Boy meets Girl. Girl meets Boy. It all seems so natural and instinctive.

Romance, flirtation and desire are so intrinsic that a person almost can be forgiven for believing that the language of love is universal. But around the world, woo is pitched in several different ways; the process of meeting, courtship and marriage can be very different. “Dinner and a movie” may be America’s classic approach to learning more about the object of your affection, but around the world there is an amazing diversity of approaches. From terms of endearment to meeting places, the world has tremendous diversity in dating techniques.

 

In Indian romantic films, it’s considered improper for an unmarried man and woman to kiss. To overcome this problem, the director finds other means that can be very erotic. A woman might slowly kiss the edge of her drinking glass, then slowly turn the glass to face her Romeo. He in turn kisses the glass, pressing his lips where hers were only a moment before.

 

In France, it is not uncommon to hear a man use “mon petite chou-chou” as a term of endearment. This translates as “my little cabbage-cabbage” and calls into question the French tongue’s reputation as the language of love.

 

In Knock, Ireland, lonely hearts can apply to the Knock Marriage Bureau for help finding a marriage partner. It’s been run by Father Michael Keane since 1968.

 

In the Philippines, an arinola is a common gift for newlyweds, as tradition holds that it is good luck for the happy couple to receive it. An arinola is a chamberpot.

 

In Vietnam, any girl who agrees to go to a movie on the first date is considered “easy.”

 

In Chechen tradition, a girl can stop two suitors from fighting over her by letting her handkerchief drop to the ground.

 

Japan features an unusual twist on singles’ bars. The room is separated by a row of opaque glass, with a thin strip of clear glass across it—allowing men and women to regard each other’s looks without fear of appearing to rudely leer at one another. Patrons of these bars use the waiters to deliver messages to a potential partner, avoiding the problem of face-to-face rejection.

 

Young Italian men and women prefer to go on group dates, which allow for a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere, a low-pressure environment where they can be themselves.

 

Bundling, an Irish tradition allows men and women to share a bed while preventing the fun usually associated with sleeping together. A long pillow separates the pair. Being “so near and yet so far,” the couple might have difficulty falling asleep, forcing them into all-night talk sessions so they can get to know each other.

Use a quick search to find a date, and you could start pitching your own woo today!