Bizarre Customs and traditions around the world.

Zimbabwe

A weird custom here is the so-called Virginity testing. This practice,

in which a young girls mother, aunt, neighbor, or even prospective
husband inserts a finger into her vagina to verify her virginity, may
take place in ceremonies sanctioned by rural chiefs, as well as in
churches and the home in Zimbabwe.

Uganda

In Ankole culture, the aunts gift to her nephew bride was to teach
her everything she knew about pleasing a man in all aspects including
bed skills. The lessons will go as far as the aunt showing the bride
practically on the wedding night by sharing the grooms bed.

The best gift that the father gave to his son on the wedding night was
to help him perform his manly duties on the wedding night. This
meant for the father-in-law to sleep with the bride before the groom.
As late as the 1980s, women in some rural areas had to kneel when
speaking to a man.

Somalia

Somali girls go through the process of female

circumcision after they are born. This traditional practice is implanted deep within
Somali culture, and the belief is widely held that it is necessary to cleanse a girl
child. In some communities, girls cannot be married without it.

Islamic countries

In Islamic tradition, Muslims are prohibited to touch the Saliva

of dog. Once the persons hand touches the saliva of dog, he or she should
wash her/his hand seven times before they pray.
Kiribati

An expectant mother is decorated with amulets of leaf, porpoise tooth and

human hair; and protective charms over her at sunrise and sunset. A
pregnant woman in no account may she touch fish because it might cause
her child to grow hairs upon the face; because having both eyes on one
side, it might induce a similar distortion in the unborn; turtle, or any slow-
moving creature of the sea because it would make a cowardly child or any
slow-moving creature of the sea. Shark and swordfish are esteemed the
best possible diet, they are fighting creatures, and their courage may be
conveyed to the unborn through the mouth of the mother.

Fiji-

Fijians are known as the friendliest people in the world. When

visiting a village it is customary to present a gift of yaqona, which is
also known as kava (traditional drink).

The gift, is not expensive-half-a-kilo (which is appropriate) costs

approximately $10. When you are offered a bilo, the cup with the
kava, you clap once, and say Bula and then drink it all at once.
After drinking the kava, you pass the cup back and you clap three
times.

Bhutan

Women may prefer to pronounce the customary greeting of Kuzu Zangpo to children,
acquaintances and subordinates and pronounce Kuzu Zangpola to older
people or superiors. When a senior person enters a room, everyone is
expected to stand until the person sits down. When it is time to leave,
everyone waits until the senior person or the guest of honor stands,
indicating that he or she is about to go.
Mongolia

Mistreating horses, dogs and animals; it is equal to mistreating a

close friend. Animals are treated as friends, mother, father,
grandparents, and familiar or unfamiliar elderly people. The
offending person would be treated as a person disregarding the
law and considered worse than an animal.

To throw waste into rivers, lakes and spas; the offender would be
punished for spoiling the water the source of all life. To throw
burning ash from the stove as the burning ambers might cause a
fire and endanger the life of people and endanger the life of
people and animals and damage the nature. To urinate towards
the setting or rising sun. This way, one respects the holiness of the
sun, its rays shining and illuminating the whole world.

Not feeding a guest is considered as a sign of ignorance and

unfriendliness. This person would be called greedy and stringy,
who ignores the Mongolian tradition of hospitality. To be unfair or
inhuman, to be arrogant and rude insulting the reputation of the
elders, ancestors and ones personal reputation. Mongolians say,
Better the bone be broken than ones reputation.

Madagascar

When two people are in love and are ready to move onto
marriage, they must first engaged. Engagement is done
with a big celebration and in front of relatives from both
sides and friends. During the celebration, close relatives
from both sides are invited, the groom to be brings a gift
for the future brides parent as an honor and thanks for
raising a beautiful daughter, and the engagement ring for
the bride to be.

When a child is about to be circumcised, all close relatives

and friends are invited, a big feast is prepared, and people
party all night. At dawn, the child is taken to a hospital to
be circumcised, the family waits at home. When the child gets back, the family, and friends offers
toys, money, chocolates, and lots of candies. Then, the party is over.
Mozambique

When a womans husband died, she is force to marry his brother in-law or any male relatives of
her husband because she is considered a property of the family. Some Zulu customs are still
practiced in parts of Kwa-Zulu Natal. When a young Zulu man wants to marry a young girl he must
get permission from the girl's father and pay him a lebola which is a certain number of cattle. The
chief of a Zulu village is allowed to have as many wives as he can afford, this can range from 1 to
11 wives.

Zambia

If a man wants to marry he will tell his family he is ready

for a wife. The family seeks a mate for the young man.
When an acceptable young lady is found she is
introduced to the potential husband. They talk and agree
to continue to see each other. The more educated the
woman is, the more you must pay the parents. The
brides family forever has authority over the bride. If the
groom fails to meet any expectations, the brides family
can collect both the wife and all children and take them
to the parents or any of her relatives. A groom can go to
traditional court, but if found guilty of whatever offense,
the wife and children go to her relatives.

Cameroon

Polygyny is permitted by law and tradition, but polyandry is not. Many girls are married off by
their families by the age of 12. Forced marriage is usual. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is
practiced. No law prohibiting FGM is known to exist. Dowry for virgin girls amounts to 30 thousand
Cameroonian franks. If the girl tells the proposing man that she is not virgin, then he will usually
pay no money and the dowry is reduced to some cheap clothes.

Cameroon youth who are serious about marriage, usually search for virgin girls. If the man does
not find a virgin he does not hesitate in proposing to a non-virgin.

These are weird customs and traditions indeed, but theres nothing much we can do about it, its
their culture. Although some groups are trying to help eradicate some nasty and deadly traditions
like female genital mutilation and force marriage which is one of the causes of the widespread of
HIV through proper information dissemination and education.

Hopefully, little by little, with the help of these humanitarian groups some bad and unhealthy
customs and traditions will slowly fade away for the good of everybody.