If ever we have to wait for something in the UK一for the bus, to get into a concert, or to get into a shop, we form a queue. Everybody knows that when you roll up, you join the back of the queue. 【小题1】It is an absolutely fair system and we all agree with it. British people would never dream of “jumping the queue”!

【小题2】 If you are seen to push in, it is considered very rude. People think pushing in is unfair to other people who have been waiting. So, if you see a line of people and you are not sure about it, then ask: “Is this the back of the queue?”【小题3】 You might even get chatting! Brits are happy to chat while queuing.

If ever somebody pushes in, you can almost feel others upset about him or her! People will be silently angry! However, rarely will anybody say anything.【小题4】 If somebody does say something to the rule breaker， the rest of the people in the queue will be very embarrassed and they will look away.

【小题5】For example, they may give bad looks to the transgressor (违规者). They may also turn around and talk about the transgressor in a whisper with the person next to them in the queue. You would need a skin as thick as a rhinoceros (犀牛皮) to miss these signals that you have transgressed a sacred British rule. So, if you come to the UK, get used to queuing.

In Europe, men do not usually wear skirts. But the Scottish national clothing for men is a kind of skirt. It is called a kilt. The Scottish like to be different. They are also proud of their country and its history, and they feel that the kilt is part of that history. That’s why the men still wear kilts at traditional dance and on national holidays. They believe they are wearing the same clothes that Scottish men always used to wear.

That’s what they believe. However, kilts are not really so old. Before 1703, Scottish men wore a long shirt and blanket around their shoulders. These clothes got in the way when the men started to work in factories. So in 1730 a factory owner changed the blanket into a skirt — the kilt. That’s how the first kilt was made.

Then in the late 1700s Scottish soldiers in the British Army began to wear kilts. One reason for this was national feelings: The Scottish soldiers wanted to be different from the English soldiers. The British Army probably had a different reason: A Scottish soldier in a kilt was always easy to find! The Scottish soldiers fought very hard and became famous. The kilt was part of the fame, and in the early 1800s men around Scotland began to wear kilts.

These kilts had colorful stripes (条纹) going up and down and across. In the 1700s and early 1800s, the color of the stripes had no special meaning. Men sometimes owned kilts in several different colors. But later the colors became important to the Scottish families. By about 1850, most families had special colors for their kilts. For example, men from the Campbell family had kilts with green, yellow and blue stripes. Scottish people often believe that the colors of the kilts are part of their family history. In fact, each family just chose the color they liked best.

This is not the story you will hear today if you are in Scotland. Most Scottish people still believe that kilts are as old as Scotland and that the colors are as old as the Scottish family. Sometimes feelings are stronger than facts!

In a world with so many countries, religions, tribes and customs, it is impossible for everyone to like everything. While we have come a long way since civilization began, some communities are stuck with age-old traditions.

Famadihana-dance with the dead

A funeral（葬礼）tradition followed by the Malagasy tribe in Madagascar, people dance with dead bodies as part of the Famadihana custom. After bringing bodies of ancestors from their burial place, they re-wrap them in fresh cloth and dance around the tomb to live music. The ritual is followed once in seven years, but has been in the decline.

Venezuela-don't show up on time

Venezuela are just like Indians! Reaching on time is considered rude in Venezuela and it is recommended to reach at least 15 minutes later than the scheduled time. Guests who reach on time are looked down upon as being too eager and greedy. Well, Venezuela should take some cue from Indians!

India-throw the baby for good luck

This custom is mostly followed in Karnataka where newborn babies are thrown off the 50-feet high above Sri Santeswar temple. The babies are obviously caught by the family in a cloth. Couples who are blessed with a baby take a vow at the temple following this 500-year-old tradition, which is believed to bring good luck to the babies.

Scotland-just blacken the bride

Having some fun before the wedding is great, but this pre-wedding custom in Scotland doesn't seem to have a lot of fun for the bride. The custom involves throwing eggs, spoilt milk and basically, all things disgusting at her. The "blackened bride" is then taken around the town. The custom is a metaphor for the tough life that the bride might have to go through after the wedding. The tradition prepares her for the new chapter as after going through this, all marital（婚姻的）problems will look tiny.