15 Unique European Norms That Sound Crazy to Americans
We're not in Kansas anymore.
Published 11 months ago in Wow
Though they may be just a few hours away, European countries are quite different than the good old US of A. While we have cheese from a can, the English roll theirs down a hill. Though Ameicans will shell out tens, if not hundreds of dollars for the perfect bottle of vino, some people in Spain can't wait to get their wine off their hands.
From strange-looking delicacies to the benefits of sleeping with basil under your pillow, here are 15 of Europe's most unique traditions.
1
England’s Cheese Races
“The Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake is a yearly event held at Cooper’s Hill, in the small town of Brockworth, in Gloucestershire, England. It’s takes place in late May, on the Spring Bank Holiday …At the event, a wheel of cheese, specifically a 7–9 pound (3–4 kilogram) Double Gloucester, made by a local cheesemaker named Diana Smart, is thrown down the hill. People then roll down after it, trying to catch it. But this is usually impossible, as it can reach up to 70mph. Instead, the first person who crosses the finish line, wins the cheese.’”
3
Spain's Free Wine
“In a small farming town somewhere north of Zaragoza, I asked for red wine with my late lunch one afternoon and was presented with a full bottle. I'm a small woman and it was 3pm (we didn't intend to stay very long and my husband was driving, so had ordered a soft drink), I was rather outfaced by this full bottle of wine on my table. I was upset at the thought that the waiter thought I was your stereotypical alcoholic Brit abroad, and that there may be some expectation that I drink the whole thing (now he had opened it and left it on my table, as would be the case in the UK). I was rather expecting a mid sized glass of wine, and a bottle of water. I had ordered in Spanish, and didn't have sunburn, and wasn't in a touristy area. I came to understand (through asking the waiter) that I was not being charged for the wine and could have as much or as little as I wanted, it being a wine-producing region and the wine being so cheap. And of course, it wouldn't be lunch without a glass of wine. A very civilized way of proceeding, I approve. Yay Spain.”
6
The Netherland’s Store Schedules
“It's the 40 hour workweek. Since most shops are open on Saturday, they (partly) close on Monday. There is quite some (political) resistance towards the 24-hour economy to protect smaller shops that can't do shifts. A while back a referendum to open shops on Sunday actually got shot down. By now, it got snuck back in anyway, but it's a good indicator for the mindset involved.”
8
Romanian Basil Traditions
“Girls who want to know who they will marry place basil under their pillows on the night of November 29 to November 30. Basil is also said to keep the evil spirits away, so people use it when they cook their meals. Basil is also used by priest of the Orthodox Church for various holidays or moments of mass.”
11
Ireland’s Wild Funerals
“Our funerals/wakes. Funerals in other countries can be family only affairs while in Ireland it's not uncommon to have people of quite tenuous connection being there. I saw a video recently talking about Irish funerals and was surprised that everyone lining up and shaking the family's hands wasn't a thing. Then there's the afters of a funeral where in other countries they may go home, we have food and drink and tend to try enjoy ourselves. The last 2 funerals I've been to I have gotten home between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. We are a younger crowd though in fairness.”
14
Sweden and Norway’s Dinner Avoidance
“It seems like it was a very brief thing in Sweden in the 80s. Apparently feeding your guests would have risked f–kg up the guest's meal schedule or something (like if you have your kid's friend over until 6pm, friend always eat dinner with their family at 6.30 while you eat at 5pm. So offering food to the kid would make them not hungry when they're supposed to eat with their own family, and that means you disrespected the kid's parents).”
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