Remitly, a leading digital financial services provider for immigrants and their families, has delved into the world of cultural norms and customs to discover some of the most unusual and unique etiquette practices around the world.  

As a useful guide for those looking to get off on the right foot in their new destination and build rapport quickly, Remitly researched etiquette tips by looking at Google search results for ‘etiquette in country’ or ‘types of etiquette in country’ in 165 countries across the world to reveal cultural nuances that can make day-to-day life abroad easier to navigate.

While a fascinating plethora of etiquette practices were uncovered, several themes occurred regularly, including how we treat our elders, hand gestures and their meaning, procedures and practices surrounding food and dining, and whether timekeeping should allow for tardiness or punctuality is paramount.

Flipping the fish on dining etiquette
Sitting down to eat is a practice that every culture in the world has in common, but the study found that table manners vary greatly from country to country. When it comes to how food is eaten, Mexicans believe tacos should always be eaten with hands, while in Norway it’s considered rude to eat any food without cutlery.

Italians consider parmesan on pizza a tragedy, whilst in France, a martini or scotch before dinner is discouraged, as they are believed to contain ‘palate numbing’ properties.

It is tradition to always pass a decanter of port to the left in the UK and if someone is taking too long to pass it on, they’ll be asked “Do you know the Bishop of Norwich?” as a nudge to hand it over. The Bishop of Norwich was known for his inability to hold his liquor and would often fall asleep with the decanter in front of him, which is where this peculiar custom hails from.

The Chinese are also no stranger to tradition either, as they will never flip a fish on a plate due to its association with bad luck, and while burping is considered rude in some countries, in Iceland and Senegal it is seen as a compliment to the chef. The same goes for slurping food, which is customary in Japan and seen as a means of expressing gratitude for the meal.

In the US tipping is customary, and upon finishing a meal in Australia, avoid saying “I’m stuffed” unless you want people to think you’re pregnant.

About time
But what about how early or late to arrive for dinner or a business meeting? The research indicated that more countries favour a lax approach to timekeeping, with Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Kenya and Uruguay all opting to arrive fashionably late.

However, the opposite is true in Poland, Singapore and Sweden, where tardiness is considered rude and strict time keeping is adhered to.

Age isn’t just a number
While most cultures endeavour to show respect to the elderly, the study revealed that the way this is done varies greatly from country to country.

In Guinea, eye contact with elders is avoided, whilst Nepal’s elders are treated with greater formality than those of an average age.

Greeting elders first is common etiquette in Angola, Botswana and Lebanon, whilst in Vietnam, the eldest eats first when dining.

A hand with gestures
Hand gestures are a great way to communicate when you haven’t fully mastered the language of the country you’re staying in but based on the variety of perceived meanings found in the research, it could be easy for hand gestures to be misconstrued.

Pointing at someone is considered rude in Ecuador, Nicaragua, Indonesia and Malaysia among others. In the former two, puckering or pouting lips at someone is preferred as an alternative, while in the latter two, pointing with your thumb, rather than your index finger is acceptable.

Other notable etiquette included the expectation to do karaoke when hosting guests in South Korea, heading into the sauna naked in Finland – even if it’s for business purposes, and the Venezuelan tradition of placing a broom behind the door to signal you’re ready for guests to leave.

Jago McKenzie, Business Management Director at Remitly commented: “We love celebrating the unique diversity of different cultures and it’s fascinating how these can contrast or often compliment each other. It’s intriguing to see so many food and dining related practices, from burping or not burping, to customs relating to certain foods that are popular in specific cultures, such as never flipping the fish in China.

We think it’s important to be respectful of the differences each culture has, and what better way to help people do that than sharing this useful guide to provide some insight into how social norms and customs vary around the world.”