We all remember Korney Chukovsky’s poem about Moidodyr from childhood; it ends with life-affirming verses: “And in the bath, and in the bathhouse, Always and everywhere - Eternal glory to the water!” But the Bergdams - residents of a distant African tribe - clearly would not have appreciated the poet’s skill. In their opinion, bathing can bring misfortune, so these people avoid any bath procedures in every possible way. How the dirtiest people on our planet live, read in the review...
Bergdams are nicknamed “black people,” and this is not surprising: they have blue-black skin, and on top of it you can often see a dense layer of dirt. Why the fear of water is so firmly rooted in their culture is unclear. In addition, representatives of this tribe cannot be called absolute dirty people - they carefully take care of the whiteness of their teeth, constantly cleaning them with a piece of leather and special wooden brushes.
Is it true. They fail to maintain a Hollywood smile for a long time: bergdams often eat rough food (roots or insects), and their teeth quickly wear down. As soon as a tooth becomes “unusable,” the healer knocks it out with an ordinary stick, which is driven under the tooth into the gum.
The main value in the Bergdam settlement is the sacred fire. Only men have the right to approach it; the elders light the fire after a special ritual. The main deity for the Bergdama tribe is Kamabu, the sun god. Sorcerers turn to him, asking for good luck in the hunt, as well as “consulting” about the health of members of the tribe.
The fact is that when members of the tribe experience symptoms of illness, they go to the sorcerer-healer. He, guided by the promptings of the sun god, makes a verdict: if the disease is fatal, then no one will take care of the victim, it is believed that he should die alone. If the cleaver receives a sign that this is only a test, then he will perform a healing ritual. To do this, he collects the “disease” from the person’s body in one place, and then carries out cauterization, often leaving terrible scars on the patient’s body.
An important stage in the life of a bergdam is the initiation rite. Girls are considered adults when their mammary glands develop. Until this moment, the girl is forbidden to eat food that women eat. To initiate, incisions are made above the chest, sprinkled with floured food and wait for the wounds to heal. With the onset of the first menstrual cycle, the tribe arranges a ritual sacrifice of a goat, and the girl is instructed that she should not be sexually active until marriage.
The initiation rite for young men is of a group nature. To be considered a man, they must go hunting for two days in a row, the first prey is eaten by their fellow tribesmen (the boys are left with nothing), and they can start the second meal along with everyone else.
It is also worth mentioning ritual actions on the occasion of the birth of a child. When a child is born, his father must roast a piece of meat over a fire, coat his skin with fat, roll up the dirt and collect it in a leather bag. This is how an amulet for a baby is prepared. The father of the newborn hangs a bag around the baby's neck, while he spits on his chest, rubs the spit and calls the new little man by name.
The tribe also has an even more terrifying tradition associated with the birth of children. If twins are born, it is akin to a curse; to get rid of it, you need to perform a ritual of burying one of the two babies alive.
The amazing Bergdam tribe is considered underdeveloped and lives in the Kalahari Desert. Ethnographers suggest that it is in danger of extinction. Unfortunately, there are many such nationalities that may disappear from the face of the Earth in the foreseeable future.
Residents of Russia took one of the first places in the world in terms of cleanliness, second only to Indians and Americans. According to sociologists, the majority (35%) of Russians take a shower or bath every day, and 11% of our compatriots take a shower or bath at least twice a day. Residents of Europe have long abandoned the medieval habit of washing twice in their lives, but still avoid showering too often. On average, Britons and Germans wash twice a week. Environmentalists argue that the habit of frequent washing can lead to an environmental disaster - the world's supplies of clean water are being depleted at a catastrophic rate. After traveling on the capital's metro during rush hour, it's hard to believe, but here's a fact: Muscovites are the cleanest people in the country. 55% of them wash daily, and 18% wash more than twice a day. Moreover, washing takes at least 20 minutes a day, Novye Izvestia cites a study conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation. The average resident of Russia is becoming more and more clean. According to the FOM, 35% of the residents of our country wash themselves every day, even when the hot water is turned off - they go to the bathhouse, heat water in the basin, use a water heater and invite themselves to visit friends who have water heaters. Only 19% of our country’s residents take a shower once a week—mostly rural residents who do not have running water.
The British and Germans wash no more than a couple of times a week. For Americans, taking a shower twice a day is a mandatory ritual. A person who has not washed for two days, or changed his underwear or shirt, is considered marginal in the United States. According to hygienists, Russians’ passion for bathing is explained by a change in our mentality: through TV series, films, books and other objects of mass culture, the American way of life and all the habits of US residents, including frequent washing, are being actively adopted. The cleanest nation, however, is not the Americans, but the Indians. They wash their bodies and hands twice as often as Germans and one and a half times more often than Americans. Hindus go to the bath after sneezing, after contact with a pet, after visiting the toilet, and always before eating. However, in India such cleanliness is quite justified: intestinal infections are raging in the country, the best protection against which is soap in your hands.
Experts are convinced that we love to shower so often because we don’t know the value of water, and Russians’ passion for bathing leads to an environmental disaster. In Russia, unlike in Europe, meters are still installed in only a few houses, while the majority of Russians pay for water at an “unlimited tariff”. Meanwhile, in order to take a shower, on average, about 50 liters of water are required, and a bath – 120. Against the backdrop of the global shortage of water resources, the habits of Russians look like insane wastefulness - unlike the inhabitants of Europe, we do not even try to save water. True, experts give an economic explanation for this: We spend about 135 billion rubles a year on collecting, purifying and distributing water. The paradox of our system is that as this figure increases, our GDP increases. In fact, the current economic model in our country is not interested in reducing water consumption.
Culture
Russian citizens rank third in the world among the cleanest and tidiest countries after Indians and Americans.
The majority of Russians (35 percent) shower or bathe daily, while 11 percent of Russian citizens shower twice a day. Residents of Europe have long abandoned the medieval habit of swimming twice in their lives. However, they still prefer not to shower too often, British and Germans wash twice a week.
Environmentalists argue that the habit of taking a shower or bath every day can lead to an environmental disaster, since the planet will very quickly run out of fresh water. Muscovites are the cleanest people in Russia, although this is hard to believe after a trip on the subway. 55 percent of Muscovites take a shower every day, 18 percent of them wash twice a day. A recent survey showed that On average, one bathing session lasts about 20 minutes.
The average Russian citizen is also becoming cleaner. About 35 percent of Russians wash daily, even in the summer, when access to hot water is closed in many cities and villages due to planned work. Only 19 percent of Russians shower once a week, but these are mostly rural residents who have no water in their homes at all.
The average American showers twice a day, a sacred ritual in the United States. A person who does not bathe or change his underwear is considered an outcast in the United States.
Experts say Russians have developed a passion for cleanliness through TV shows, films, books and other popular culture that actively emulate the American way of life.
Hindus are the purest nation in the world. They wash their hands and body twice as often as Germans and 1.5 times more often than Americans. A Hindu will always go to the bathroom after sneezing, touching an animal or visiting the toilet. This cleanliness is justified in India, because this country has the most favorable conditions for the spread of intestinal infections. Therefore, a bar of soap in your hands is the best protection against infections in India.
Experts say that modern countries are developing a love of cleanliness because they don't know the value of fresh water. Such passion in Russia can really lead to an environmental disaster. A very large number of residential buildings in Russia do not have meters for hot and cold water; people pay a fixed amount regardless of how much water they use.
It should be kept in mind that a regular shower requires 50 liters of water, while a bath requires 120 liters. This habit looks crazy given the acute shortage of fresh water in the world. Unlike Europeans, Russians do not even try to save water.
In the twenty-first century, cars have become a part of our lives. They do most of the work and have already replaced humans in many ways. In the world of concrete and steel there is no place for nature anymore, you say...
1st place - Switzerland
Everyone knows this state as the birthplace of the most delicious cheese and chocolate. But few people know that this small country, located in the heart of Europe, is also the cleanest country in the world according to the authoritative American magazine Forbes.
Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world come here to ride in the famous Swiss Alps. After all, most of the country is located in the mountains. From southwest to northeast, across its entire territory, powerful mountain ranges stretch, the height of which is more than 3500 meters.
Oddly enough, in such a unique country as Switzerland there is no capital, but the entire territory - 41.3 thousand square km - is subject to the federal council, which greatly values the cleanliness of its cities. For example, in the city of Zermatt only electric cars are allowed. Cars that pollute the air are banned.
A lot can be said about Switzerland, but it is worth separately noting the fact that, being in the very center of Europe, the country is not part of the European Union. And in one of its cities the headquarters of the UN is located, although the state itself is not a member of the United Nations.
When we talk about Switzerland, we immediately imagine snow-capped mountains and empty rocky slopes. But when spring comes to Europe, everything comes to life, flowers bloom and grass turns green. 42% of its territory is covered with meadows, plains and national parks, the most famous of which is the Bernese Bear Park, formerly the Bear Pit. The park, opened in 2009, cost the country a tidy sum, but now people can observe the life of bears in conditions as close as possible to natural ones. And bears are full-fledged owners of a territory equal to 6,000 square meters.
2nd place - Sweden
Sweden is a cold kingdom, a state that occupies the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the islands of Gotland and Öland in the Baltic Sea, and occupies 2nd place in the ranking. Area - 450.5 thousand square meters. km. Thanks to the mountainous terrain and the unique combination of natural conditions, almost the entire country is one large nature reserve. In the north, most of the territory is covered with glaciers, which belong to the Laponia National Park. And the southern part of the country is the complete opposite of the north. Wide deciduous forests cover the south of the country, and in Söderåsen National Park you can walk through a lush forest. The capital of the state is the old picturesque city of Stockholm, located on the eastern shore of Lake Mälaren.
3rd place - Norway
Norway is another northern kingdom (northern European state), occupying the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Spitsbergen archipelago, the Bear and Jan Mayen islands in the North Atlantic. The area of the country is 387 thousand square meters. km. Norway is a mountainous country riddled with a huge number of valleys and fjords.
The fjord is a unique creation of nature, caused by glacier retreat, strong rivers and falling sea levels. Every self-respecting fisherman simply must go fishing in the fjords. Steep cliffs and flowing water fascinate travelers.
The capital of Norway, the city of Oslo, is located on the northern shore of the Oslofjord, which cuts deeply into the land. Since ancient times, this city was the place of residence of Norwegian kings, who were called Normans in Europe, and Varangians in Rus'. There are a lot of museums in the city; Viking culture plays a special role. At The Viking Ship Museum, tourists can see real ships that have come down to us since the 11th century AD.
4th place - Costa Rica
Let's move from the cold north to a real tropical paradise. Costa Rica is perhaps one of the smallest countries in South America; it is located at the narrowest point of the isthmus connecting the continents. This country is washed by seas on both sides.
Ecotourism plays a vital role in its economy - this country is more dependent on tourists than others and tries to become as attractive as possible to them. The government plans to reduce hydrocarbon emissions to zero by 2021. However, this country would not be so beautiful if it were not for the forests, which are home to an incredible amount of wildlife. Unfortunately, in many Latin American countries deforestation is occurring at a catastrophic rate, while in Costa Rica forests are protected and considered a national treasure.
The capital of the state, the city of San Jose, is the largest city in the country (890 thousand inhabitants). Costa Rica is the first country that managed to abolish the army after the bloody civil war of 1949.
5th place - Colombia
The top five is completed by Colombia. Colombia is a republic that owes its name to the famous navigator Christopher Columbus. First of all, the well-being of the country depends on the fertility of its soils, which is why the country’s land resources are protected by law. Thanks to this policy, the country maintains a high level of citizen health.
In the north of Colombia there is the Caribbean Lowland with a dry subequatorial climate. The main port cities of the country, attracting travelers, are located here. This paradise has a huge number of extinct and active volcanoes, which brings in a lot of income from tourists who want to look at them. Most of the country is covered with impenetrable mangroves and mangrove swamps, which is perhaps why Colombia is included in the list of the most environmentally friendly countries in the world.
6th place - New Zealand
New Zealand is a tourist paradise that places great importance on protecting the environment. This state is located in Oceania on two neighboring islands, which are separated by the Cook Strait (width 32 km). The territory of the North Island is covered with mountain ranges and volcanoes (the highest is Ruapehu - 2797 m). On the island you can find hot geysers, mud springs and lakes with very warm water. The coast is very similar to the coast of Norway, here you can also find fjords and it is in this country that the Fiordland National Park is located.
7th place - Japan
Japan is the land of sakura. Every year, millions of tourists come to Japan to watch the amazingly beautiful cherry blossoms. Without exception, all Japanese corporations provide a break during which workers can go out and simply contemplate the cherry blossoms.
When we talk about Japan, we immediately think of robots, computers and high-tech manufacturing. But as you know, Japan is a country of contrasts. In the city of Tokyo we can see huge skyscrapers next to ancient pagodas, rock gardens next to monorail railways and much more. The Land of the Rising Sun is also known for the fact that in order to increase its territory, it builds islands from garbage, which gives it the right to be in the top ten cleanest countries in the world. Let's not forget that Japan remains the only country in the world against which nuclear weapons have been used.
8th place - Croatia
Croatia is a country in Southeast Europe, whose shores are washed by the Adriatic Sea. The coastline is heavily indented; there are a lot of rocky islands on the coast (there are 1185 of them in total). The country consists of 4 historical regions: Lesser Croatia, Dalmatia, Slavonia, Istria. Area - 56,414 sq. km.
The country has a very favorable climate: average annual temperatures are -3...+24 degrees with 800 mm of precipitation per year.
Croatia is also notable for its architecture, which is dominated by buildings made of natural stone.
9th place - Albania
Albania is the country of eagles (translated from Albanian), stretched along the coast of the Atlantic and Adriatic seas. The country is mountainous. 70% of its territory is in the mountains, indented by rivers and gorges. In a sense, the country has something to be proud of: in Albania, industrial enterprises have never worked at full capacity, and this is what helped it maintain its almost pristine purity.
10th place - Israel
Israel closes the top ten cleanest countries in the world. State of South-West Asia, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. A relatively young country can easily compete in terms of living standards with the older countries of Europe. Israel is considered a Jewish country, but in fact the country's population of 7.2 million people consists of people of different religions and nationalities. In this country there is no division of confrontations; everyone is truly equal before the law.
A book entitled “Pure” was published in London. History of washing without embellishment" ("Clean. Unsanitised History of Washing"). The publication became a notable event in the cultural life of Britain, arousing wide readership. We talked about the traditions of European bath culture with the author of the book, historian Katherine Eschenburg.
Queen Elizabeth I of England, daughter of Henry VIII, proudly wrote: “Whatever happens to me in the future, I will never give up the habit of washing once a month.” You can make fun of this phrase of the great queen as much as you like, but it clearly highlights the fact that the habit of taking a shower every day has not always been an integral part of European everyday culture. Katherine Eschenburg dedicated her book to the evolution of hygiene in Europe. This is essentially a social history of washing from the Roman baths to the modern bathroom. The author of the book traces how the content of the word “pure”, which she included in the title of the book, changed in European countries over the centuries.
What explains that the culture of washing and cleanliness of the body came to Europe so late, compared to other regions of the world?
You see, Christianity is the only world religion that has not formulated special rules of cleansing and hygiene. Apparently, the fact is that Christ, to some extent, wanted to distance himself from the Jews, who attach great importance to ritual ablutions and cleanliness. Christianity was more concerned about spiritual life than about the flesh, and often simply ignored it. In the early days of Christianity, there was even an idea that the dirtier you looked and the more unpleasant you smelled, the more holy a person you were.
So what: the British Queen Elizabeth I, who washed herself once a month, was just following Christian precepts?
You know, Queen Elizabeth was much purer, in the literal sense of the word, than many people who lived in her time, and even than those who lived in the next, 17th century. At that time, for example, there were people like the French King Louis XIV, who lived a long life, was a very healthy man and only took a bath twice in his entire life!
- How did the washing culture develop in Britain?
The British were in many ways pioneers in this area, because Britain was the first country to undergo an industrial revolution. At that time, a serious problem was the huge number of poor people who flooded the streets of the cities. It was the British who first came up with the idea - back at the very beginning of the 19th century - to build city public baths, since houses at that time had neither running water nor bathrooms. It was in England that people first thought about building a water supply system and delivering water to homes. The French, it must be said, have always looked up to the British in this regard and have always felt inferior. The British generally adore all sorts of inventions - then the Americans adopted this from them in the 70s of the 19th century.
In England they say that Charles Dickens had a huge influence on the emergence of the popular bathing culture. Is it so?
Yes, Dickens was a huge supporter of progress, and we owe him the creation of a number of conveniences in this area. One of them is the installation of a stationary bath in the house. Before Dickens, people used small, portable bathtubs that were placed in the kitchen, bedroom, and other places. When the young Queen Victoria moved into Buckingham Palace, there was no bathroom. The servants brought her a washing vessel, in which she washed herself until a bathroom was built, the construction of which she paid for from her own funds. Dickens was obsessed with cleanliness; he was an incredibly neat and tidy person and loved to take cold showers, which was not at all safe in the 60s of the 19th century. He installed a shower, along with a bathtub, in his home for the first time.
- How rooted is the culture of body cleanliness and washing in Russia?
Russians love their baths, which have long become a very important part of their urban landscape. In this respect, they are similar to the Germans, who did not close their public baths even during plague epidemics, when bathing in them was very dangerous. For Russians, in my opinion, baths have become an integral part of Russian culture.
- Which people can be called the cleanest?
Speaking about the whole world, I would say that the Japanese are the cleanest people. But since my book is dedicated to Western countries, I would say that North Americans are overly obsessed with the idea of hygiene and cleanliness, and wash too often, which often negatively affects their health. I would say that Americans are the cleanest people in the world, but they are excessively clean!
Catherine Eschenburg notes that residents of modern Western countries seem to think that caring for the cleanliness of the body is a natural and timeless phenomenon. In fact, she argues, cleanliness is a complex cultural concept whose understanding is constantly changing. She also writes that the original connection between dirt and guilt, purity and innocence is rooted in our consciousness and our language. People, she writes, talk about “dirty jokes” or “dirty money laundering.” She recalls that Pontius Pilate “washed his hands” by condemning Christ to death, and the ritual of baptism is associated with washing.