Main festivals and customs taboos in Guinea

No matter what education they have, Guineans are generally good at eloquence, sometimes subtle, sometimes straightforward, and rich in emotion, which is full of words and expressions, often accompanied by exaggerated gestures. He is enthusiastic and generous towards foreigners, especially China, willing to take the initiative to help and has high expectations, dares to make requests and is not ashamed to be rejected. The phenomenon of asking for gifts and tips is widespread throughout society, and the colonial mentality has not yet been eradicated.

The whole people have a strong business awareness, but their family financial management capabilities are weak.

There is no lack of short-term behavior and pragmatism in receiving people and treating things. There is a weak sense of time. If you don't make an appointment when visiting, you need more patience.

Guineans 'statement that "use words but not hands" has at least four meanings:

1. Talk more and do less in daily life or push committee members at work;

2. When asking for items, you should first signal. Reaching out directly will cause unhappiness;

3. When kissing face to face, the mouth can make a sound and the hand position cannot be lower than the waist;

4. When there is a dispute, there are more quarrels and less fights.

Although Islam clearly stipulates that thieves can cut off their arms, because Guineans live in poverty, there are many petty theft behaviors, coupled with cumbersome reporting procedures, high case handling costs, low crime detection rate, and the authorities 'lack of strict punishment for thieves. Victims often go unpunished.

taboo

Like other Islamic countries, we should avoid talking about pigs and their products as much as possible; we should not actively toast alcohol and tobacco; we should especially respect the halal diet and workplace prayer habits of Muslims; we should not question people who are praying; and we should not enter mosques without authorization. Among the "five virtues" of Muslims,"ritual", fasting, fasting and prayer,"ritual" refers to five prayers at dawn, noon, afternoon, dusk and night every day, each time of about 20 minutes;"fasting" refers to one month of fasting during the day during the ninth month of the lunar calendar every year.

When shaking hands for the first time, the host usually reaches out to the guest first, the higher-ranking person first reaches out to the lower-ranking person, and the woman first reaches out to the guest; if the woman does not reach out to the guest first, the man does not need to reach out to the guest, but can nod his head in greeting; Shake hands with the female guests should be light and fast; four people cannot shake hands across each other; let alone one foot outside the door and one foot inside the door. If it is inconvenient to shake hands, tap the other person's left shoulder first; if it is dirty or annoying, it is a big taboo to refuse to shake hands.

It is unclean and disrespectful to receive and deliver objects with your left hand. Do not touch the top of your head when you are close to children.

When taking pictures of people, you should ask for the other party's permission. Taking pictures indiscriminately or secretly may be considered as having bad intentions; people in some places even believe that taking pictures can absorb souls. Most people who are willing to take photos hope to get photos, and their wishes should be fulfilled. Photos cannot be taken in places where some confidential or military and civilian facilities are unclear.

It is not advisable to bargain casually when making a shopping inquiry. If the seller agrees to the final bid and then refuses to buy, it may cause trouble.

Don't make loud noises in public places and ignore others; when there are outsiders, don't always talk in your native language and ignore others.

Compared with other West African countries, Guinea strictly prohibits "pornography, gambling and drugs".

Guineans have no important taboos about numbers and colors. However, due to traditional Islamic concepts, Guineans prefer odd numbers, that is,"7" and "9" are respected in one digit, and "13" is respected in two digits. Preference for white among colors. For example, white silk must be used for ribbon-cutting, white clothes must be used for weddings, white cloth is used for birth to deliver babies, and white cloth is used for funeral after death. In addition, many officials disdain to use a combination of blue, white and red with original colonial colors on formal occasions.

major festivals

The specific dates are:

January 1: New Year's Day (FETE DU NOVEL AN);

April 3: National Human Rights and Citizenship Day (Celebration Nationale DES Droits DE Lhomme ET DU Citoyen), also the anniversary of Conte's administration and the Second Republic;

May 1: International Labor Day (FETE INTERNATIONAL DU TRAVAIL);

May 25: JOURNEE DE LIBERATION DU CONTINENT AFRICAIN;

August 15: L'ASSOMPTION;

August 27: Commemoration of the Struggle of Businesswomen in Conakry (1977);

September 28, referendum day;

October 2: Independence Day of the Republic (1958, FETE ANNIVERSAIRE DE L'INDEPENDENCE DE LA REPUBLIQUE);

November 1: Army Day (1958);

December 25: Christmas Day (NOEL);

Easter (Lundi DE Paques);

Eid al-Fitr (RAMADAM: FIN DU CAREME;AID EL FITRE);

Tabaski: FETE DU SACRIFICE D'ABRAHAM;JOUR D'ABATTAGE;

The Prophet's Birth, or Maoulud Day, is the anniversary of the birth of Mohammed, the founder of Islam (PSSL: FETE ANNIVERSAIRE DE LA NAISSANCE DU PROPHETE MOHAMED).

Note: Due to the difference in calendar calculation methods between the Muharram calendar and the Gregorian calendar, the specific dates of the three traditional Muslim festivals mentioned above, including Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and the Prophet's Birth, vary every year. For example, the ninth month of the Muharram lunar calendar is Ramadan every year.