Top welcome rituals from around the world : While visiting a new nation usually provides you with plenty of opportunity to take in the breathtaking landscape and discover internationally recognized sites, travel also enables you to form incredible human connections, fully immerse yourself in lively cultures, and learn about some intriguing customs.
There are plenty of ways to learn about a country’s unique customs, one of which is by participating in its numerous peculiar and delightful welcoming ceremonies. These are six of the most unusual greetings that are still used today, from exuberant dancing in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya to formal gift-giving in Fiji.
The Maasai “Jumping Dance”
Discover the customs of East African pastoralist sub-tribes by visiting a real Maasai hamlet. These trips help the neighborhood by funding health and education initiatives and allowing communities to buy more land to reduce the strain from grazing.
Should your upcoming major trip take you all the way to Kenya’s plains, you will probably get to witness a really special welcome custom! The Maasai Mara tribes of that area are renowned for their warm welcome customs and hospitality, and they also happen to be the site of one of the largest wildlife migrations on Earth.
The adamu, sometimes referred to as “the jumping dance,” is a customary welcome in which up to twelve warriors from a single tribe engage in a vigorous dance while using their movements to narrate a tale. In the final moments, everyone forms a circle and tries to see who can leap higher into the air. Visitors can even become part of the group and test their own leaping skills against the Maasai. It’s a true sensory safari experience, accompanied by war yells and chanting, and a great way to learn about Maasai culture!
New Zealand’s Maori Hongi.
Is visiting New Zealand presently on your wish list? In addition to its stunning scenery and relaxed way of life, it is the location of one of the world’s most well-known welcome customs! Maori people have been engaging in this symbolic rite, called the hongi, for many centuries. In essence, it depicts you greeting someone by rubbing or touching noses, or it might be a part of a ceremonial ritual.
Being invited to take part in hongi is considered the height of politeness and shows that you have been accepted by the community. The act itself is sacred in Maori culture and comes from a local myth about how women were created; according to the tradition, women were breathed life into their noses by the god Tāne.
The Fijian Sevusevu Ceremony.
If the dreamy beaches of Fiji are enticing you, you may wish to become acquainted with the sevusevu ritual practised there. One of the many important cultural customs that dates back centuries is the welcoming ritual, in which visitors give presents to the chieftain (or leader) of the community in return for permission to enter and get to know them.
Although sevusevu ceremonies are not usually held in urban areas, you might be able to attend one if you’re travelling to one of the island’s little settlements off the main route. You must choose a gift or token to take beforehand. Kava root is a widely used herb that can be found in most stores.
When you visit a new community, as part of the sevusevu ceremony, you should ask to see the chief and then give them your gift. As part of the greeting ritual, if you have brought kava root, they might prepare it into a tea that is then shared by everyone.
Fragrant Omani Coffee and Incense.
Another nation that values hospitality highly is Oman. If you enjoy coffee, you’ll be happy to learn that a typical Omani greeting include enjoying a freshly prepared cup.
Arabic coffee, also called Qahwa in the local vernacular, is usually provided to visitors in Omani houses and is frequently flavored with cardamom, cloves, and saffron. Its taste and aroma will make you feel welcome right away.
Along with your coffee, you might receive some delectable snacks like dates, almonds, and locally baked pastries. In exchange, it’s customary in many parts of the nation to give your hosts a gift of incense historically, frankincense shortly before you depart.
Australian Aboriginal “Welcome to Country”
During an Aboriginal culture event in Queensland, Australia, Yirrganydji Aboriginal men perform traditional music on a didgeridoo and wooden instrument. Indigenous cultures in Australia have a long-standing tradition of politely greeting guests. For generations, the “Welcome to Country” ceremony served as the accepted etiquette for non-Native individuals seeking safe passage across Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander territory.
Currently, the Welcome to Country tradition gives guests a chance to respect Aboriginal culture and lifestyles. It usually starts a conference or function, and it can include anything from a speech to singing or dance.
In Australia, another welcome custom that non-natives might follow is the “Acknowledgment of Country,” which is appropriate while gathering on Aboriginal land.
India’s Royal Welcoming Ceremony.
Indians have lived by the proverb “Atithi Devo bhava” for generations, which translates to “the guest is equivalent to god.” Not one Indian hospitality custom is cosier and friendlier than the welcome ceremony.
Expect to be greeted with ritual items when you enter a heritage hotel or palace: a lamp to light the way (a throwback to an era before electricity), a garland of fresh flowers to symbolize goodwill, and a tilak made of vermillion and turmeric painted on your forehead.
You don’t need to be a member of the royal family to take pleasure in this welcoming custom in India, despite its name. This ritual, which was once only performed for the most esteemed members of society, is still widely performed at establishments like Rajasthan’s Umaid Bhavan and Taj Rambagh Palace, bringing a touch of warmth and tradition to your stay.