“Let’s assume you were born in the village of Castillo de Murcia in Spain, and you have not yet reached your first year; then you will be placed with your peers on cushions in regular rows on a public street. Then men dressed in yellow costumes and scary masks run down the street and jump over you. Don’t be afraid, my spoiled child ☺, it is a cultural tradition to keep evil spirits away from children, and once the jumping is over, three beautiful flowers will be placed next to you.”
“And if you grow up a little and don’t like the situation in Spain and decide to escape as a teenage boy, and you find yourself in Brazil near the Amazon River, the tribes there will not consider you an adult unless you endure the stings of an army of bullet ants, where you have to put your hands in gloves filled with this ant. This rite is not held just once but is repeated until you can withstand the painful stings without crying. The day you endure this torture without shedding a single tear is the day you become a man, and the tribe will celebrate you.”
“Well, have you become an adult now and decided to celebrate your 25th birthday in Denmark, the land of luxury? They will gather around you and cover your entire body with cinnamon powder. I hope you like the celebration.”
“Maybe you will like the Scandinavian countries and decide to settle in Sweden, for example, and marry one of the blonde women. In that case, you have to bid farewell to your bachelorhood by sitting on the sidewalk and begging for a whole day. That’s how the rituals are there, and people will take pity on you with some money. I hope you find it useful for the wedding party.”
“After you meet with your beloved in the marital nest, you might think about going to England for your honeymoon, but (beware) the magpie there; the English believe that seeing a solitary magpie means bad luck. However, they have found the best solution to prevent bad luck from befalling them, and that solution is to greet the magpie! So, if you pass by someone walking alone saying, ‘Good morning, Mr. Magpie! How are you and your wife today?’ do not be afraid; he is not crazy but is just trying to ward off bad luck.
My respect, appreciation, and love to all the cultures and peoples of the world (the author’s OTBA ).”
