The hottest Customs Substack posts right now

British and other Europeans feel more cultural kinship with each other than with Americans. Visiting the U.S. can feel oddly alien despite its friendliness.
Everyday American life differs in obvious ways — tipping norms, urban safety, higher gun ownership and stronger religious belief — which mark it as a Western outlier.
American politics and public life are shaped by a distinctive liberal founding and a strong emphasis on personal freedoms like free speech, which shapes how people vote and behave.

Preparation for Chinese New Year in different regions within China and within families varies significantly, showcasing unique traditions and customs.
Chinese New Year celebrations involve rituals like thorough cleaning, decorative setups, shopping for new clothes, and preparing special food like dumplings and pork jelly.
Family interactions during Chinese New Year include the exchange of red pockets, offering prayers at temples or at home, and making New Year offerings to ancestors.

The new development in Vladivostok is a Chinese domestic regulation change, not a decision by Russia.
China allows certain goods to be considered domestic trade even when passing through Vladivostok in Russia.
Vladivostok being used as a transit port for Chinese domestic trade has been allowed since as early as 2007.

Predictability is crucial in social interactions - knowing the devil you know can be better than the angel you don't.
Having a history or personal connection with someone can lead to profitable collaborations, even if they are generally inferior.
Social and cultural structures that enhance predictability can create more scenarios for successful collaborations, even if they are arbitrary.

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