Pack your bags! You are about to embark on a journey from the mountain peaks of Tibet to the icy shores of Greenland. Read the travelogue below carefully. Complete the "Explorer Notes" by filling in the gaps. You must use two to three words per gap.
When we travel, we often expect a handshake or a wave, but cultural history has shaped much more diverse ways of saying "hello." In the high altitude plateaus of Tibet, for example, a tradition dating back to the 9th century involves people sticking out their tongues at one another. This peculiar custom originated as a way to prove a person was not the reincarnation of Lang Darma. He was a notoriously cruel king who, according to legend, possessed a black tongue. By showing their pink tongues, locals demonstrate they have no evil spirits or bad intentions hiding within. In modern times, this gesture has evolved into a sign of respect and agreement during social or formal encounters.
Moving to the South Pacific, the Māori people of New Zealand practice a deeply spiritual and ancient greeting known as the Hongi. Instead of maintaining a distance, this ritual involves two people pressing their noses and foreheads together. For the connection to be authentic, both points of contact must touch at the same time to create a unified bond. The true significance of the Hongi lies in the exchange of breath, which is referred to as the "ha" – the literal essence of life. Once this sacred ceremony is concluded, a visitor is no longer considered a stranger. Instead, they are welcomed as a member of the tribe and are under the protection of the community.
Finally, in the icy landscapes of Greenland, the Inuit people have a unique tradition called the Kunik. While many foreigners mistakenly believe that Arctic cultures simply rub noses to greet each other, the reality is far more specific and intimate. To perform a Kunik, one person places their nose and upper lip against the cheek or forehead of another person. The primary goal of this gesture is to smell the skin of a loved one, a practice that likely developed because only the face was exposed in freezing temperatures. Because it involves a high level of physical intimacy, it is usually reserved for close family members or romantic partners. You would almost never see this performed for strangers on the street, as it remains a private expression of deep affection.
1. While it was once a way to identify a villain, the act of showing one's tongue has transformed into a and harmony in modern Tibetan culture.
2. The Māori believe that touching noses allows for a special which connects the two people through the air they share.
3. The unique Inuit tradition of the Kunik is performed so that one person can of a loved one.
Lai iesniegtu atbildi un redzētu rezultātus, Tev nepieciešams autorizēties. Lūdzu, ielogojies savā profilā vai reģistrējies portālā!