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Original poster

What is your favourite thing you've learnt from another culture?

121 replies

SandGroperNomad · 03/09/2023 15:35

I thought this would be a lovely thread to start and to see what other people's experiences were.

I have a few, and it's a hard choice but I would say the concept of blessing the children on Shabbat before I was Jewish. I love it, and it's now the favourite part of my week.

OP posts:
PuppyMcPupFace · 03/09/2023 22:46

AlisonDonut · 03/09/2023 18:22

Afternoons are for snoozing. Learnt that since moving to France.

Snap!

Hopingforagreatescape · 03/09/2023 22:48

How to sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you and rock a baby to sleep on your lower legs.

ClaraBourne · 03/09/2023 22:56

An Irish wake, where you see relatives you haven't seen for years but it doesn't matter, they are always pleased to see you. Meet your third cousin once removed for the first time, get on like a house on fire cus it's family, remenisce, get a bit or very drunk, view the deceased and comment on how well they look, cry, laugh, get a bit more drunk.

TheOccupier · 05/09/2023 20:59

Hopingforagreatescape · 03/09/2023 22:48

How to sit on the floor with your legs straight out in front of you and rock a baby to sleep on your lower legs.

Need to know more! Which cultures do this and how do you then reach to pick up/move the baby?

KingCharlesCoronation · 05/09/2023 21:10

This thread is really interesting Smile

Clymene · 05/09/2023 21:10

blueboatsgreensea · 03/09/2023 20:13

Technically not another specific culture , but something that is being lost in some western cultures. How physically doing something which takes time , braiding hair, making laborious fiddly meals that take hours, creates opportunities to talk and bond with family members.
These are the type of activities that others sometimes look down on as a waste of time, or to be outsourced to others at all costs. They often only see the physical outcome rather than the invisible gifts that they bring.

Yes this is so important. We are so focused on being productive that we take no pleasure in these slow skills.

The thing I've learned from other cultures is child-led co-sleeping. My children decided when they wanted to sleep alone. We slept very well.

Hedjwitch · 05/09/2023 21:21

From our ancestors,how to use plants and herbs as medicine and in skin/hair care. How to use what grows freely around us to heal and soothe.

FettleOfKish · 05/09/2023 21:29

From Romanian friends, how much more of a thing Women's Day is in some countries. They receive flowers and messages from their Dads, Brothers, male friends (and ex-husband in one case) every year.

From DH's Scandinavian family how much more independent their children & teens are than those we know in Britain. Our 12 year old niece in Sweden is much more self-sufficient than our 15 year old niece in the UK (of course this could just be the individuals but DH says not).

From both of the above, taking your shoes off in someone's home, and providing slippers for guests.

PastTheGin · 05/09/2023 21:35

I used to live in Switzerland and learned to love slow Sundays: everything is shut and all you can do is spend quality time with your family, preferably outdoors.

Also Apéro - a late afternoon get together with fancy little bites (a bit like afternoon tea, but mostly savoury) and alcohol, so that you go home for dinner very slightly sozzled.

MidnightOnceMore · 05/09/2023 21:39

Swedish death cleaning seems a good idea.

MidnightOnceMore · 05/09/2023 21:40

blueboatsgreensea · 03/09/2023 20:13

Technically not another specific culture , but something that is being lost in some western cultures. How physically doing something which takes time , braiding hair, making laborious fiddly meals that take hours, creates opportunities to talk and bond with family members.
These are the type of activities that others sometimes look down on as a waste of time, or to be outsourced to others at all costs. They often only see the physical outcome rather than the invisible gifts that they bring.

This really made me think, thank you for this.

crackofdoom · 05/09/2023 21:49

How to make proper coffee on the stove top with a moka (Italian coffee pot, but you can find them here easily enough). You can keep all your massive expensive complicated machines- a moka is 10-15 quid and works perfectly.

FettleOfKish · 05/09/2023 21:50

I used to live in Switzerland and learned to love slow Sundays: everything is shut and all you can do is spend quality time with your family, preferably outdoors

It's similar here in Jersey, although more and more retail is starting to open on Sundays now.

I find it quite assaulting sometimes visiting big cities in the UK when Sunday seems just another day for chores and endless commercialism.

Needmorelego · 05/09/2023 22:00

The last few years I have had an Easter Tree which is a fairly new concept in the UK. More of a German thing (I think).
Since moving to south London (from mostly white Midlands) I am fascinated by black ladies hair - the care needed and the styles (I hope I haven't said that in an rude way - I don't mean to offend anyone).
I recently learned that in some countries people have their birthday and their 'saint' day - if their name is a saint they get to celebrate on that Saints Day. I like the idea of that.

FettleOfKish · 05/09/2023 22:07

@Needmorelego My German friend has an Easter tree so you could be right!

I know what you mean about Afro hair; I'm also from a very white area and am ashamed to admit I was well into my 30s before I had friends close enough for me realise the work and care that goes into keeping it so beautiful.

Ariela · 05/09/2023 22:42

BabyStopCryin · 03/09/2023 15:59

How to cook proper - and I mean proper - rice. As any Persian will tell you, there is only one way 😉

OOh yes, that crusty bit from the bottom of the rice cooker is lovely!

Takes my right back to my 20s when I lodged with a young Iranian couple, she was related to the former Shah and in exile. And tea, no milk served in a tall glass

Mavan1984 · 05/09/2023 22:44

In the South Asian culture new mothers are encouraged to rest for 40 days after giving birth. New mothers are discouraged from going out and physically exerting themselves. Family members will tend to send food to the new mother, will help to lookafter the baby and do her shopping for her. The new mother is also encouraged to eat and drink things that have healing properties. This includes ginger, coconut coconut water, eggs and fenugreek etc. The idea is that this 40 day period will help the new mother heal, breastfeed, get used to the baby and it will also help her mental health.

KinderEggg · 05/09/2023 22:58

Is folic acid not recommended in some countries?

CharlotteStreetW1 · 05/09/2023 23:04

Along similar lines to the OP, I much prefer the Jewish condolence of "may his/her/their memory be a blessing".

tealfox · 05/09/2023 23:34

DogandMog · 03/09/2023 17:07

Iceland/Denmark - two single duvets on a double bed.

i've done this on my king size for years. so when small children climb in with me they can sausage roll and 360 to their hearts content!

ASoapImpressionOfHisWifeWhichHeAte · 06/09/2023 00:22

The way the French seem to see lunch as a proper thing to do rather than just a rushed sarnie at a desk. Love that.

Robbiesraft · 06/09/2023 00:34

From my Polish friend - to open presents and celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. This meant she could take on waitressing shifts on Christmas Day and not feel like she'd missed celebrating properly with her family.

KevinAndHerKits · 06/09/2023 00:37

Robbiesraft · 06/09/2023 00:34

From my Polish friend - to open presents and celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. This meant she could take on waitressing shifts on Christmas Day and not feel like she'd missed celebrating properly with her family.

Christmas dinner at 6pm on Christmas Eve is a game changer. Means you can have a really relaxed Christmas Day eating your own body weight in roast turkey and bacon sandwiches spread with cold bread sauce, followed by spicy turkey hash for supper.

And if you suddenly realise you've forgotten the cranberry sauce on Christmas Eve you can dash to the shops.

passthesugar · 06/09/2023 00:43

BabyStopCryin · 03/09/2023 15:59

How to cook proper - and I mean proper - rice. As any Persian will tell you, there is only one way 😉

I came on to say exactly this.

ChewbaccasMrs · 06/09/2023 01:51

Am I allowed to say my own heritage?

We're a big mix within our family but our strongest roots are Gypsy and I've only realised sadly since losing my parents how lucky I am to have been raised the way I was and how grateful I am that my parents carried on the older ways that they were taught by their parents.

For me it's the fact that family aren't only the people you share blood with,for us family are those you love and those that love you so for example my BF(for over 40 years since we were tiny) didn't have a great home life and my parents treated her like she was they're DD and my brother's treat her like she's they're sister and my children and all of my nephew's and nieces still call her Auntie.

For us it doesn't matter if you're a cousin,a cousins OH,a cousins child or a cousins grandchild your a cousin and that's it and we're all equally as close, I know some people find that weird but it's actually a really comforting way to grow up, it's the same if someone already has a child or children from a previous relationship our families don't really do the whole half or step parent or DC everyone's treated the same,so if one child gets something from someone within the family then the other child/children will as well wether that child's been in the family for a year or ten years they're all treated equally.