Did you know that if something is taboo you cannot touch or talk with it? Taboos are a non-material culture element. It is an idea form of religion which means that it cannot be touched felt or seen. A taboo is something or someone that is bad and is banned from society and no one can touch it. Want more information about taboos? Well, Taboos make things untouchable and stops social meetings from happening. Also, it stops people and objects from other people. But most of all, Taboos are sacred. Some taboos in the Christian religion are: it is a taboo to eat dogs, or even simpler ones like not go to church once or twice a week. Of course there are much more taboos in the world, some more important than others.

Remember that taboos are a non-material culture element, so let me explain you why. A non-material culture element has some rules to be non-material. One non-material rule is that non-material culture elements make part of belief

s. Another rule is that they have to make part of values, and a very important rule is that there is always a consequence for everything that happens, no matter whether it’s good or bad. The last rule is that you can’t touch a non-material culture element.

Now that you know what taboos are in the world let me explain to you what taboos are in Brazil. First, other taboos that include respect others are exchange eye contact with someone more powerful, simply talk a lot, or interacting with older people informally. Why old people? Well, in Brazil, when it was discovered in the 16^th century old people that lived in Brazil supposedly had to live in harsh conditions and where very respected because they where wise.  

Well, those were some of the taboos that I want to talk about, so please read on. Secondly, in the rural part of the North-East of Brazil, greeting coldly and speaking coldly are taboo. Also, not inviting travelers into your home, and don’t share food with them, are all considered taboos. This is because in the North-East of Brazil the people have very strong traditions of treating travelers well. This tradition originated in the 18^th century when to go into the country people had to travel long distances in boats then horseback to arrive at the cities.

 WAIT!! There are only two more taboos to be explained, so please read on a bit more. And the last taboos are these: no close body contact (when someone is not paying attention to a colleague you may grab his chin and face it towards you), and not show hand and body gestures in conversation. For example, slapping your hands back and forth means I don’t know, flapping your fingers in one hand means fast, hurry up, or move it. Another example is that when you want to warn someone about something Brazilians pull the side of their eye down. Remember, taboos are the things that you don’t do, and I hope this information has cleared your doubts about taboos in Brazil. 

---IS