> where I'm from, interior "Cross-winds" are deemed to be deadly.

In Romania, too, popular belief considers drafts to be a dangerous cause of illness, but at least in my own experience, opening all the windows in the morning is an exception. Airing out the house daily in winter is seen as a healthful thing to do by many if not most families... but of course once all the windows are closed again, there shouldn't be the slightest hint of a draft anywhere in the house.

> interior "Cross-winds" are deemed to be deadly

Interesting! Never heard this before. Where are you from, if I may ask?

I think this article describes it well, including the absolute cultural prevalence, belief, and influence :). It is written in regard to a single country (Croatia) but applies to Balkans and few other parts of Europe as well:

https://zablogreb.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/propuh-or-the-gre...

In Sweden too, at least a generation back or two, it was like this.

Incredibly interesting, thanks!

Sounds like Eastern Europe to me.

My family members used to yell at me for sitting down on a stone fence or concrete bench, because something something cold stone ... lower back / kidney disease.

The same irrational belief is common in Germany as well. Cold air is thought to cause things like the common cold and bronchitis.

Some people would feel a slight draft indoors and immediately start yelling for the windows to be closed.

I knew a very wealthy guy in Germany who bought a Mercedes 560SEL - at the time, the top-of-the-line model. He ordered it without air conditioning because he didn't want to get bronchitis.

“Es zieht!”

> You will NOT open two windows at the same time anywhere in the house, ever, period.

This makes literally zero sense. It's even stupider than Korean Fan Death.

Oh it really is. I grew up with the bs, and people don't seem to believe you when you tell them that it's no worse than wind blowing on the street.

It's analogous, irrational, and nonsensical from our perspective, so I'd agree.

(I think the article I linked later demonstrates some interesting and radically differing cultural assumptions)

My mother is constantly complaining that apartment is cold, and then I close the window.