Culture Facts

A culture is formed when a group of people share values and behaviors unspokenly. 

The term refers to a system of underlying assumptions and attitudes which will rule how the groups will work together. The word culture originally derives from French and Latin roots of the word colere which means to cultivate and nurture.

In Germany, if you don’t clink your glasses and say Prost you will receive bad luck. 

Germans will often make eye contact when making toast as a common custom. This is because of the superstition that if you do not do so you will receive seven years of bad sexual relations.

The Japanese have three writing formats.

These three are separated into Katakana, Hiragana, and Kanji. Katakana is mainly used for borrowed words from foreign languages.

On the other hand, Hiragana is the basic writing format. Kanji makes also use of borrowed characters from the Chinese language to signify a particular character or word.

Find out more interesting language facts!

African Americans use drugs at the same rate as white Americans do. 

Despite this fact, African Americans are six times more likely to be arrested for drug use. Often, innocent African Americans that have not used drugs will also be suspected due to racism.

If someone accidentally steps on you in Russia, the person that was stepped on will have to lightly step on the person back. 

This symbolizes stepping or spitting on the devil. By doing so, people also prevent future conflicts with each other from arising.

Neanderthals were extremely skilled hunters.

Researchers have stated that their bones have high frequencies of fractures similar to injuries sustained among professional rodeo riders who regularly interact with large dangerous animals. It was also found that Neanderthals have a better grip than modern humans which allowed them to fine-tune their movements and strength.

Rudolph’s red nose is the result of a parasite.

According to Roger Highfield, Rudolph’s nose is due to a symbiotic parasite in his respiratory system. The parasite feeds on the famous Christmas deer’s nutrients and in exchange, his bright red nose lights up the path for Santa’s sleigh.

The French will normally wash their glasses first before alternating from red to white wine. 

France is well known for its wine, and as such have a certain standard to wine drinking. It is also customary to clean your glass first before alternating between different wines.

Moreover, this is mainly so that the flavors will not mix so that you may enjoy the wine properly.

Occam’s Razor is a philosophical principle that states plurality should not be posited without necessity. 

This principle gives precedence to simplicity. It is also known as the law of economy or the law of parsimony.

China produces the most silk than any other country in the world. 

This country produces 78% of the world’s silk. However, India does have a fairly large silk industry as well, but not as large when compared to China.

In Japan, the elderly are honored with drinks and are always served first when eating.

In Japan, the elderly are always respected and honored. When eating with family, it is a custom to serve the elderly first. When giving them their food, it should be passed on with both hands as a sign of respect.

It takes many years to see the progress of the evolution of life.

Thousands of years need to pass first for any significant evolutionary changes to happen to a species. This is mainly triggered by its environment and the need for survival.

The number 13 is not unlucky in Russia.

Here are some more surprising culture facts. Russia is not very particular with western superstitions. This means that the number 13 is just a normal number and that it is also alright to open umbrellas indoors.

The earliest mentions of vampires date back to ancient Greek mythology.

The story is about a young Italian man named Ambrogio who is said to be the first human vampire. The story features many themes similar to mainstream vampire tales such as romance, sun-sensitivity, and bloodsucking.

Table manners are considered very important in French culture. 

In France, table etiquette is one of the most demanding in the world. Most people are overwhelmed by the number of rules you need to follow to not be rude at the table.

Bumping into a nun or ambulance in Italy is considered bad luck.

If you do find yourself coming across an ambulance during your visit, pinch your nose and hold your breath until you see a black or brown dog. Doing this will ward off bad luck as these two figures are associated with death.

Half of the world’s chocolate is consumed in Europe.

To be more precise, Switzerland has the highest chocolate production and consumption per capita than any other European country. Second to this is Germany.

There are over 600,000 people that are homeless in the U.S.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development states that most of these people spend the night in homeless shelters or on the streets. Moreover, a third of this population also live in cars or under bridges.

There is a group of small islands in Dubai that resemble the world map. 

This project is called the World Islands and is located on the water of the Persian Gulf. During the construction of the project, many difficulties arose, mainly involving financial difficulties.

Indians do not express their love for their partner in public.

In India, adults are forbidden to touch others of the opposite gender as it encourages voyeurism. However, there are no restrictions on this with the elderly or children.

Couples often adopt a child due to infertility.

Statistics have found that 95% of couples that choose adoption is because they are unable to have children of their own. Other reasons also include concern for health during pregnancy and the need to avoid passing on inheritable diseases to their children. Moreover, some people are also uncomfortable with adding to the overpopulation problem.

Chinese culture emphasizes great importance on family. 

The country of China is known for its strong family bonds and defined roles for each member. Elders are greatly respected and are viewed as a source for wisdom while the parents are also seen as the providers of the family.

Additionally, the children are also seen as future investments that the family has to mold.

Northern Europe is where humans first developed blonde hair. 

Research believes that blonde hair developed to enable the more efficient synthesis of vitamin D due to the lack of sunlight. Moreover, the mutation dates back to almost 11,000 years ago which is also around the time of the last ice age.

In Russia, hiccups are a sign that somebody is thinking of you.

Having hiccups are believed to be a sign that someone is thinking of you at that very moment. If an eyelash falls out while you have the hiccups, you will receive a gift.

Youth pride is one of the extensions of the LGBTQ+ culture and movement. 

This community promotes the same kind of equality for younger members of the LGBTQ+ community. This culture exists in many different countries around the world and is celebrated through festivals and parades.

Moreover, these festivities also allow members of the LGBT community to network with other members and also celebrate their sexual identities without fear of judgment or ridicule.

Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2001.

The Netherlands was the first to legalize gay marriage. In the next few years, more countries have continued to legalize same-sex marriage,

Australia is the second country that allowed women to vote. 

The Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902 gave women the right to vote during federal elections and on the same terms as men. The law states that women the age of 21 and over will be able to practice this right.

In Japanese culture, people always take off their shoes before entering a home.

This is mainly for the reason of not getting dirt from outside, inside the house and dirty the corridors. Instead of using shoes, special indoor slippers are used by the family and guests so that they may walk around the house.

Going out with someone was not always called dating. 

Using the word date in the context of a relationship first dates back to the year 1896. Before this, the act was simply called ‘filling the dates on the calendar’. Over time this was simplified into the term dating.

Mayans painted their human sacrifices blue. 

Archeologists discovered that when the Mayans wanted to please the rain gods, they would offer human sacrifices. These people would be painted blue and have their hearts cut out on stone altars and were thrown down wells.

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Yoshoku is the term used for Japanese food based on Western food. 

This is a generic term used for dishes like their hambagu steak and omurice. Popular foods like curry and such are also inspired by western dishes.

Popular culture was traditionally associated with the lower classes. 

This idea was coined sometime during the 19th century and was antonymous with the official culture of the higher classes. However, as time went on, popular culture encompassed more on activities and the feelings attained from interacting with the dominant objects.

Today, the most common popular culture categories are entertainment, news, sports, fashion, politics, and also technology.

Mardi Gras originated in the United States. 

It was first celebrated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703 which later on became an annual festivity. In 1718, New Orleans took on a different iteration of the holiday which popularized the celebration.

Over 80% of wildlife in Australia is unique to the country alone. 

This is believed to be because of how the supercontinent separated millions of years ago. This movement caused major formation and climate changes that became unique from anywhere else in the world.

Wild plants and animals evolved in such a way that they can only be found in Australia. This could also be the reason as to why wildlife is much larger in this country.

The word calligraphy translates to ‘good writing’. 

While originating in China, calligraphy has grown to become a popular way of expression and art. In several Asian countries, it is also a large part of their culture.

704 million pounds of Turkey is consumed annually by Americans on Thanksgiving. 

This is equivalent to around 44 million turkeys being served in one Thanksgiving night. Now, that’s a lot of Turkey.

Art was once an Olympic event.

During 1912 through 1948 Olympics, medals were awarded for painting, literature, architecture, sculpture, and music. All events were required to have a sports theme and that the competitors be non-professional artists.

Asking for salt during a meal is considered rude in Egypt. 

While adding salt to your food may be a normal act in many countries all around the world, it is nothing but an insult in Egypt. Doing this signifies that you do not like the taste of the food which can be taken as an insult to the ones that have cooked and prepared it for you.

Veterans Day is celebrated in honor of military veterans that served during the first world war. 

This is considered a federal holiday in the U.S. It is annually celebrated on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month by those who have served in the US Armed Forces.

It is illegal to gamble in Japan. 

However there are a few exceptions allowed by the government, This includes sports betting such as horse races.

Pachinko is also a popular form of legal gambling as the machines give out non-cash prizes that may be converted into money.

The annual death penalty executions have decreased gradually in the US since 1999.

As of 2017, only a total of 23 inmates were executed as compared to the 98 inmates that were sentenced to the death penalty in 1999. A total of eight states were also accounted for the 2017 statistics which is significantly lower compared to the 20 states that executed the penalty in 1999.

An old Halloween ritual involved finding a husband.

According to historians, women would often throw apple peels over their shoulders and hope to see the initials of their future husbands on Halloween night. They would also competitively bob for apples, with the winner being blessed to find a husband first.

In Greece, children throw their teeth onto the roof of their homes. 

This cultural tradition states that if you throw a child’s tooth onto the roof of your home, they will grow in a healthy new tooth. It is also stated that this act will bless the family with good luck.

Over 36 million heart-shaped chocolate boxes are sold across the U.S on valentine’s day.

Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic festivities of the year. Annually, over 8 million sweethearts all around the world celebrate it with their significant other.

Each year, the traditional heart-shaped chocolate boxes are sold between January and February.

China is deeply influenced by Confucianism.

For thousands of years, Chinese culture has been rooted in two main philosophies. Confucianism states that each person has a place in society and this is enforced by China by building a structural society.

Red ink cannot be used to write a person's name in South Korea. 

In South Korea, any colored ink is acceptable to use when writing someone’s name or your own. However, you cannot use red ink as the color symbolizes death in the country.

Finger pulling is a serious and traditional sport in Austria. 

The name of the game is fingerhakeln and the rules of the game are quite strict. Much similar to tug-of-war, the objective of the game is to drag the opponent by the finger across the table.

This sport is also played by the German state of Bavaria.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in April 1970.

While this celebration originated in the U.S, it was recognized worldwide by the 90s. During the first Earth Day celebration, over 20 million people gathered to protest the industrial revolution. Because of this, an environmental movement was also created.

Finland associates saunas with good business. 

In Finland, going to the sauna is a popular way of socializing. For some business clients, they will invite their counterparts to a sauna after a meeting.

While this may seem strange, this is a sign that your meeting was successful.

Different flowers have different symbolism in Russia.

When in Russia, giving flowers as a gift is quite normal. However, different flowers are associated with different meanings.

Yellow flowers symbolize a break-up while red flowers are only presented to veterans that have survived the war. These flowers may also be given to those that have passed away.