The national fervour that has whipped up the country following the elections on Wednesday has me thinking about the vibrant multi-cultural society that makes up South Africa and its associated traditions.
It is almost impossible to isolate any one culture as there’s such an overlap across the nation and you can live here for 80 years and still encounter a strange new custom or practice, you’d never come across before.
One custom that does seem to unite many South Africans, is the appreciation of a good tipple.
One particularly memorable drinking custom that apparently emanates from the Heatonville area is the much-revered ‘haka kraka’.
This elegant bar time tradition will see a patron throw a tennis ball into the fan. The person who catches the ricocheted ball will then – stay with me now – wrestle with the thrower of said ball.
The winner of the wrestling match is then given the honour of buying everyone in the round a bar of drinks.
But we are not alone in our drinking custom insanity. The rest of the world has its traditional quirks as well.
Here are some of the globe’s more interesting drinking customs.
Russia
Where else to start with tales of drinking but in Mother Russia?
Renowned for its love of all things vodka, Russia has many drinkable customs.
The first thing to welcome new friends to the inner circle is a shot of vodka – a great ice breaker as it were.
But there’s more to drinking shots of vodka than just tipping the clear liquid down your gullet.
Etiquette dictates that you can’t place the glass back on the table after a toast, it has to be bottom’s up.
And don’t think of arriving late for a meal as you will be made to drink a full glass of vodka as a way of an apology.
Finally, never attempt to make a toast with an empty glass – or it’s the entire bottle of vodka for you.
Germany
If there are two things Germans are serious about, it’s beer and being serious.
Which is why the tradition of drinking Kolsch is to be strictly adhered to or you could face the firing squad.
Kolsch is a particular brew which can only be made in the Cologne region and it is accompanied by a list of intense rules.
These include drinking the beer at 10°C in a specific glass known as a ‘stange’, and, when catching the bartender’s attention, expect some serious eye contact. Or death.
However, when it comes to weddings, the Germans actually have a lighter side … no, really. It’s customary for groomsmen to kidnap the bride during the wedding reception, take her to the bar, and wait for the groom to retrieve his bride.
The ransom is in the form of the bar tab racked up by the groomsmen, as well as buying drinks for the whole bar – that’s one expensive bride.
Australia
Those who come from the Land Down Under (sorry…it’s in your head now too!) know how to throw it back, but it’s all about sharing and caring.
When you’re in an Australian bar, there’s a tradition called a ‘shout’ which requires everyone in the ‘circle of mates’ to shout for a round of drinks for everyone.
Everyone is required to do so, or you risk being considered a real chop. The ultimate insult.
Japan
When it comes to tradition, the Japanese are absolute masters. Take, for example, the incident of Hiroo Onoda, a World War 2 soldier.
Despite the war ending in 1945, he emerged from a jungle in the Philippines and would not surrender until his former commander flew all the way from Japan to relieve him of duty by Order of the Emperor …as required of the Japanese military.
So, when it comes to drinking with the Japanese, you best follow the rules.
Drinking is a time of camaraderie, and you are never required to pour your own drink. That is a job for a friend.
Everyone pours a drink for others at some point so there is a lot of drinking to be had!
With all this election stress… I feel like some travelling is in order. Prost!
