoid in any case argueing
whether Spanish or English is a better
language, and put all of your efforts in
trying to express yourself with
gestures if it's needed.

Be very observative and pay attention

to every detail and word you hear.
Spanish people will be very thankful
to hear some gossip when talking
about someone.

Always try to look relaxed and casual.

You can speak loudly, gesture
exaggeratedly, use physical contact
and make your hosts laugh without
making anyone feel awkward.

You have to greet (saludar) all your

neighbours, even if you have never
talked to them.

When greeting, women expect to

receive two cheek-kisses (one in each
side of their face) and men expect a
hand shake.

When entering a place where there's

people eating, it's polite to tell them
to enjoy their meal ("que aproveche").

When you are invited to watching a

football match, which is very common,
you should never criticise the host's
team. Football is one of the most
common subjets in arguments, as well
as politics.

Switzerland

Arriving right on time or slightly

ahead of time when visiting friends is

considered inappropriate. It is usually

well received to arrive a bit late
instead (10-15 minutes). This resulted
in the expression quart d'heure
vaudois, i.e. arriving fifteen minutes
late in the Canton de Vaud.

UNITED KINGDOM

Signifying "two" of something by

holding up two fingers separated,
with the back of the hand pointed
towards the listener, can be mistaken
for an offensive gesture (similar to
the finger). Holding up two fingers
with the hand held the other way
(palm of the hand towards the
listener) is perfectly acceptable (as it
forms the "Peace" sign and the "V for
victory" sign used during World War
II). See also The V sign as an insult.
To avoid confusion, "two" can be
shown on the hand with the thumb
and index finger, rather than the
index and middle fingers.

Calling the united - but culturally and

socially independent - countries
(Scotland, England, Wales and
Northern Ireland) "England". This may
be regarded as highly offensive to
everybody including the English.
Sensitivity is appreciated regarding
national identity (some prefer to be
"English", some "British", some
"Scottish", etc.).

It is considered proper to hold doors

open for others before you pass the
threshold yourself, particularly for

women, the elderly or those carrying

heavy or bulky goods that could
prevent them opening the door
themselves. However help should be
offered before any physical contact,
even that of helping an Old Age
Pensioner with their bags, can occur.
If you are on the receiving end, a
"thank you" is expected, even in
hotels where people are paid to do
this for you.

Asking an unfamiliar woman for her

age (especially if she appears older
than yourself) or weight.

Queueing is expected when there is

any demand for an item. The only
exception to this is a pub or bar,
where finding a space at the bar
displays your intention. However it is
still considered rude to allow a
barperson to serve you before
someone who has been waiting longer
than you.

Many English words have different,

sometimes contradictory or offensive
(such as fanny, which is a mildly
humorous word for female genitalia)
meanings in Britain and the USA or
Canada (consider Dick's Sporting
Goods). A basic knowledge of British
word usage is looked kindly upon
from visitors from other Anglophone
nations, although those who do not
speak English as a first language will
be given far more clemency.

In the United States it is common to

vocally thank the host after a meal,
often stopping to propose a toast. In
Britain a small gift for the host given
upon entering such as flowers for the

table or wine or chocolates for the

meal combined with more subdued
thanks is more common.

Complaining if the person who called

an important meeting is late can be
seen as impolite in some more
traditional businesses; if they are
important enough to call the meeting
they are important enough to wait for.

Not offering tea or coffee to a guest.

Kissing (or hugging) people you don't

know or people with whom you have
been briefly acquainted (this could
even include relatives of your spouse
- the inlaws).

Talking (or asking) about one's

personal wealth, possessions or
success in business is seen as vulgar.
It is generally frowned upon to ask
one's work colleagues about their
salary, and in some places of work it
is forbidden.

Eating chips/French fries with your

fingers in a restaurant is not done.
Use your fork instead. You can use
your fingers to eat meat if it's on the
bone, such as chicken legs. Use of the
fingers is acceptable when the food is
served buffet style.

Pointing directly towards someone

whilst talking about them, or just
pointing at people in general.

Touching someone to get their

attention unless it's an emergency or
touching someone without saying
"excuse me" or "sorry".

Not shaking hands when meeting

someone for the first time.

It is considered polite to offer up a

seat on public transport to elderly
people (and older women in general),
pregnant women, or the infirm. In fact
many public transport authorities now
request this by placing signs in the
vehicles, and a space MUST be given
up to elderly people or wheelchair
users in these instances. It is also
considered polite to offer a seat in a
busy bar or other informal setting
(shopping centre, waiting room) to
others.

In a pub or bar it is traditional to buy

drinks in rounds (i.e. one person will
buy for a number of others) trying to
stay out of this group or offer money
to the buyer can be seen as rude. Not
buying a round is very rude. It is
generally accepted that not everyone
will stay long enough to buy a round,
instead of trying to avoid being in the
round it is better to accept the drink
with thanks. This is done on the
understanding that at a later date this
might be reciprocated.

Whereas "asking nicely" is often

sufficient for politeness in the USA,
tone of voice is not adequate for
polite requests in the UK: you must
follow requests with "please".

Summoning shop workers or servers

with gestures, or particularly with
snapping of fingers, is considered
rude.

It is considered rude not to bag your

own groceries at the check-out. This

is a faux pas commonly committed by

Americans, because bags are
commonly packed for them by store
employees in the United States. In
some shops, particularly
supermarkets, help with packing may
be offered by the cashier before they
begin checking out your items.

In Northern Ireland, asking people

whether they are Catholic or
Protestant is considered
inflammatory.

Specific to Scotland (may also apply

to other parts of the UK); On
Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) going into
someone's house without a bottle (of
alcohol) or forgetting to say "Happy
New Year"

Asking which church a person attends

or questions about their religious
beliefs in general are considered
impolite.