Culture

Different cultures around the world.
 Greeting culture:

	"How do you do?" ... "How do I do what?"
	One thing that a traveler to another country notices is that the rules for saying hello are very complicated, and can be quite different than the way it is at home. When I've traveled, I've found it quite easy to get it wrong. So, in honor of World Hello Day, I snooped around a bit in the library and came up with a number of interesting -- and some quite odd -- ways that people greet each other. Over much of the planet, people shake hands when they meet. In many other cultures, they also kiss. Some kiss on one cheek, some on both, yet others kiss three times! I've skipped over all that in my list, because I want to stretch us. Maybe you won't think some of these strange. Then again, maybe you think some of these greetings are really odd. But let's all try to keep an open mind. Agreed? Let's shake on it.
	Bangladesh -- one makes a relaxed salute with the right hand. Benin -- young men often snap fingers when shaking hands Botswana -- people touch hands, like a handshake that doesn't include a grip, just lightly grazing palms and fingers. They ask each other: "How did you wake?" (It's interesting, in our family, we often ask, "How did you sleep?") Cambodia -- here, one would put your hands together like "praying hands" holding them against your chest. The higher you hold your hands, the more respect you show. Bhutan -- they ask, "Is your body well?" Central African Republic -- good friends slap rights hands, then grab each other's middle finger using a thumb and middle finger, then "snap" the other person's finger. Sounds painful, but I'd love to have someone show me how it's done. Gabon -- show respect by shaking a person's hand with both hands Georgia (no, not the state) -- their word for hello literally means, "Let you win". I wonder if that works with politicians? Ghana -- The people from the Twi tribe say "eh-ti-zain", which means "how is your soul perceiving the world". The positive response of "eyeh" means everything. So you are good when your soul is perceiving everything around you. (Emailed by Max Holland) Greece -- back-slapping takes the place of shaking hands in many greetings. Grenada -- sometimes friends might tap clenched fists Guam -- there is a Chammoros tradition on Guam in which the Elder's right hand is clasped over the greeters right hand (like helping someone down a step), then the greeter bows and lifts Elder's hand to the forehead. Usually followed by a "Nyot" for the men and a "Nyorra" for the women. Sent to me by R/Jorge Concepcion Roberto, "born and raised, a proud Chamorro of Guahan." Iceland -- their simple greeting means "Happy". Jamaica -- "Waapun" one might say. It's a squished version of "What's happening?" Mauritania -- some of the Moorish background might greet you with "On you no evil" Mauritius -- they cut right to the chase in some villages here. Their hello literally means, "Speak!" Micronesia -- the Yapese people greet with "It was good." Maldova -- some men might greet a woman by kissing her hand while saying, "I kiss your hand." Why? What else would he be doing? Looking to nibble on ladyfingers? Sorry... gotta keep an open mind. Mongolia -- rural people might exchange a pipe as a greeting Mozambique -- northern people clap hands three times before saying hello Maori -- some press noses together while closing their eyes. I wonder how often noses bump that way. Niger -- the Kanouri people shake a fist at head level and call "Wooshay! Wooshay!" ("Hello! Hello!") Niue -- here's a nice greeting: "Love be with you." Oman -- after a handshake, men might add a kiss on the nose. (Bet THEY keep their eyes closed!) Singapore -- greeters slide their palms together back toward their own chests, then end with the hand over heart. Smooth. South Africa -- There is a predominant African way of greeting that goes as follows: Step One – ordinary shake (once), Step Two – single “upside-down” shake (once) – i.e. swivel your fingers towards the top of the other person’s hand until you are encircling his/her thumb, Step Three – back to the single ordinary shake. (Sent to me by Elinor Lowry.) Swaziland -- they say, "I see you!" (What, no "peekaboo"?) Syria -- children sometimes kiss the back of the hands of their parents or granparents Taiwan -- the traditional greeting is, "Have you eaten?" Tuvalu -- this is my favorite. Relatives press a face to a cheek of the other and sniff deeply. Mmmm. Old spice. Zambia -- some greet each other by gently squeezing a thumb. Zimbabawe -- the Shona people often show respect by doing a series of slow, rhythmic handclaps. The hands are cupped and positioned one on top of the other, not side by side as in applauding. Also, the Zimbabwean greeting is touching: A: Marara here (pronounced heh-reh)? B: Ndarara kana marara wo. (A: Did you sleep well? B: I slept well if you slept well.) Thanks again to Elinor Lowry for this!
	Why not make up your own greeting or secret handshake? Who knows... maybe it will catch on!    World Cultures   A-Bo Contains articles like Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua And Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, etc… Bo-Co Contains articles like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, etc… Cr-Ga Contains articles like Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, etc… Ge-It Contains articles like Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, etc… Ja-Ma Contains articles like Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, etc… Ma-Ni Contains articles like Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, etc… No-Sa Contains articles like Northern Ireland, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, West Bank, and Gaza Strip, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, etc… Sa-Th Contains articles like São Tomé e Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, etc… To-Z Contains articles like Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, TÃŒrkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, etc… North America Contains articles like Abenaki, Acadians, Achumawi, African Americans, Ahtna, Alabama, Aleut, Algonkin, American Isolates, Amish, etc… Oceania Contains articles like Abelam, Ajië, Ambae, Anuta, Aranda, Asmat, Banaro, Bau, Belau, Bikini, etc… South Asia Contains articles like Abor, Agaria, Ahir, Anavil Brahman, Andamanese, Anglo-Indian, Aryan, Assamese, Badaga, Baiga, etc… Europe Contains articles like Albanians, Alsatians, Andalusians, Aquitaine, Ashkenazic Jews, Austrians, Auvergnats, Aveyronnais, Azoreans, Balearics, etc… East / Southeast Asia Contains articles like Acehnese, Agta, Ainu, Akha, Alak, Alorese, Ambonese, Ata Sikka, Ata Tana 'Ai, Atoni, etc… Russia - Eurasia / China Contains articles like Introduction to Russia and Eurasia, Introduction to China, Part One Cultures of Russia and Eurasia, Abkhazians, Aghuls, Ainu, Ajarians, Aleuts, Altaians, Andis, etc… South America Contains articles like Ache, Afro-Bolivians, Afro-Brazilians, Afro-Colombians, Afro-Hispanic Pacific Lowlanders of Ecuador and Colombia, Afro-South Americans, Afro-Venezuelans, Aguaruna, Akawaio, Amahuaca, etc… Middle America / Caribbean Contains articles like African Mexicans, Amuzgo, Anguillans, Antiguans and Barbudans, Arubans, Awakateko, Bahamians, Barbadians, Bermudians, Blacks of Costa Rica, etc… Africa / Middle East Contains articles like Introduction to Africa, Introduction to the Middle East, Acholi, Afar, Afrikaners, Aimaq, Akan, Alur, Amhara, Anuak, etc… Read more: http://www.everyculture.com/#ixzz22GwLVj15

Dancing styles


There are many different dances for different kinds around the world. The latest dance trend is to blend different cultural dances with modern and popular dance styles.
Historic and traditional dance goes back hundreds and even thousands of years. When travelling, check out the local traditional dances and costumes for some inspiration!
Cultural and ethnic dance styles are as unique as the areas of the world they come from. Check out the interactive map above for cultural dance in the country of your choice. Just click on a country and explore the various local and regional dances and traditions.

Traditional African dance has roots dating back thousands of years and includes Anyako Atsia, Agbadza and Brekete among many more. Sacred dance styles include Afa and other religious dance rituals.
Cultural dance around the world is practiced in Asia, Africa, America and Australia and really anywhere on the globe.