Taboos that have pervaded our society

During one of my classes today, the lecturer raised the topic of Taboos in the Traditional African Society. At that point, I felt really stupid. Why? Those taboos where just there to teach us the good life. They are totally not true.
For example, I'm from the Yoruba tribe and we have a thousand and one taboos. Don't sit at the entrance when eating. Why? You won't be satisfied. Really? Don't put your hand in the rain. Why? The thunder might strike it, cutting it off. Are these people joking?
But then I must say it helped me a lot in my childhood years. My Mum did not have to tell me certain things before I knew it was wrong. The Yoruba Culture did. Don't whistle at 1pm, you might attract snakes. But on a much more serious note, snakes? Really? Who whistles when the sun is at it's hottest and people are trying to nap? It doesn't just sound well.
There are other taboos in various parts of Africa (I'm not particularly sure about other parts of the continent) but I'm just citing these as examples because I am from that side of the galaxy. It really does not matter if they are not true...actually. The taboos are just meant to instill proper hygiene and the right way to behave in us, yeah!

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