The teacher clap is when grade school teachers clap out multi-syllable words with children. Just last week, I was teacher-clapping with my third graders. As we clapped two-, three-, and four-syllable words in unison, the kids grew more and more excited. “Is there a five syllable word?” one child called out, excitedly. Slowly, I wrote “re-frig-er-a-tor” on the board. The class squealed with delight as we clapped it out together. For kids, it’s way more fun to clap out a five-syllable word than one with only two.

When I moved to Budapest, I discovered that Hungarians also have their own unique clap. I experienced it during my first visit to the the State Opera House. As the curtain closed at the end of the performance, the audience began clapping as usual. But after a few moments, everyone in the theatre settled into a slow, synchronized clap. Surprised, I turned to my Hungarian friend Botond and said, “What’s this?”

“It’s called vastaps,” Botond answered. “The iron clap.” I figured the term came from the time Hungary was behind the Iron Curtain, but he explained that it comes from when Hungarian audience members would keep clapping even after the iron fire curtain lowered at the end of a show. Smiling, I looked back at the stage and iron-clapped right along with everyone else. It was just like clapping syllables.

As we continued to clap in march-like unison, Botond said, “Vastaps is like your American standing ovation. Hungarians don’t do standing ovations. In fact, after a show you can easily spot the non-Hungarians. They stand up.” Botond scanned the audience. An exuberant woman had just popped up behind us. Grinning, Botond leaned in to me and announced, “Tourist!”

Source: An American in Budapest