Why Do We Have Taboos?

Imagine you’re in a group of friends, and someone says something your mom would hate. You laugh it off, but you also know you might get in trouble. That’s like taboos: rules people follow without even thinking about them. They help keep groups happy by telling everyone what they can and cannot do. Some taboos are silly, like not eating certain foods on special days, while others are serious, like punishing someone who breaks the rules.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A boy breaks a taboo by eating a forbidden fruit and gets shunned from the group.
  2. A girl talks to someone from another tribe, which is considered taboo in her culture.
  3. A family doesn’t follow an old rule about not eating meat on special days.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity