Some taboos that are basically superstitions:
- Throwing your garbage at night. Reason: It’s bad. No one gives any more detail, I have always thought it is a way to avoid going out at night since you might be robbed, hurt or killed.
- Whistling at night. Reason: You awake the souls of the dead. It is very creepy to whistle at night after you have this in you mind. I think is just a way not to disturb other people who might be sleeping.
- Spending money at night. Reason: It's bad. Something about losing money? Nevertheless, smart decisions are made in the light of day.
- Cutting your child’s nails before the age of one. Reason: They will become thieves. This one is proven, because every thief had their nails cut before the age of one.
- Showing a picture of your baby before they are 40 days of age. Reason: Facebook. There might be some religious background to this, but any time I asked why they post only a covered baby in Facebook I got told, because it is bad to do so.
- Complimenting on the good looks of a new born. Reason: Protect them from the bad eye.
- Paying compliments to someone without knocking on wood, touching your crotch, or spitting three times. (The crotch thing is prevalent). Reason: Protect them from the bad eye.
- Touching your throat without blowing your hand afterwards. Reason: It has always been so.
Taboos that are forbidden societal rules:
- Marrying your cousin, 4th cousins I think is more tolerable.
- Being non-heterosexual. Edit: Make it anything non-heteronormative.
- Being sexually active and admitting it as something normal, before marriage, as a woman.
- Imposing religion to someone, even non-religion.
- Not giving some money on a wake. Usually starts with 500 ALL.
- Showing no interest in education. People will treat you like you are mentally challenged.
- Standing down when someone you will greet enters the room.
- Letting your guest pay.
- Leaving guests in a celebration hungry.
- Anything HIV/AIDS related. We have December first, and that is about it.
- Demanding explanation for [context] to someone who is considered your superior. Social or professional.
- Bitching about food / quality of service to your host. You do it like a normal person behind their back.
- Thinking you have the same equal rights as any other human of developed countries. Albanians are sub-human and that is a fact. /s
- Marrying someone who is from the Roma community.