Observing Local Customs When You Travel

One thing that sets travelers apart from tourists is their ability to observe local customs. Whether you are on safari in the Sahara, in a small town in the Pyrenees, or in a South American rain forest, you’re going to find plenty of local customs to emulate and observe. By taking the time to study these customs and learn more about them, you can become a well educated traveler that is accepted, no matter where your path takes you.

A few months before you are set to take your vacation, it is a good idea to start reading up on these local customs. Much of this information is available online, while the rest can be found in books at your library. Take the time to read not only about the customs themselves, but the events that inspired them. This will give you a better grasp of why and how the customs came about and how they have evolved.

Once you have this knowledge under your belt, you’ll be able to travel anywhere and find acceptance. Although there are millions of different customs celebrated throughout the world, you can make it easier by focusing only one the most common ones and the customs that will directly affect you during your stay.

For example, in Spain, the period immediately following Christmas is usually set aside for festivals. These festivals, which are Christian in origin, commemorate the travels of the wise men on their way to greet the Christ child. These small festivals lead up to the culminating festival that is held of the feast of the Epiphany, which is generally the 6th of January, but this date may vary.

In fact, if you plan on visiting a Catholic country, such as Spain or Portugal, or many towns throughout South America, it is important to have an understanding of the Catholic calendar. In some cases, entire towns will shut down for a feast day of a saint, and you may find it difficult to go shopping. It’s best to know when to expect these festivals ahead of time.

Other countries have similar festivals that should be researched and observed. If you plan to visit an Arab country in the late fall, you’ll have to be aware of Ramadan. For those traveling to Israel, a knowledge of the holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Hanukah is important.

While there is a lot to learn, this shouldn’t be looked at as a chore, but rather as the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and have fun while you’re at it. These festivals can be quite a lot of fun to attend and when you know what they are celebrating, you’ll be able to experience them on an entirely new level.

Travelers that take the time to learn about and observe local customs are typically held in high regard by locals, and it is much easier to immerse yourself in a culture when you are able to understand and celebrate its customs.

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Posted by Localyte.com Team on October 17, 2008