If you think that spanking, foot fetishes, or homosexuality are unusual, you might want to read on. The world is full of sexual customs that are far more surprising and sometimes downright shocking than what we consider “odd” at home. Buckle up, and let’s take a whirlwind tour of some of the strangest sexual practices from different cultures.
1. Ancient Greece: Love Among Men
Ancient Greece wasn’t just the birthplace of philosophy and art it was also a hotbed for some unusual sexual customs. Back then, women were often seen primarily as childbearers, while “true” love was believed to exist between men. Young boys were mentored by older men in the “arts of love,” which included sexual acts. Eventually, people realized they were missing out on the beauty of female companionship, so traditional pairings made a comeback but not before a lot of eyebrow-raising experimentation.
2. Early Sexual Life in the Tropdiander Tribes
In some tropical tribes, girls could start sexual activity as early as six, and boys between seven and ten. By modern standards, this is shockingly early, and it shows just how different cultural norms can be.
3. Sharing a Wife in Nepal
Certain Nepali tribes practice polyandry, where two brothers share one wife. This custom developed partly because men outnumber women, and partly for economic efficiency. It’s an arrangement that might seem strange to outsiders, but it works in the context of their society.
4. Central Africa: The Life-Force Belief
Some Central African tribes believe that a woman’s genitalia can drain a man’s life force. Because of this, sexual activity is rare. When a marriage does occur, the bride is first “shared” among the tribe’s men before her husband. The idea is to neutralize any potential danger. It’s certainly extreme, but it highlights how belief systems can shape sexual practices.
5. Maasai Hospitality
In the Maasai culture, visitors especially foreign onesn are treated lavishly. Traditionally, a visitor could engage with a willing woman from the tribe. If a pregnancy resulted, it was seen as a genetic boon. While this custom is fading, it’s a striking example of how generosity and sexuality can intertwine in some cultures.
6. Colombian Mother-in-Law Curiosity
In Colombia, there was a tradition where newlyweds first sexual encounter could be observed by the mother-in-law. While this practice is dying out, it’s a reminder that sexual customs are often intertwined with family dynamics and social curiosity.
7. Hong Kong: Deadly Legal Rights
A law in Hong Kong once allowed a woman who caught her husband cheating to kill both him and his lover her husband with her bare hands, and the other party with a weapon. While extreme, this law might explain the country’s historically low divorce rates.
8. American Sexual Oddities
In the United States, sexual behavior was once heavily regulated. Arizona had rules on how many sex toys a couple could own, while in Colorado, it was illegal to kiss a sleeping woman. Weird? Absolutely but it shows how culture and law sometimes collide in the strangest ways.
9. Sambia Tribe Rites
In the Sambia tribe, boys are separated from their families at age seven and live under male mentorship for ten years. During this time, they consume large amounts of sugar cane, causing monthly nosebleeds to mimic female menstruation. They also ingest adult men’s semen to ensure proper nutrition. It’s one of the more extreme and stomach-churning rituals still practiced today.
10. Haitian Voodoo Orgies
Once a year, Haitian voodoo practitioners gather for a ritual that turns into a full-blown sexual gathering everyone with everyone. It’s a tradition that highlights how spiritual beliefs and sexuality can intersect in ways that seem wild to outsiders.
If you’re ready to challenge your ideas of “normal,” these ten practices prove that the world is full of surprising sexual diversity. From ancient rituals to modern taboos, human sexuality has always been endlessly creative and sometimes a little stomach-turning.
