If there’s anything that binds humans around the world closely together, it is the instinct of
survival. Along the way, we have made several changes in our approach towards hygiene,
but in keeping with the universal laws, no goal is met efficiently without honouring the
basics. In a pandemic affected world, it is the basics that were most preached, most
circulated, and most recommended by doctors and well wishers alike. “Wash your hands”,
probably makes for the most spoken phrase in 2020. And for good reason, where hygiene
prevails, so does trust and health. Here is a list of quirky cleanliness trends around the
world.
Japan
While Japan is infamous for their disciplinary approaches, their culture propagates true
belief in the connection between the outside cleanliness having an effect on the inside
cleanliness/purity of mind and spirit. Upon entering a traditional home in Japan, you are
expected to change into fresher clothes and gargle your mouth to maintain a hygienic
environment. This brings us to our next Asian country…
India
In India, and in many other Asian countries, you remove your footwear outside the door of a
respective house, in order to keep the dirt at bay. People who prefer footwear tend to
possess separate pairs meant only for indoor use. The closest translation for hygiene in
Hindi is swachhata or shuddhata, both alluding to ritual and spiritual cleanliness and
therefore imperative to their cultural beliefs.
Germany
The Germans believe not only in the cleanliness of their homes but in that of the entire
neighbourhood and community. That’s right, the matter of hygiene are taken very seriously
and it isn’t uncommon for families to take up the weekly duty of cleaning up the
neighbourhood. People sharing an area of residency usually come up with a rotatory
schedule that conveniences everyone and keeps the neighbourhood not only hygienic but
also maintains status and social wellness.
Africa
Some countries, over the years, have developed different hygiene preferences pertaining to
the environmental situation in the region. In Africa, for example, the lack of water has made
handwashing alternatives very popular. Zinc, or sanitizers, or dry soaps and cleansers are
preferred by people in order to stay clean and reduce water usage.
No matter the location, inhabitants of our blue and green planet have devised methods
to stay safe over sorry. The resources made available to us depending on where we
stand have birthed not only a variety of hygiene hacks but also enriched cultural
traditions, enhancing the beauty that lies in our diversity all around the world.
We at Bufin urge you to not only abide by the health advices presented by the WHO in light
of the pandemic, but to carry these practises forth into a post Covid world, to make this
world a cleaner, safer, healthier environment not just so we as a specie can survive, but so
that the human in us can thrive. Stay safe, stay responsible, stay healthy with Bufin!