August 27, 2010: Interesting Hungarian superstitions

August 27, 2010: Here are some random interesting Hungarian superstitions:

• Drinking beer: It is very impolite if people clink glasses while drinking beer. This is because during one of the invasions of Hungary, the Russians gathered up the Hungarians and executed them. After they had done this, the Russians left and went out for beer and clinked their glasses as they did this. Ever since the Hungarians have associated the clinking of beer glasses with these executions, so instead, when drinking beer they pound the beer mugs on the table before drinking it. This custom does not apply to drinking any other beverage, though, so it's okay o clink wine glasses.
• Chrysanthemums: When going to a house for dinner or a party, it is very bad karma to bring chrysanthemums to the hostess since chrysanthemums are brought to cemeteries to honor the dead.
• Hiccups: When someone has hiccups, Hungarians believe that that means that someone else is talking about you (sort of like how we say that our ears are burning).