ADVERTISEMENT

An open mind is one of the most important things travelers need when jet setting around the world. You might not always know what you’re ordering off a menu or why the toilets look so different from back home, but that’s just part of the adventure!

Every country has its quirks, so some people have been opening up on Reddit about the things no one bats an eye at in their own nations. Below, you can learn all about these unique things that make nations special (while simultaneously confusing foreigners) and read conversations with travel experts Alyse of The Invisible Tourist and Dave and Deb of The Planet D!

#1

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In Canada, we put maple syrup on snow and wait for it to get all gooey then we eat it

chillphilsonthegrill , Sarah J Report

Add photo comments
POST
oscar_cochrane avatar
Little O
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s like… the most Canadian thing that has ever Canadianed…

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In Denmark our way of caring for our children baffles a lot of foreginers.
i.e. we find it natural to leave them unattended, they are left in their prams to nap basically everywhere, usually outside no matter what time of the year it is.

Zrina94 , Josh Withers Report

Add photo comments
POST
carlacampbell avatar
Carla Campbell
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We can't even send our kids to school without worrying they'll be shot. (USA)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

To learn more about the cultural differences visitors find when traveling internationally, we reached out to Australian travel expert Alyse, also known as The Invisible Tourist. Alyse was kind enough to share a list of things that are perfectly normal in the Land Down Under that might be surprising or confusing for tourists.

“There are quite a few!” she told Bored Panda. “Having Christmas in summer is awesome. We have our extended holiday period over Christmas and New Year's to relax, enjoy beaches and to catch up with family and friends. School kids call erasers rubbers, thongs are what you would call flip-flops, and a slippery-dip is a slide at the local park.”

“We always welcome visitors from abroad with a warning about our Drop Bears,” Alyse added. “These are vicious koalas that jump from trees onto unsuspecting tourists, and the only way to soothe them is with Vegemite (spoiler alert, only visitors believe Drop Bears are real).”

ADVERTISEMENT
#3

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Throwing cheese down a hill then running after it

Seeyouyeah , Dave Farrance Report

Add photo comments
POST
leonmalone avatar
Charlie the Cat
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is an annual event that takes place in Gloucestershire, England. The event involves rolling a 7lb (3kg) Double Gloucester cheese wheel down the almost-vertical Cooper’s Hill, near Gloucester. Competitors chase the cheese wheel down the hill, and the first person to cross the finish line is crowned the winner.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Thanking the bus driver.

Madra_ruax , Csongor Kemény Report

Add photo comments
POST
julian-mallett avatar
Downunderdude
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I rarely take the bus, but thanking the driver doesn't seem at all odd to me. Like thanking your waiter. Or the checkout person. Or the taxi driver. Isn't it just common courtesy?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The travel expert also noted that Australian slang can be confusing for foreigners. “To get by in Australia, it's essential to shorten words then add an O or IE to the end - arvo (afternoon), barbie (barbeque), mozzie (mosquito), cozzie (swimming costume/bathers), servo (service station/petrol station). An exception to this ends with an A - Macca's, our word or McDonald's.”

“If you're wanting to purchase alcohol for a party, you won't find it in our supermarkets,” Alyse continued. “We have separate stores that sell alcohol only that we call Bottle-o's."

You also probably don't need to worry about snakes if you're taking a trip to Australia. "Visitors are surprised that there aren't snakes everywhere, like social media would otherwise have you believe," Alyse says. "I've maybe seen a real snake in the wild once or twice in my entire life.”

#5

In the UK, its definitely how we treat our friends. At uni quite a few people, especially Americans got pissed at me for insulting them. That's just how we act. Only worry when we're being polite

anon Report

Add photo comments
POST
emmastowe1986 avatar
Emma S
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The word c**t is a term of endearment in the UK. It's not uncommon to hear people calling their best friends it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Thirty days of confinement to a room in your house after having a baby and only leaving to go to the doctor.
Not sleeping by your significant other when they are going hunting the next day because you "have power" that will affect the kill.
Not stepping over things while pregnant to prevent the soul from leaving the baby.
Also, never touching meat while on "your time" because the "power" will spoil the meat.
Dancing for four days without water or food in the early summer to help the people...
I am on a reservation in the United States. The US has some 500+ tribes but many have the same beliefs and traditions.
So, there US you have something totally bizarre to you that is completely normal to us

nativehoneybaby , JÉSHOOTS Report

Add photo comments
POST
foogel avatar
Lama
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know it's culture, and an endangered one for that, so it feels almost forbidden to judge, but some of this feels a little unfriendly to women..

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

There are some food names that might confuse visitors in Australia as well. “Cilantro is called coriander here, peppers are called capsicums, aubergines are called eggplants and courgettes are called zucchinis,” Alyse explained. (As an American, I have to say that sounds like a hybrid of British and American terminology…)

“All Aussie kids grow up eating Fairy Bread (bread with butter and sprinkles), Sausage Rolls (meaty pastry), mini Meat Pies and Tim Tams (choccie bikkies) for snacks at parties,” the Invisible Tourist shared.

#7

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused We let cheese melt, throw some schnaps in there and eat it with bread cubes on a long fork.

Oh and if your bread falls off the fork you'll have to do some silly stuff like sing a song or jump naked in the snow...

Skinnj , Juliano Mendes Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#8

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused The friendlier the language the closer you are to a beating, the dirtier the language the more we like you.

anon , Kampus Production Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Alyse also shared some of her most memorable moments from traveling abroad when she noticed local customs that were different from what she's used to. “Ordering food from a vending machine rather than a waiter in Japan, then sitting down inside and having it brought to the table,” she noted. “Paying for a chair on the beach is weird for us in Europe. We just throw a towel down anywhere on the sand at home.”

“Getting drinks/food from a waiter rather than the bar in continental Europe (ordering it all from a bar must come from our British ancestors),” the travel expert continued. “Having to tip for everything in the USA. We understand why now, but it adds so much extra on top. Not having the taxes included on price tickets in the USA, and having to fumble for change at the register to pay the difference. Paying to use the toilet in the UK and Europe, as we don't need to do that.”

#9

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Apparently white gravy is a thing that's not very common outside of southern America...

kawaiimoesugoidesu , WallyBooger Report

#10

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused The fact gum is illegal here in Singapore may be odd to foreigners, but there's a reason for that. The reason being people constantly spitting gum onto the ground, sticking it on cars and elevator buttons, making everywhere you went covered in gum. And when the gum dried up, it would become very hard to remove.

Im_Tsuikyit , Quinn Dombrowski Report

ADVERTISEMENT

We were also curious if there were any customs from other nations that Alyse wished Australians would adopt. “Australia can be a great place to live, but being an island continent has its challenges,” she noted. “Many of us would love to adopt European high-speed or Japanese-style bullet trains to travel between our capital cities. Most visitors don't realize how far away everything is here, for example Sydney to Melbourne is 9 hours drive (870kms), and Melbourne to Brisbane is 18 hours drive (1776km). Heck, even flying from Sydney to Perth or Darwin is 5 hours.”

“The other would be not tolerating drugs and other crimes,” the traveler added. “Countries in Asia have very strict consequences for such things, and therefore crime and delinquency is much lower than major cities in Australia. We tend to go a bit easy here, in my opinion.”

If you’d like to learn more about Alyse’s travels, get some tips for your upcoming trips or learn more about Australia, be sure to visit The Invisible Tourist

#11

We have like a whole years worth of child leave here in Sweden and are encouraged to split between the parents, so there is lots of dads at the park with their kids.

Heard an American ask what was up with all the 'mannys'? -_-

ZaMiLoD Report

Add photo comments
POST
cjo_1 avatar
Cjo
Community Member
8 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In America they ask why the mother isn't back to work the next week. :-( No federal law on any paid time off. Currently struggling to try to pass a federal 12-week paid leave. Only about 12 states have any kind of maternity leave law.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

In Bulgaria we nod for No and shake for Yes. This doesn't make us an impression but foreigners get really, really confused.

Tip: Listen to what we say, not how we move our head. :)

EasyDeezy Report

ADVERTISEMENT

We also reached out to travel experts Dave and Deb of The Planet D to hear a Canadian perspective on this topic. "There are so many things that Canadians find perfectly normal that may seem strange to foreigners," the travelers shared.

"The first thought that comes to our head is that we call our one-dollar coins a Loonie. When Canada changed from dollar bills to coins, the new coin had an engraving of a loon on it. A loon is an aquatic bird that is very common in Canada. So instead of calling it a dollar, Canadians called it a Loonie," Dave and Deb explained.

"When the two-dollar coin came out a few years later, it had a polar bear on it. Instead of making a nickname to do with the polar bear, Canadians ended up calling it a Toonie. It rhymes with Loonie and totally makes sense to us." 

#14

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In the U.S. we have dry counties where stores cannot sell alcohol, but if you drive 4 miles up the road you can buy all the booze you want. Like just sell me my damn booze.

nightcrawler_5 , Paul Sableman Report

Add photo comments
POST
brook3bt avatar
horsebonds21 avatar
hwatinternation
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, you know how it goes. Religious freedom of the few can outweigh actual freedom of the many.

Load More Replies...
cjo_1 avatar
Cjo
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that is what you get when a religion controls your government. It is also the source of the blue laws (closing places on Sunday). I spent two years in Alexandria, Louisiana, USA which had blue laws. It seemed like there was a church on every street, but they made up for that with either a bar or a liquor store on every street too.

mrob avatar
Gardener of Weeden
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my favorite facts - Jack Daniels Whiskey is made in a dry county.

emmyandtom085 avatar
Timbob
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Old joke. Evangelicals don’t recognize Fundamentals, Protestants don’t recognize Catholics, and Baptists don’t recognize each other in the liquor store.

alexbarnett avatar
Alex Barnett
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm from New Orleans, so this is pretty alien to me. I also don't understand being able to buy beer and wine at the grocery store, but having to go to a specific store to buy hard liquor. Also blue laws are fricking stupid and need to be repealed, I don't know anyone who likes them.

brockenblue avatar
Brocken Blue
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And meanwhile, in New Jersey, I’m just impressed y’all have beer and wine in your grocery stores. That must be nice.

Load More Replies...
heietodd69 avatar
Burnt Bagel
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And don’t even get me started on the f****d up marijuana laws between states

sprite420 avatar
Jeremy James
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dry counties have higher DUI or DWI fatality rates than wet counties. It makes sense when you think about it for a moment.

vmblessing avatar
Verena
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Separate stores or closed off sections are standard in the Netherlands and Scandinavia (everything stronger than wine and beer)

fredneobob90 avatar
Huddo's sister
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia you can't even get beer or wine without going to a separate store

Load More Replies...
igor914624 avatar
Igor914624
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is a holdover from the puritan ancestors, handed down to the southern baptists. And it is not as bad as it used to be. Most of the dry counties are starting to realize they are losing revenue, so they are repealing the dry laws. In the past, they had "blue laws" that prevented the sale of all but essential items on Sundays. When they were in effect, shopping malls were closed on Sundays, and whole isles in supermarkets were taped off. The blue laws are gone now, but you still can't buy beer before noon on Sunday, and liquor stores are closed on Sunday.

mphalter avatar
Sans Serif (Sans)
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Massachusetts used to have some wicked blue-laws. After years of watching hoards of people simply drive 10 miles north to New Hampshire - they shut that sh!t down.

Load More Replies...
debbykeir avatar
Debby Keir
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found it odd in New York that I could buy beer in a supermarket, but had to go to an off licence for wine or spirits....

sky_thunder1384 avatar
Shadow
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

IIRC they are called blue laws and can get really strange in areas of the States.

gereneavila avatar
Blondieybat
Community Member
5 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fun ffact: Jack Daniels was started in a 'dry' county.

oberlinmom1 avatar
Stymied Egan
Community Member
7 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This changes depending on the community. This town was dry. It was voted out several years ago. When we moved here you could only buy liquor from state stores, I think it was state wide. That too changed. In some cases majority still rules.

lsmith_1 avatar
L Smith
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember living in Pennsylvania where the only place is you could buy alcohol were called State stores. They were operated by the government and licensed by the state to sell alcohol. If you went to a grocery store or 7-eleven, you could not buy alcohol.

nikkisevven avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even in Massachusetts, the most progressive state in the US, it wasn't until 2003 that liquor stores could sell alcohol on Sundays. Bars were open, though, which is weird.

swoodsong avatar
Summer Woodsong
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The story they tell locally is that during the civil war there were very few men to home and the ladies voted in the dry county. I wouldn't change it for anything. You may have to go down the road a bit to get liquor, but at least no one is driving home drunk from a local bar.

mr-garyscott avatar
El Dee
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have dry areas too. I used to live in one. No pubs but you could buy some to take home. Also private clubs were allowed. Basically it was to keep anyone but locals from drinking there. Made no difference..

zacharygillette avatar
zgillet
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many states and counties also outlaw alcohol delivery, then wonder why their drunk driving accident rate is high.

rizzopoes1978 avatar
The_OG_Catlady
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, Murica. Where you can literally buy guns everywhere that can kill anybody, but god forbid if you want to have a good time by yourself and do absolutely no harm to anyone

stanflouride avatar
Stannous Flouride
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The county where Jack Daniels whiskey is made is a dry county so you can't buy it there.

rorschach22a avatar
The Shark
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahh brings back memories of the good ol' days of CT "Blue laws" when you couldn't sell alcohol after 9pm and were totally forbidden on Sundays. Fortunately being a small state with relatively short drives to any other state, they finally came to their senses when they realized how irrational the laws were and how much tax revenue they were losing and repealed the law

ashseto avatar
The Duck
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yeah, people in massachusetts drive up to new hampshire to avoid liquor taxes

mikefitzpatrick avatar
Mike Fitzpatrick
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gurley, Alabama. We used to have a vaca place in a dry county. We had to drive to Gurley to get enough beer for the trip.

bharrelson2002 avatar
Billy Harrelson
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In a way, I miss the blue laws. It irritated the starch out of me as a kid. I wanted to go to the store but nothing, not even the grocery store, opened until 1pm and closed by 6. We didn't even go to church so I didn't understand it. But it would make sense if we had them today. Give some of the more extreme Christians (aka Baptists) a chance to chill instead of harassing some restaurant worker or retail employee.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Dave and Deb also shared their thoughts on customs they've observed in other countries. "Something I find really weird about our neighbors to the south is that they wear their shoes indoors," they told Bored Panda. "Most Canadians don't walk into their houses with shoes on, and when we visit our friends and neighbors, we always take our shoes off. In America, it is common to leave their shoes on. To us it is weird. There is a lot of gross stuff on the streets and sidewalks, why would we want to bring that into our house?"

#15

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In Iran it is common to say no out of politeness when offered something. Only if the other person asks again will you say yes. Actually, you might even say no multiple times.

Cab drivers will do this too for instance. You ask how much you owe them and they'll say something along the lines of "oh don't worry it's worth nothing" to which you then reply by insisting on paying. Only then will they tell you the price and bla bla bla.

sunchild21 , cottonbro studio Report

#16

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused We burn a Viking galley in January with a +-1000 men with burning torches walking around town all dressed up in anything you can imagine with one main squad dressed up in handmade Viking armour with weapons (diffrent each year), then we burn the boat in the town centre. Then we go to lots of town halls drink and dance for the whole night only to get home in the early hours usually worse for wear.

alex_sl92 , Vicky Brock Report

Dave and Deb also admitted that they wish Canada would get on board with the heated toilets you can find in Japan. "We loved the Toto toilets that washed and dried our private parts, and that warm seat was so welcoming. They even had Toto toilets in the park's pavilion at Nikko National Park during our hike," they noted. "It was heavenly. Canada should adopt that, and we'd also never have to deal with the 'Great Toilet Paper Shortage' again."

#17

Eating fries covered with cheese curd and gravy.

binaryblade Report

#18

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Colombia: Putting cheese in our hot chocolate. You put in a bit of cheese in the cup, it melts and you take it out with a spoon and eat it with bread. No, it doesn't make your chocolate taste cheesy, it just melts in a nice way.

The first time I did this with foreigners they were completely beside themselves.

molecularpoet , Quinn Comendant Report

Add photo comments
POST
zedrapazia avatar
Zedrapazia
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am Swiss, we have the famous chocolate and the cheese, and I still want to poke everyone who wants to eat this in the nose. How can you?!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"Canada has a lot of quirkiness," the travelers shared. "I sometimes think we are quirkier than other countries, and we all seem to like it that way. It is a huge country, and there are many quirks in different regions. For example, when visiting Dawson City, Yukon, it is customary to drink the Sour Toe Cocktail that contains an actual dead human toe. When visiting Newfoundland, visitors (Come from Aways) can become honorary Newfoundlanders when they drink Screech rum and kiss a cod fish."

If you'd like to hear more about Dave and Deb's travels or learn fun facts about the great nation of Canada, be sure to visit their blog The Planet D!

#19

In the UK we don't have one tap spout in a sink that you control the temperature of. We have two separate spouts: one hot that strips the flesh from your bones and one cold that gives you frost bite.

MajestyA Report

Add photo comments
POST
mikehodgson avatar
Hodmi
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Comes from back in the day when the hot water wasn't potable. The separate spout keeps it separate from the cold water.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Sitting naked and silently in a hot and sweaty room with other people

Aapelus , Ron Lach Report

#21

* Need some groceries? Get on your bike and stuff everything in your *fietstas*.

* Kids need to go to school? Bring them in your *bakfiets* (freight bicycle).

* Trying your best to talk Dutch to someone? Get an answer in English.

Roland0180 Report

Add photo comments
POST
stefanscheiben avatar
The Scout
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think there is no country in Europe where you don't get an answer in English if someone notices you are not fluent in the local language. Well, except in France, maybe - most people there will know English but never speak it out of disdain.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Saying sorry to random people if they bump into you, even if it wasn't your fault.

Frostedchunks Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#23

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In Singapore, when I go to a foodcourt/coffeeshop/foodhall, I can reserve a table or a seat by placing a packet of tissue/my handkerchief on the spot. No need to leave my bag or bottle or anything else to reserve the spot before I walk over to a food stall to buy food. I come back and my 20cents packet of tissue is still there. Basically, no one will dare steal your spot/tissue or move it away. Pretty convenient eh.

bluezebra1990 , Sergiy Galyonkin Report

Add photo comments
POST
feliciacahoon avatar
I heart Boo-BI-es
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love the name of this restaurant in the stock photo, Dank burrito 🌯. Perfect spot when you get the munchies!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Shabbat elevator service. In Israel, in a lot of places, the elevators are programmed to stop at every floor going up and down, so that the religious people don't have to push buttons and therefore "operate machinery" on Shabbat. So, if you wanna get to your floor on time, just take the stairs.

anon , Jason Dent Report

#25

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Celebrating the attempted terrorist attack by Guy Fawkes.

Explained it to my friends girlfriends from Portland and she thought it was the most bizarre thing ever.

BobletOfFire , Pierre-Selim Report

Add photo comments
POST
soniahowse avatar
Duvet Woman
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The way that's worded sounds like we celebrate that Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The celebration is that he didn't manage it. Hence putting the " guy " on the bonfire.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Here in England we get totally drunk because the sun is shining. It's reason enough to finish work and go straight to the nearest pub with a beer garden then drink until closing.

I imagine in some countries you'd never be sober if that happened.

anon , ELEVATE Report

Add photo comments
POST
emmastowe1986 avatar
Emma S
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sun shines so rarely in the UK that it's a cause for celebration when it does.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In England it's pretty common to greet someone by saying something along the lines of "you alright?". I said this to my American friend and she responded by asking what I wanted?..

Team_Rocket_Landed , Andrea Piacquadio Report

Add photo comments
POST
sarah-jones avatar
sbj
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And we aren't asking you if you are alright we just mean Hello

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

Groundhogs Day must seem incredibly strange to non-Americans.

gabgruz14 Report

#29

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused In Belgium we have neighborhoods where 90% of the people living there speak French yet they are forced to speak Dutch in all official capacities unless they specifically ask for French after the fact. Call the police, they speak Dutch first, then you have to ask them to speak French to you. Receive official documents from the community? In Dutch first, then you have to ask for them in French.

And that's really just the tip of the iceberg.

viktor72 , Jérôme Report

Add photo comments
POST
hawkmoon avatar
Hawkmoon
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Living in a totally French-speaking area, I rarely encounter this kind of problem, but I remember, the very first time I went to "Mons" (name of the city), I asked myself questions when I no longer saw the signs " Mons" on the highway, but signs for "Bergen", which is the name of the city in Dutch. I wondered if I hadn't taken the wrong direction somewhere.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

At the longest day of the year, everyone has to gather in a large field and jam a large wooden p***s covered in flowers into the ground. Then we dance around it. Historically this was to ensure a plentiful harvest but nowadays it's just an excuse to get drunk.

TommyTbone Report

#31

Calling your mates c**t, and c***s mate.

kewday96 Report

#32

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Sitting in circles on birtdays and putting sprinkles on bread as breakfast or lunch.

Freefight , Pavel Danilyuk Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#33

There are beaches where you should be naked (do not have to but you should be, besides maybe little kids or what ever)

No pixeling / blackening titts in TV, beer and wine for 16 year olds.
And I guess the most important on parts of our "highways" you can drive as fast as you want (which is actually pretty touristy here).

Luwi00 Report

#34

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused Kissing people on the cheek (even the one you don't know personally) to say hello.
Welcome to France guys o/

Kamiyee , Ketut Subiyanto Report

#35

Something I noticed is that students (perticulary Greek, Italian, French) that come to the UK find our drinking culture strange. As where maybe they would go out and have a few drinks then go home we will go home once we are dragged back vomiting at out door.
P.s. not really something I'm proud of just something I noticed

dhrisher Report

Add photo comments
POST
beab_ avatar
Ample Aardvark
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Drinking just to get drunk (instead of enjoying a nice drink or just to get a bit buzzed) was always weird for me

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

40 Things That Are Totally Normal In Some Countries, Yet Make The Rest Of The World Confused We call the clear water as "sky juice"

butterpopkorn , Uber Turist Report

#37

Climbing up a super oily tree trunk along with a bunch of bare chested men with the goal of grabbing a bunch of s****y prizes tied at the top.
EDIT: It's called Panjat Pinang.

SAINT_OF_SHIT Report

Add photo comments
POST
brockenblue avatar
Brocken Blue
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That sounds like an excellent spectator sport, to be honest. I’d watch

View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

We eat the inwards of sheep and they are delicious! We call it "κοκορέτσι". It's the greatest greek dish. It's like 4 x gyros!

geoponos Report

Add photo comments
POST
marcopielka avatar
Hans Georg
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am fairly sure it is innards and not inwards, but we have something similar in Germany too.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Brunost (goat cheese)

It's pretty normal in Norway, Denmark & Sweden

Edit: Should've said that it's a type of brown colored goat cheese, which contains from whey as one of the main ingredients.

SavageCake Report

Add photo comments
POST
laura_ketteridge avatar
arthbach
Community Member
8 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is delicious! The whey is boiled to reduce it, and cream is added. This produces a hard cheese that taste a bit of caramel, and is a little nutty too.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

Calling some random dude "your man". Equal in meaning to "that guy".

i_am_just_a_number Report

Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.