BMS312 Global Outreach Research: Cultural Dos and Taboos

AFRICA

In general…
DO: Shake hands with your right hand only.
DON'T: Shake hands with your left hand, offer or accept things with your left hand, or eat with your left hand. (The left hand is usually used for cleaning yourself after using the toilet.)

North Africa:
- Morocco:
   DON'T: Display the soles of your shoes.
- Tunisia:
   DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

East Africa:
DON'T: Display the soles of the feet or touch somebody with your shoes.
- Kenya:
  DON'T: Discuss pregnancy; it's considered bad luck for the pregnant woman.

West Africa:
DON'T: Give someone the thumbs-up sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

South Africa:
DON'T: Give someone the "V sign" with the palm facing toward yourself. This is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. However, if you do the sign with the palm facing outward it's perfectly acceptable, and is interpreted the same way as our "victory" sign.

ASIA

In general…
DON'T: Leave your chopsticks upright in your food.

South-East Asia:
DO: Shake hands with your right hand only.
DON'T: Display the soles of the feet or touch somebody with your shoes. Don't shake someone's hand with your left hand or pass food at the table with your left hand. (The left hand is usually used for cleaning yourself after using the toilet.)
- Indonesia:
  DO: When asked if you have eaten, always respond that you have, even if you're hungry (it's a rhetorical question).
  DON'T: Give someone chrysanthemum flowers, and don't give an odd number of flowers, because it's considered unlucky.
- Thailand:
  DO: Stop and stand in silence when the king's song or the national anthem is played. Keep food above the ground level.
  DON'T: Step over or stand on bills or coins, and don't joke about the king (he is highly revered). Don't touch a Thai person on their head, don't pass items over their head, and don't point at the feet. (The head is sacred while the feet are considered unclean).
- Singapore:
  DO: Burp, slurp, and smack your lips to show gratitude for delicious meals.
  DON'T: Chew bubblegum or have any on your person (it's actually illegal).
- Burma:
  DO: Greet family elders at a gathering and address them with salutations.
  DON'T: Eat or shake hands with the left hand.

Bangladesh:
DO: Greet family elders at a gathering and address them with salutations.
DON'T: Eat or shake hands with the left hand.

China:
DO: Remove your shoes when entering a home or temple.
DON'T: Give someone a timepiece, book, or umbrella as a gift; these words are homonyms for death, defeat, and divorce. Don't blow your nose in public or show the bottoms of your feet to others. Don't equate China to Japan.
- Southern China:
  DON'T: If you're a woman you shouldn't wear a green hat because it implies that you have an impotent husband.

India:
DO: Remove your shoes when entering someone's household. Greet family elders at a gathering and address them with salutations. When addressing an elder or a stranger, use the formal version of the pronoun, "AAP" (formal you), rather than the informal "TUM" or "TOO" (you).
DON'T: Eat or shake hands with the left hand. Don't call an "elder" or a "stranger member of the opposite sex" with just his name. Don't display the soles of the feet or touch somebody with your shoes.

Japan:
DO: Remove your shoes when entering someone's household. When greeting or thanking another person, bow lower than an elder or a person of higher social status. Pour the drinks of elders first. If you're in a taxi, wait for the driver to open the door for you before you get out.
DON'T: Eat or drink on a train. Don't pour your own drink. Don't give things in groups of four; the word for "four" is the same as the word for "death" and is seen as unlucky

Korea:
DO: Remove your shoes before entering someone's home.

AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND

In general…
DON'T: Give someone the "V sign" with the palm facing toward yourself. This is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. However, if you do the sign with the palm facing outward it's perfectly acceptable, and is interpreted the same way as our "victory" sign.

EUROPE

Central & Eastern Europe:
DO: Remove your shoes when entering someone's household.
DON'T: Shake hands while wearing gloves (this does not apply to women).

Albania:

DO: Take off your shoes upon entering the house.  Give a small gift to the host or hostess on the first visit to their house. Chocolates or a gift from your own country make fine gifts. Avoid gifts of alcohol or flowers. Good topics of conversation include sports, travel, culture, family (though men should not ask Muslim men specific questions about female relatives), and international politics.  Handshakes are the customary greeting. When arriving at a business meeting or a private dinner, always greet the eldest man first. Muslims may choose not to shake hands with persons of the opposite sex. In this case, a smile should suffice.  Avoid conversations that involve discussions of local politics, especially Albania's relationship with its neighboring countries. Note that Albania has a large Muslim population; among this population, the Muslim rules and codes of the religion must be applied.
DON'T: Women should be careful to avoid eye contact with men in public and should avoid venturing out late by themselves as that is considered "permissive" behavior.

Nodding your head vertically means "No". Nodding your head horizontally means "Yes".

France:
DO: Always say Bonjour. When eating bread, place it directly on the table, not on a plate.
DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign; it's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. Don't ask an individual what their job or name is directly, and avoid speaking too loudly. Don't ask for cheese after taking dessert, and don't eat bread with the main course. Never ask for your steak well done, and don't put butter on a croissant (it's made of butter).

Germany:
  DO: Make eye contact with people if there's a toast made, and don't cross your arms during the toast.
  DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Greece:
DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign or the thumbs-up sign. They are both the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. Don't show the number five by displaying a hand with fingers spread and palm facing the recipient. The same gesture with the palm facing the gesturer is perfectly fine.

Ireland:
DON'T: Give someone the "V sign" with the palm facing toward yourself. This is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. However, if you do the sign with the palm facing outward it's perfectly acceptable, and is interpreted the same way as our "victory" sign.

Italy:
DO: Follow the dress code when visiting sacred sites: clothing that shields the shoulders, skirts and dresses that go past the knee and, for women, a shawl to wrap around sleeveless blouses in the summertime.
DON'T: Order a cappuccino after 10:30 a.m. (milk is considered filling and should only be consumed at breakfast). Avoid drinking coffee over a meal. Resist the urge to eat while you explore can't-miss attractions ("meals are meant to be savored sitting down, not while walking”). 

Malta:
DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Russia:
DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign or the thumbs-up sign. They are both the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Sardinia:
DON'T: Give someone the thumbs-up sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Scandinavia:
DO: Remove your shoes when entering someone's household.

Spain:
DO: Make sure that you greet everyone at a social/family gathering. Any kind of large gathering of friends or family should be started by greeting every person present (oldest first if possible), and making sure to say goodbye upon leaving. This rule is more relaxed in a group of young people.
DON'T: Drink cappuccinos after 11 am, because milk is meant to be a morning drink.

Switzerland:
DO: Be sure to wish your fellow diners a good meal. Always address your elders with Herr or Frau. Remove your shoes before entering someone's home. If there's a toast at a table, be sure you're making eye contact with people, and don't cross your arms.
DON'T: Vacuum on a Sunday (it's not allowed).

Turkey:
DO: Remove your shoes before entering someone's home.
DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

United Kingdom:
DON'T: Give someone the "V sign" with the palm facing toward yourself. This is the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. However, if you do the sign with the palm facing outward it's perfectly acceptable, and is interpreted the same way as our "victory" sign.

NORTH AMERICA

Canada:
DO: Always be polite. Remove your shoes when entering someone's household.
DON'T: Pay with pennies (round up to the nearest nickel)—minting halted in 2013.

Hawaii:
DO: Remove your shoes when entering someone's household.

SOUTH AMERICA

In general…
DO: Make sure that you greet everyone at a social/family gathering. Any kind of large gathering of friends or family should be started by greeting every person present (oldest first if possible), and making sure to say goodbye upon leaving. This rule is more relaxed in a group of young people.
DON'T: Give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Brazil:
DON'T: Give an inverted American OK sign (it refers to the anus). Don’t raise your fist, it can signal to a man that his wife is cheating on him; don’t put fist to forehead, which signals the person is stupid.

MIDDLE EAST

In general…
DO: Address an elder or person of higher social status using their title: words like uncle/aunt, (elder) brother/sister or formally Mr./Mrs. are expected to be used.
DON'T: Display the soles of the feet or touch somebody with your shoes. Don't give a left-handed handshake or pass food at the table with your left hand. Don't give someone the O.K. sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Iran:
DON'T: Give someone the thumbs-up sign. It's the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger.

Pakistan:
DO: Greet family elders at a gathering and address them with salutations. When addressing an elder or a stranger, use the formal version of the pronoun, "AAP" (formal you), rather than the informal "TUM" or "TOO" (you).
DON'T: Walk with shoes on the carpet inside a house.

United Arab Emirates:
DON'T: Wear revealing clothing (including swimsuits); showing skin is highly offensive. No public displays of affection. Never offer a woman your hand unless she offers it first.

Last updated February, 2020.