12 Differences between Brazil and Ireland that can make our hair stand on end (part 2)

As unusual as it may seem, Ireland has won the hearts of Brazilians and has received a large number of citizens from our country for years. Despite the numerous cultural differences between Brazil and the “Esmeralda Island”, this does not seem to be an impediment for those who decide to venture there. However, it’s always good to know beforehand what awaits us, isn’t it?

As the first article about the differences between Brazil and Ireland was a success among readers and many customs that make our hair stand on end ended up being left out of the first list, the awesome.club elaborated part two to reveal 12 more surprises. Check out!

After a few hours in Ireland, Brazilians are already able to notice that little things work completely differently there and that we simply don’t know how to deal with them. An example is the existence of two taps on the bathroom sink, very common in Irish homes.

What are the two faucets for? One releases water at room temperature (read cold). In the other, very hot water comes out, peeling! The question remains: how to get warm water to wash your hands and face?

In general, Irish women have very white skin and this seems to be a complicated issue for them… a study showed that 95% of women in the country use artificial tanning products in winter. A good part of the interviewees (71.3%) said that they apply the products all over their bodies. The most curious thing is that 25% said they only tan their arms and legs, while 5.7% only tan their ankles.

This is probably the item on this list that requires the most habit change to adapt. Instead of an electric or gas shower, as here in Brazil, some Irish houses have a hot water reservoir (boiler). There are those who leave it on constantly to ensure that hot water comes out of the tap at all times. The most economical ones, however, leave it off and only turn it on when they need to.

If the second option is chosen, it means that you will have to wait about half an hour to get in the shower, rinse your face in the morning, wash the dishes, etc. Now, imagine that in freezing cold?

In Ireland (as in other countries), you don’t clap your hands while singing “Happy Birthday”. The melody is also a little slower than what we’re used to, making us miss the typical hustle of the moment. Unsuspecting Brazilians tend to be the “liveliest” of the party, singing fast and making noise with their hands.

More than a third of couples on the island regularly sleep in beds or even separate rooms. This has been the solution found by those who have a partner who snores, moves a lot during the night, has different schedules and customs or simply prefers to sleep alone.

Funerals in Ireland have a huge schedule! The ceremony begins with the Irish Wake (Irish vigil, in English translation), in which the closest people gather at the place where the body is (usually in the house of the deceased or a relative), eat, drink and reproduce a series of traditions: stop clocks at the time of death, cover mirrors, open windows for the spirit to come out, etc.

The next day, the body is removed for a funeral, which can be a procession, which more people follow. On the third day, after mass, they all go (except the body!) to a pub, make speeches and tell stories. On the fourth day, the burial takes place and, sometimes, the closest ones get together again for a meal. Some time later, everyone receives a thank you card at home. Programming can vary, but is generally large by our standards.

Whether to save water or as a legacy from a time when this natural resource was not so accessible, many Irish and British families have the custom of filling a basin or the sink itself with hot water and soap to wash dishes. So they don’t use running water during the whole process.

“How is the rinse?”, you may be asking. It is done right there, in the dammed water. It may seem strange, but the fact is that they have methods to ensure that the dishes are clean, such as leaving the most greasy items for last.

Without garlic and onion, the Irish wash the rice and put it to boil in a pan with plenty of water and salt, until it reaches the point of cooking. When this happens, the pot is usually still full of water. Then, just drain and serve. Like it or not, we have to admit it’s pretty practical.

Many Irish people have a habit of drinking a glass of cold milk with dinner. If asked why, the answer is unanimous: “it’s delicious!”. OK, taste is taste and our customs influence a lot. Would you like a little milk to accompany a dish of rice, beans and steak?

In general, Irish homes do not have laundry facilities. Even when they do, you’ll hardly find a laundry tub. Used to it, Brazilians miss it, but the fact is that this is our habit, which is rarely seen in European countries or in the United States.

Some buildings offer collective washing machines and dryers, which can be used by residents at affordable prices. There are also many common and self-service laundries. Families that have these appliances often install them in the kitchen.

What would be your reaction if you went to see a doctor and he prescribed you a 7 Up still soda? This happens in Ireland for the cure of the most varied complaints! This is a very strong popular belief in the country, something similar (but in the opposite direction) with the mango milk smoothie that many Brazilians still prefer to avoid. It is a belief and many people believe it. And period.

The use of soda as a medicine is related to the false sense of well-being caused by the consumption of carbonated and sugary drinks and the fact that the original recipe for 7 Up contains lithium, which is a substance with psychiatric effect, later banned from the formula. Currently, this drink is not sold in Brazil.

We are so used to switches and sockets inside the bathroom that it’s hard to understand why they are left outside. However, this is a safety measure applied in many countries, where only outlets specially designed for this purpose are accepted in the bathroom. In Ireland, it is common to have to turn on the light before entering the room, in addition to having to find another place to shave and dry your hair, for example.

We, from awesome.club, we decided to immerse ourselves in the culture of Portugal and we were sure: the Portuguese are really a very dear and special people. Check it out by clicking here.

Certainly, some of our habits are also foreign to Irish and other cultures. What surprised you most on this list? If you already had the chance to visit the country, what would you add?