Want to Truly Understand a Country? Don't Just Learn Vocabulary, Learn Their "Secret Codes" First

When we watch Anglo-American TV series, Christmas always seems to be about Christmas trees laden with colourful lights, mountains of presents, and romantic snowy scenes. But if you actually chat with a British friend, you'll discover their Christmas is full of various 'peculiar' traditions that will leave you scratching your head.

For instance, why do they insist on eating a vegetable they themselves despise? And why do they wear cheap paper crowns at the dinner table?

These seemingly 'nonsensical' habits are, in fact, like a group's 'secret codes' or 'recognition signals'.

Imagine members of a secret society meeting. They'd have a complex and unique set of gestures – first a fist bump, then interlocking fingers, finally a finger snap. To an outsider, this sequence of actions seems meaningless, perhaps even a bit daft. But for those 'in the know', each movement signifies "we're one of us", instantly closing the distance between them.

The culture of a country is much the same. Its most authentic, core elements are often not the grand buildings listed in travel guides, but rather hidden within these peculiar 'secret codes' passed down through generations.

Today, let's unravel three 'secret codes' of British Christmas.

Secret Code One: The Brussels Sprout – Eaten Even If You Hate It

The main event of a British Christmas dinner is usually roast turkey. But there's always one peculiar presence on the plate – the Brussels sprout.

Funnily enough, most Britons, from children to adults, openly declare their 'hatred' for them. They have a slightly bitter taste and an odd texture. Yet, year after year, they appear on the Christmas dinner table without fail.

This is like the fist bump in that 'secret gesture' – a tacit, obligatory ritual. Everyone complains, "Oh God, not them again!", while simultaneously forking them into their mouths. This collective 'self-deprecation' and 'endurance' transforms into a unique pleasure and shared memory. It's a reminder to everyone: 'Yes, this is our Christmas – peculiar but endearing.'

Secret Code Two: The Christmas Cracker – Creating 'Frugal Fun'

At the Christmas dinner table, there's another essential item: the Christmas Cracker. It's a cardboard tube, pulled open by two people, one holding each end, with a satisfying 'pop!'.

What usually tumbles out will leave you both amused and exasperated: a flimsy paper crown, a cheap plastic trinket, and a slip of paper with a terribly bad joke.

Materially speaking, these items are worthless. But their true significance lies in the act of 'pulling'. You have to cooperate with the person opposite or next to you to pull it open. That fleeting moment of anticipation and surprise, followed by everyone wearing their silly paper crowns and reading out the terrible jokes to each other – that's the true essence.

This is like the interlocking fingers in the 'secret gesture' – seemingly childish, yet it instantly breaks down barriers and creates merriment. It's not about what you get, but about doing this silly thing 'together'.

Secret Code Three: The Queen's 'Annual Background Hum'

Every Christmas afternoon, the Queen's Christmas Broadcast would play on televisions in almost every British home.

To be honest, the content of the speech itself might not have been particularly riveting. The Queen would summarise the past year and look ahead to the future. Many wouldn't even sit bolt upright and watch attentively, merely treating it as 'background noise' after Christmas dinner.

But it was precisely this 'background hum' that connected the entire nation. At that moment, no matter what people were doing – whether they were doing the washing up, or dozing on the sofa – they knew that thousands of their fellow citizens were sharing the same voice, the same moment.

This is like the final finger snap in the 'secret gesture' – a culminating signal that affirmed everyone's sense of belonging. It was a quiet yet powerful ritual, reminding everyone of their shared identity.

So, you'll find that truly understanding a culture is never about reciting its history or memorising its landmarks.

The key lies in whether you can decipher those 'secret codes' hidden in everyday life.

These codes cannot be found in textbooks, nor can they be grasped through simple translation. The best way to learn them is through genuine, in-depth conversations with locals.

But what if there's a language barrier? That has historically been our greatest impediment to understanding the world.

Fortunately, tools like Intent now exist. This chat app has built-in top-tier AI translation, allowing you to communicate effortlessly in your native tongue with anyone in any corner of the world.

You can directly ask your British friend: "Honestly, do you really eat those Brussels sprouts?" You'll get a genuine answer, brimming with real-life insight, rather than a stock reply.

Through successive conversations like these, you'll slowly learn the 'secret codes' of various cultures, truly stepping into their world, rather than merely remaining an observer.

Next time you encounter any 'peculiar' cultural custom, try to consider: Could this be their 'secret code'? What stories and emotional connections might be hidden behind it?

When you start to think this way, the world in your eyes will become far more three-dimensional and inviting.

Click here to begin your cross-cultural communication journey