Every culture around the world has something unique about it, a tradition that makes it stand apart from all the others. Some of these traditions and cultures can be quite surprising, and others absolutely baffling! Curious to know more about them in detail? Here is a list of the best cultures in the world with unique traditions.
1. Khasi Community, Meghalaya, India
Many consider the Khasi community to have one of the most beautiful culture in the world. The people live in a matrilineal community, meaning children get their mother’s last name and the family’s youngest daughter gets the property. Also, a man moves to his wife’s house after marriage.
2. Nyishi Tribe, Arunachal Pradesh, India
One of the indigenous tribal groups of Arunachal Pradesh, the Nyishi Tribe consider themselves the descendants of a mythical godfather, Abo-Tani. They speak Tibeto-Burman but have no script or anything in writing. They pass on their history, culture, rituals, etc., to the next generation through folklore.
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3. Bajo People, Southeast Asia
The nomadic and seafaring people of the Bajo tribe have lived in the ocean for hundreds of years, earning their livelihood from the sea by fishing and trading. Traditionally, many have spent their entire lives at sea, but some have started living on the shores. It is often considered the most beautiful tribe in the world.
4. Kazakhs, Kazakhstan
The Kazakhs are pastoral communities that live semi-nomadic lives with their herds along the Kazakhstan mountains and parts of Mongolia. They are primarily known for their cultural traditions of hunting with eagles and horses.
5. Thai Community, Thailand
What’s unique about the Thai community is it offers red Fanta bottles to god. For them, red Fanta is the alternative to blood being offered to god after sacrifices, which was an integral part of their culture. It’s a modern take on the old age of rituals.
6. Toraja, Indonesia
The Torajas of Indonesia are tall people who value their water buffaloes. They decorate their ears and horns with flowers and leaves. Buffalo horns also inspire the shape of their houses. Their funeral ceremonies are elaborate, involving sacrificing the buffaloes.
7. Rungus, Sabah
The people of the Rungus tribe in Sabah are known for their traditional crafts like making longhouses, playing the nose flute, gong-making, and dancing. The lives of most of these people revolve around food, from growing it to cooking it.
8. Khinaluq, Azerbaijan
The Khinaluq people living in Azerbaijan Xinaliq village have maintained their language and cultural traditions for centuries. Their language is completely different from any of those spoken in the area.
9. Nubians, Egypt
While discussing the different cultures around the world, the Nubians of Egypt cannot be ignored. The Nubians have their own language that they preserve to date. They are known for their folkloric music, colourful houses, hospitality, and raising crocodiles as pets.
10. Akha, Laos
The Akha people live in the high mountain regions of Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and China. The Akha people’s most distinguished characteristic is their attractive headdresses decorated with silver baubles and coins.
11. Sami, Lapland
Nomadic people who have lived in northern Scandinavia for years are the ancestors of the Sami people of Lapland. Their traditional outfit is called Gakti, and they are mainly dependent on reindeer herding.
12. Omo, Ethiopia
More than 16 tribes living in the Omo Valley share a deep connection with nature. They heavily rely on annual floods, changing seasons, and other environmental events for their livelihood.
13. Black Hmong, Northern Vietnam
The Black Hmong community has strong feminist values rooted in their culture and customs. Here, the families have both men and women as breadwinners. They believe in and promote gender equality.
14. Zapotec, Mexico
Zapotec people of Mexico are one of the groups who speak their native dialect, which has no resemblance to Spanish at all. The Zapotec people live in modest houses, wear colourful outfits, and are primarily vegetarians.
15. Taos Pueblo, Mexico
The Taos Pueblo people have been living in an abode-walled village in the Taos Valley without electricity, indoor plumbing, or running water since time immemorial. They consider their history sacred and vigorously guard it; they do not share the details of their beliefs with outsiders.
16. Berber, Morocco
The Berbers have lived in Morocco, among other North African countries, for 5,000 years. The Berbers are mostly traders and farmers. They are known for their traditional yummy food, songs, and dance.
17. Wayuu, Colombia
Wayuu tribe is one of the indigenous ethnic groups of America residing in Columbia and is one of the many different cultures in the world. The tribe is known across the country for its colourful handmade bags.
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18. Scottish Culture
Each clan in Scottish culture has its own tartar colours and design. They are proud of their tartans, and wearing them wrong is considered an insult. Their NewYears’ Eve celebrations are noteworthy and elaborate.
19. Quechua People, Peru
Millions of people speak the Quechua language, which was identified as Peru’s second official language in 1969. The people of the Inca empire, which created the fascinating Machu Picchu, spoke this language. The present-day Quechuas are a talented group of people.
20. Masaai, Africa
The Massai tribe people are known for their traditional dance wherein the participants jump as high as possible. They dress colourfully, eat raw meat, and drink raw milk and the raw blood of cattle.
21. Akhu Tribe, Myanmar
The women of the Akhu village love smoking long bamboo pipes and wearing headwear. Interestingly, women often live beyond 80, while men rarely pass their 60th decade, despite working the same as the women, and even getting the same level of medical care.
22. Kalash People, Pakistan
What makes the Kalash people unique is the belief that they share genes with the armies of Alexander the Great, and what supports this claim is their skin and eye colours. Though they live in valleys in western Pakistan, they have their own religion and culture.
23. Konyak Tribe, Nagaland, India
The Konyak Tribe, also known as the headhunters, took pride in beheading their opponents and hanging their heads as trophies at their community house. Though they have stopped hunting heads, bravery and fierceness still run in their blood.
Also Read: 21 Famous Historical Places in India
24. Tibetans, Tibet
Tibet’s cultural traditions lean mostly toward the art of healing and peace. It has managed to intrigue people with the sand mandalas’ vibrant shades, the chants and their vibrations, and the tones of the singing bowls.
25. Himba, Namibia
The Himba community of Northwestern Namibia has managed to preserve its traditions and cultures by maintaining a distance from the modern world. Their women wear only a single leather loincloth and cover their skin with red ochre powder.
There are different cultures around the world whose practitioners maintain no connection with the modern world. While the debate on the most beautiful culture in the world is still on, undoubtedly, all of them are unique in their own ways.
What do you think?