Cultured of Cambodia

Throughout Cambodia's long history, religion has

been a major source of cultural inspiration. Over
nearly two millennia, Cambodians have developed
a unique Khmer belief from the syncreticism of
indigenous animistic beliefs and the Indian
religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. Indian
culture and civilization, including its languages and

arts reached mainland Southeast Asia around the

1st century AD. It is generally believed that
seafaring merchants brought Indian customs and
culture to ports along the Gulf of Thailand and the
Pacific en route to trade with China. The Kingdom
of Funan was most probably the first Khmer state
to benefit from this influx of Indian ideas. There is
also French influence as well.

Greeting People in Cambodia

The traditional Cambodian greeting, known as
som pas, is made by putting your two hands
together in a prayer-like gesture in front of the
chest with fingertips pointing up. Give a slight
bow with your head. This is the equivalent of
the wai seen in Thailand
The hands are held higher to show more
respect to elders, officials, and teachers; the
fingertips should be touching the chin or nose.
For monks, the fingertips should be touching
your forehead. You can also give a higher som
pas to show extreme gratitude or sincere apology.
Many Cambodians choose to shake hands with visitors, although you probably won't get a
firm grip as is expected in the West. The best rule-of-thumb is simply to return whatever
greeting that you were given initially. Not returning someone's greeting is considered very
rude.
What is the main religion in Cambodia?
Buddhism has existed in Cambodia since at least the 5th century AD, with some sources

placing its origin as early as the 3rd century BC. Theravada Buddhism has been the
Cambodian state religion since the 13th century AD (excepting the Khmer Rouge period), and
is currently estimated to be the religion of 97% of the population.
The history of Buddhism in Cambodia spans nearly two thousand years, across a number of
successive kingdoms and empires. Buddhism entered Cambodia through two different
streams. The earliest forms of Buddhism, along with Hindu influences, entered the Funan
kingdom with Hindu merchants. In later history, a second stream of Buddhism entered Khmer
culture during the Angkor empire when
Cambodia absorbed the various Buddhist
traditions of the Mon kingdoms of Dvaravati and Haripunchai.

For the first thousand years of Khmer history, Cambodia was ruled by a series of Hindu kings
with an occasional Buddhist king, such as Jayavarman I of Funan, and Suryvarman I. A variety
of Buddhist traditions co-existed peacefully throughout Cambodian lands, under the tolerant
auspices of Hindu kings and the neighboring Mon-Theravada kingdoms.

How do they dress in Cambodia?

Proper Dress in Cambodia Modest dress is the rule in Cambodia, particularly for women.
Although many tourists wear shorts to deal with the heat, the locals tend to cover as much
skin as possible. In Cambodia, shorts are the default attire for male schoolchildren!

Local men in Cambodia typically wear collared, short-sleeved shirts and long pants. Although
wearing shorts and a T-shirt is fine for tourists, you should try not to cause locals to feel
embarrassed by your attire. Avoid short shorts, miniskirts, tight stretch/yoga pants, or other
clothing that is too revealing.
Although tourism has caused local dress to lax somewhat, always dress conservatively when
visiting temples (that includes the Angkor sites), homes, or entering a government building.
Avoid wearing T-shirts with religious themes (images of Buddha or Hindu deities)

What is the famous food in Cambodia?

 Khmer cuisine or, more
generally, Cambodian cuisine, is the traditional cuisine of the people of Cambodia. Average
meals typically consists of more than one dish and ideally contrasts flavours, textures and
temperatures within the meal using plenty of herbs, leaves, pickled vegetables, dipping
sauces, edible flowers and other garnishes and condiments.

Rice is the staple food in Cambodia, and it is part of every meal, both as an accompaniment
and used as an ingredient for many dishes. According to the International Rice Research
Institute, there are 2,000 rice varieties indigenous to Cambodia that were developed over
centuries by Cambodian rice farmers.[1]
Rice is eaten throughout the day in the form of street-side snacks, such as deep-fried rice
cakes with chives and spinach, for breakfast, as in Cambodia's famous rice noodle
soup kuyteav or rice porridge, and in many desserts. Plain white rice is served with nearly
every family meal, typically served with grilled freshwater fish, a samlor or soup, and an
assortment of seasonal herbs, salad leaves and vegetables

What kind of country is Cambodia?

he area that is present-day Cambodia came under Khmer rule about 600, when the region
was at the center of a vast empire that stretched over most of Southeast Asia. Under the
Khmers, who were Hindus, a magnificent temple complex was constructed at Angkor.
Buddhism was introduced in the 12th century during the rule of Jayavaram VII. However, the
kingdom, then known as Kambuja, fell into decline after Jayavaram's reign and was nearly
annihilated by Thai and Vietnamese invaders. Kambuja's power steadily diminished until 1863,
when France colonized the region, joining Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam into a single
protectorate known as French Indochina.
The French quickly usurped all but ceremonial powers from the monarch, Norodom. When he
died in 1904, the French passed over his sons and handed the throne to his brother, Sisowath.
Sisowath and his son ruled until 1941, when Norodom Sihanouk was elevated to power.
Sihanouk's coronation, along with the Japanese occupation during the war, worked to
reinforce a sentiment among Cambodians that the region should be free from outside control.
After World War II, Cambodians sought independence, but France was reluctant to part with
its colony. Cambodia was granted independence within the French Union in 1949. But the
French-Indochinese War provided an opportunity for Sihanouk to gain full military control of
the country. He abdicated in 1955 in favor of his parents, remaining head of the government,
and when his father died in 1960, Sihanouk became chief of state without returning to the
throne. In 1963, he sought a guarantee of Cambodia's neutrality from all parties in the
Vietnam War.

Ways Of Life
 Birth and
death rituals The birth of a child is a happy event for the family. According to traditional
beliefs, however, confinement and childbirth expose the family, and especially the mother
and the child to harm from the spirit world. A woman who dies in childbirth crosses the river
in Khmer is believed to become an evil spirit. In traditional Khmer society, a pregnant woman
respects a number of food taboos and avoids certain situations. These traditions remain in
practice in rural Cambodia, but they have become weakened in urban areas.

Do Cambodians eat beef?

Beef and chicken are stewed, grilled or stir fried. Seafood includes an array of shellfish such as
clams, cockles, crayfish, shrimp and squid. Lobsters are not commonly eaten because of their
price, but middle-class and rich Cambodia enjoy eating them at Sihanoukville

Sport in Cambodia
Football is popular as are martial arts in particular. Sepak takraw, which looks like volleyball,
is also a very popular sport in Cambodia. The martial arts of Bokator, pradal serey (Khmer
kickboxing) and Khmer traditional wrestling are all practiced in the country