Goodbye
Groundhog Day
U.S.
Many countries have rather strange holidays that commemorate their distinct histories. While the United States is a rather new nation, it has been around long enough to develop one odd holiday known as Groundhog Day. Since 1887, on February 2, the nation waits patiently to see if the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow. If he does, it means there will be six more weeks of winter. Perhaps even more bizarre is the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s Inner Circle of dedicated men who, according to tradition, tend to the groundhog while dressed in black suits and top hats at the lighthearted Groundhog Day ceremony each year.
Buttered popcorn
United States
The total number of Americans killed in this War is greater than the combined total of Americans killed in all other wars.
Adiós
America
it's often not enough to simply show up and take their seats. Americans need to arrive hours in advance to properly prepare for the experience of seeing the game live and in person. Emblazoned in team colors, tailgaters will crowd the stadium's parking lot, grilling food, sipping cold adult beverages, playing lawn games and tossing around footballs.
Fish 'n' chips
UK
This was the deadliest war ever fought and the most widespread war in history
World War II
Arrivederci
Slurping your food
Japan
Most societies around the world have rules about table etiquette. For western cultures, noisily consuming food is considered rude. In Japan, however, making slurping sounds while eating has an entirely different meaning. This might have something to do with the fact that in western countries, noodles are properly consumed by twirling them on a spoon before putting them in the mouth. Meanwhile, the Japanese simply slurp up their noodles without contorting them first, an act that is naturally noisier than the former. Making slurping sounds when eating noodles in Japan is a way of indicating that you’re really enjoying them. Some scientists even argue slurping invites air into the palate and actually enhances the noodles’ flavor.
Maple syrup
Canada
In this ancient civilization,people shaved their eyebrows as a mourning symbol when their cats died.
Shalom
Hebrew (Israel)
Spitting on the bride at weddings
Greece
This practice was popularized thanks to the 2002 film, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Spitting in Greek cultures is a kind of good luck charm that is supposed to help ward off the devil. Today, the custom typically doesn’t involve guests hocking loogies at the newlywed bride. Instead, it has evolved into a more symbolic act where guests mainly forcefully utter “ftou ftou ftou.” Greeks do this at other special occasions too, including baptisms in order to acknowledge the beauty and good health of the baby. Spitting can even be done as a superstitious measure to ward off evil during regular conversation.
The Colosseum
Rome, Italy
Croissant
France
This epidemic reduced the population of Europe by two thirds from 1347 to 1351.
The Black Death
Avoiding using red ink
South Korea
Based on their history and customs, red ink was used to write down names of dead people. It is therefore considered a taboo to write someone’s name in red.
Taj Mahal
India
Marzipan
Germany
The great conqueror, Attila the Hun, died from this.