Customs: non-UK

Modern Japanese martial art: probably originating in the 14th century, but systematised by Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) as a form of self–defence; variously translated as "the way of unifying (with) life energy", "the way of harmonising energy", or "the way of harmonious spirit"		Aikido
Meaning of the Japanese term hara–kiri – from the traditional Samurai method of suicide		Belly cut
Informal name given in the USA to the day after Thanksgiving, seen as the start of the Christmas shopping season		Black Friday
Spanish equivalent of April Fools' Day		Boob Day
Traditional Japanese code of conduct, loosely equivalent to the European concept of chivalry; particularly associated with Samurai warriors		Bushido
Originally a celebration of the last feast before Lent at which meat could be eaten; according to folk etymology, its name comes from the Latin for 'farewell to meat'; now means, in English, any merrymaking or festival, as a program of entertainment; the most famous example is in Rio de Janeiro, beginning on the Friday before Palm Sunday and ending on Ash Wednesday; another in Venice is famous for its ornate, highly–crafted masks		Carnival
Bastinado – a form of punishment widely used through the ages in China and the Middle East, including the Ottoman Empire – involves whipping the		Feet
Japanese term for a woman, trained in the arts, who works as a men's companion; literally means 'artist'		Geisha
A turnip, pumpkin or other root vegetable, with a face carved into it and lit from inside – commonly associated with Halloween; it shares this name with the natural phenomenon also known as ignis fatuus or will–o'–the–wisp		Jack–o'–Lantern
Martial art, dating from the 16th century, from which judo evolved		Jujitsu
Traditional Japanese style of fencing with a two–handed wooden sword, derived from the fighting methods of the ancient samurai (warrior class); name means "way of the sword"		Kendo
Chinese martial art, whose name can also mean careful preparation for any skilful endeavour without interference from the intellect or emotions; can be traced at least to the Zhou dynasty (1111–255 BC); practised by Daoists in the 5th century BC; movements are initiated from one of five basic foot positions: normal upright posture, and the four stances called dragon, frog, horse riding, and snake		Kung Fu
The personification of the French Republic – as Britannia is the personification of Great Britain		Marianne
Kalaripayattu – practised in the southern Indian state of Kerala – is said to be the oldest surviving style of		Martial arts
The world's biggest beer festival: held in Munich annually since 1810		Oktoberfest
The two horsemen that jab the bull with lances, in the first of the three stages in a Spanish bullfight – their job is to weaken the bull ready for the matador (but not too much); literally means 'pricker'		Picadors
French term for April Fool		Poisson d'Avril
Moslem custom of veiling women's faces		Purdah
Sanskrit–derived name for an ancient Eastern religious symbol of good luck, known in heraldry and architecture as the fylfot; in everyday English it was previously known by its Greek name, the gammadion, but it's been known by this name since the late nineteenth century		Swastika
Art of unarmed combat, developed and named by the South Korean army general Choi Hong–Hi (1918–2002); name is variously translated as "the art of kicking and punching" or "the way of the foot and the fist"; became an Olympic sport in 2000		Taekwondo
Cha dao is the traditional Chinese		Tea ceremony
Vietnamese celebration of the turn of the lunar year		Tet
In Japanese culture, Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru (sometimes named as Mizaru, Mikazaru and Mazaru) are the		Three wise monkeys

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Customs: non-UK