Everything that society, religious beliefs or superstitions find as prohibited is considered taboo; It is a Polynesian term that means forbidden.
At present there are many taboos, which, in many cases, set the pattern to follow in order to live within a society full of prejudices and rules of coexistence that in some situations are considered exaggerated or out of place.
We are forbidden to act in a certain way when our behavior, habit or practice, collide with the traditional values, religious creeds or political foundations of most people. This is where it begins to be considered as taboos. Most taboos arise with the cultural traditions of each country, for everything that is considered unnatural, although some are developed according to religions or political groups.
Currently most of what is restricted is synonymous with taboo, so that the various activities that are conditioned to be part of the taboos often trigger problems with society, which considers these actions in bad taste.
With the passage of time, taboos are modified, both the nationality and the religion of the place and its culture, make them depend largely on being transformed, replaced or eliminated altogether.
At present there are many taboos, which are according to the customs of each city or community, even in families there are taboo subjects.
Despite the fact that we are in a century of constant changes and technologies, people refuse to want to get rid of the taboos imposed by the society in which we live and still fear being able to express themselves freely.
So much so, that there are people who still carry their heavy chains and accumulate them with the current ones, this to put it in a way that they refuse to find a solution or simply let them pass.
Some of the most controversial taboos and I am sure that is the one that monopolizes much of the world, without a doubt is sex, because talking about it will always generate controversy and discussion before the various bodies in which it is debated.
Taboo topics are:
Talk about death
Drug trafficking
Eat human, dog or some animals that are venerated in different countries
Sexual preferences
*Sorcery
*Get older
Just to mention some of the many topics or taboo words that are of great relevance and have in common certain countries, although some give them other names to avoid sounding loud or cruel, such as euphemisms.
Euphemism
Euphemisms are the terms that are used to replace something that we need to express and we do not want it to be heard hard or uncomfortable towards other people, in this way we try to soften the negative or derogatory charge that comes to have some words.
This is done by referring fundamentally to sexual, physiological and, in general, to everything unpleasant or vulgar that should not be named; They are also linked to racial or ethnic, social or physical disabilities.
Some examples of euphemism:
Person of color (black)
Golden age or old age (old age)
Person with different abilities (disabled)
Voluntary interruption of pregnancy (abortion)
We can not eradicate tajo taboos living since ancient times, as each culture creates its own and are constantly changing. We can eliminate some, however, others will be created. For the function of taboo is to prevent certain behaviors that are considered dangerous or improper within society and there will always be such behaviors.