The digit four
Irrational fear and avoiding of the digit four have spread in many Asian countries. It even has its own scientific name — tetraphobia. The roots of this superstition go back to China, where the words 'death' and 'four' sound almost the same. Similar situation in Korea and Japan. Therefore, in hospitals and public institutions floor four is missing.
Cat avoiding
Vietnamese are afraid of cats, they almost do not keep them in the house. The reason is that the meowing of cats is similar to the sound of the Vietnamese word 'poverty'. In order to avoid poverty in the house, the Vietnamese just prefer not to get a cat.
Black Day
South Koreans created their own Valentine's Day for singles. It is an unofficial holiday observed on April 14 each year. On the day, singles who have not received presents wearing black, eat Jajangmyeon noodles with black sauce. Some restaurants even host Jajangmyeon eating contests on this day.
Chewing gum ban
Chewing gum is one of the strange bans in Singapore. The chewing gum sales ban has been in place since 1992. Since 2004, an exception has existed for therapeutic, dental, or nicotine chewing gum, which can be bought from a doctor or registered pharmacist. It is currently not illegal to chew gum in Singapore, merely to import it and sell it, apart from the aforementioned exceptions.
Elevator etiquette
In Japan, there is an unspoken elevator etiquette. If you are the first to enter an empty elevator, you are the new elevator captain. In this case, there are some unspoken rules. The captain controls the control panel, holds the door and presses buttons for every elevator passenger.
Sacred head
In Thailand, only parents or monks can pat children on the head. Thais believe that spirit lives in children's heads, and it can not be disturbed. The top of the children's head is the most sacred part of the body. Therefore it is better not to tease the spirits and irritate local parents.
