Customs and taboos in various countries in the Americas
US
1. Living customs:
The United States is a country of immigrants and has its own unique customs in daily life. Americans have cheerful personalities, speak frankly and straightforwardly, are willing to interact with others, and behave informally. When addressing others, you often call them by their first name to show friendliness and intimacy. They are very talkative and like to speak with the help of gestures. Americans have the habit of going to bed late and getting up late. Believing that individualism and personal freedom are the most fundamental concepts among human values. Americans like practicality, pay attention to practical results, have a strong sense of time, strong independence, are not very enthusiastic about religion, like to seek novelty and change, often change their living environment, and dress more freely and casually. According to American habits, in social situations, men should be humble and caring for women everywhere. The United States has a wide variety of styles and tastes. Their requirements for three meals a day are nutritious and delicious. They like to eat Cantonese and Sichuan food among China dishes. Americans always drink some drinks for three meals a day, including appetizers before meals. They like to drink beer, wine, etc. during meals, and generally do not drink hard alcohol. Americans like white, blue and red, which symbolize purity, and think they represent good luck.
2. Religious beliefs
Most Americans believe in Christianity and Catholicism.
3. Taboo
When dealing with or doing business with Americans, remember not to beat around the bush or twists and turns. If they are blunt, they will not appreciate this kind of Eastern wisdom, and don't be too humble in front of them, lest they think you are really incompetent. When talking to Americans, they asked about their age, marital status, income, religious beliefs, etc., which were considered to be lacking in cultivation. When you see elderly Americans going upstairs or climbing mountains, don't go forward to help them casually. They don't want others to think they are old and useless. Don't invite Americans of the same sex to dance, otherwise they will be considered homosexual.
If you want to treat Americans to dinner, please remember that they do not eat garlic, hot and sour food, do not eat fat meat, do not like oddly shaped food, such as chicken feet, pig's feet, sea cucumber, etc., do not like to eat animal viscera, and do not eat steamed and braised food. Most Americans love animals, so they also refuse to eat food made with rare birds and animals. In addition to the food itself, they also attach great importance to dining etiquette. They are not allowed to make noises during meals, pick up vegetables for others, smoke, persuade others to drink, undress in public, and discuss disgusting things.
In interpersonal interactions, Americans do not advocate giving generous gifts. They attach importance to the packaging of gifts, but do not pay much attention to the value of the gift itself, and sometimes even the price of the packaging exceeds the price of the gift. Some China may find this incomprehensible. If you give Americans a gift with a company logo, they will think you are not sincere and appear to be advertising. Americans also don't like to give people business cards casually.
The numbers Americans hate most are "13" and "3", and the date they dislike is "Friday". They avoid using a match to light three cigarettes in a row, believing that this will bring disaster to people. Although most Americans like dogs, they fear and dislike black dogs. They also dislike bats and regard them as a symbol of evil spirit.
Canada
1. Living customs
Canadians are smart, diligent, studious, cheerful and rational. Not conservative and dogmatic, modest and pragmatic. He has a strong concept of freedom, acts more casually, and does not pay much attention to etiquette. Strong concept of time and pay attention to work efficiency. Canadians pay great attention to personal appearance and hygiene during working hours. If you are invited to visit someone else's house, flowers are a pleasant gift. Influenced by European and American immigrants, Canadians 'living customs contain the comprehensive characteristics of Britain, France and the United States. Due to the cold weather most of the year, Canadians especially like to eat grilled food. They also like to eat beef, fish, eggs and various vegetables. They also like whisky soda, red wine, cherry brandy, and champagne.
2. Religious beliefs
Most Canadians believe in Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, while a minority believe in Judaism and Orthodox Christianity.
3. Taboo
The main foods that Canadians avoid eating are fat meat, animal offal, fermented bean curd, shrimp paste, fish sauce, and all other foods with fishy and strange smells. They also don't like animal claws and spicy food. They don't like people who smoke at the table.
In Canada,"13" is an unlucky number,"Friday" is a symbol of disaster, and white lilies are believed to bring an atmosphere of death. They are generally only used at funerals and cannot be given as gifts.
Mexico
1. Living customs
Mexicans attach great importance to etiquette and demeanor. They are hospitable and have great respect for the elderly and women. Mexicans are quite realistic and careful. They like to eat peppers as much as Sichuanese. They also sprinkle some chili noodles on their fruits. They are famous for their addiction to alcohol. Corn is the staple food of Mexicans, and the "three major items" on the Mexican table are corn, beans and peppers. They pay attention to the nutritional value of the dishes and the freshness and delicacy of the dishes. They often use insects to cook delicious food and like to eat China's Sichuan cuisine. Mexicans have their own special mascots-skeletons. All kinds of skeletons can be seen everywhere in Mexico. People's envelopes have skull patterns posted on them. Children play with skull-shaped toys. Young people present skeletons to their sweethearts to show their admiration. In Mexico, skeletons are mascots representing friendship, happiness, and love.
2. Religious beliefs
The vast majority of Mexicans are Catholic.
3. Taboo
Mexicans regard the appearance of men wearing shorts and women wearing trousers in public places as unseemly, and believe that it is reasonable for men to wear suits and women to wear long skirts. Kissing and kissing hands by men and women who are not familiar with each other are also taboo, believing that they are not taught. Never use the gesture parallel to the ground that is common to China to measure the height of Mexican children. They believe that this gesture is only suitable for animals and insulting for people. In many parts of the country, when you visit other people's homes, you should not take off your hat as soon as you enter the door, lest the host think you are here to seek revenge.
The number Mexicans hate is "13" and the date they dislike is "Friday." They taboo people sending yellow, red, and purple flowers. They believe that yellow flowers mean death, red flowers mean curse, and purple is the ominous color that symbolizes the coffin. They taboo bats, their patterns and artistic shapes, believing that bats are a kind of vampire, giving people the impression of being ferocious and cruel.