Customs and Tradition
Cambodian
culture and tradition have had a rich varied history dating back many
centuries. Over the years, the people of Cambodia developed a set of
unique tradition from the syncretism of indigenous Buddhism and
Hinduism.
Cambodians have been raised to respect their culture and are very traditional in their way of life. Tourists will see the well mannered Cambodian expressing a friendly “Chumreap Suor” when they meet one.
Chumreap Suor
Cambodians
traditionally greet with a Sampeah, which involves pressing the palms
together before the chest with a slight bow and greeting with a polite
‘Chumreap Suor’. Customarily, the higher the hands are held and the
lower the bow, the more respect is conveyed.
Except when meeting
elderly people or government officials, between men, this custom has
been partially replaced by the handshake.
Women usually greet
both men and women with the same traditional greeting. Although it may
be considered acceptable for foreigners to shake hands with a Cambodian,
it is more appropriate to respect the custom and respond with a
‘Chumreap Suor’.
Traditional Dances
There
are many classical dance forms in Cambodia, of which a highly stylized
art form was once confined mainly to the courts of the royal palace and
performed mainly by females. Known formally in Khmer as Robam Apsara,
the dancers of this classical form are often referred to as Apsara
dancers.
This dance form was first introduced to
foreign countries and best known during the 1960s as the Khmer Royal
Ballet. The first royal ballerina was Princess Norodom Bopha Devi, a
daughter of King Norodom Sihanouk.
The Apsara Dance is particularly
inspired by the style from around more than a thousand Apsara carvings
in the Angkor temple complex. As evidenced in part by these Apsaras
(celestial dancers), dance has been part of the Khmer culture for more
than a millennium.
A visit to Cambodia is only complete when one has attended at least one such traditional dance performance.
Kbach Kun Khmer Boran ( Martial Art )
Khmer martial arts date back more than a thousand years, as evidenced by carvings and bas-reliefs in the Angkor temples. The martial arts include Bokator, Pradal Serey, Baok Chambab, Kbach Kun Dambong Vèng, amongst others.
Bokator
Khmer
Bokator , known formally as Labokatao, is a Cambodian martial art form
that involves close hand-to-hand combat, ground techniques and weapons.
Bokator is one of the earliest Cambodian
martial art and is said to be the close quarter combat system used by
the armies during the Angkor era.
Practitioners are trained to strike with knees, elbows, hands, feet and even the head. Short sticks are commonly used as weapon.
Baok Chambab
Baok
Chambab is Khmer wrestling a sport in which two opponents try to pin
(hold) each other’s back to the ground. A match consists of three
rounds. Wrestlers perform pre-match ritual dancing. A wrestler wins a
match by two out of three rounds. However, after each round, the loser
is asked if he still wishes to continue with the match.
A Baok Chambab match is traditional
accompanied by drum beats; two drums known as Skor Nhy and Chhmol,
(female drum and male drum).
Traditional matches are held at the Cambodian National Olympic Stadium during the Khmer New Year and other Cambodian holidays.
Kbach Kun Dambong Vèng
Kbach Kun Dambong Vèng literally refers to an ancient Cambodian martial art form involving the use of a long staff.
It has traditionally been practiced to prepare against enemies bearing eventual malice towards their villages and their country.
Now, it is particularly popular with youths in main sports clubs in Cambodia.
Pradal Serey
Khmer
Pradal Serey is traditional Khmer kick boxing. A match consists of five
rounds and takes place in a boxing ring. There is a one or two-minute
break in between each round. Before a match, boxers perform the praying
rituals known as the Kun Krou. Traditional Cambodian music is played
during a match. The instruments used are the Skor Yaul (a drum), the
Sralai (a flute-like instrument) and the stringed Chhing. Boxers are
required to wear leather gloves and shorts.
Victory is instantaneously granted when a boxer delivers a knockout which is determined when the knocked down boxer is unable to continue the fight after a 10-second count by the referee. Victory is also determined at the end of the match when judges decide by a point system which fighter was more effective. If the fighters end up with the same score, a draw is called.
Khmer Wedding
Traditional
Cambodian weddings are intricate affairs that consist of multiple
ceremonies lasting three days and three nights. The wedding begins with
the groom and his family traveling to the bride’s home bearing gifts to
the bride’s family as dowry. Family members and friends are introduced,
and wedding rings exchanged.
Customarily, three traditional
songs accompany this first segment; the first song announcing the
arrival of the groom and the next is on the presentation of the dowry
followed by a final song to invite the elders to chew Betel Nut, an
age-old Khmer tradition. Then it is the Tea Ceremony, at which the bride
and groom offer tea to the spirits of their ancestors.
To prepare the bride and groom for their
life as a married couple, their hair must then be symbolically cut to
represent a fresh start to their new relationship together as husband
and wife. The master of ceremony performs the first symbolic hair cut;
the bride and groom’s parents, relatives, and friends then take turn to
symbolically cut the bride and groom’s hair and give them blessing and
good wishes.
The finale is the most memorable segment
of the wedding. Family members and friends take turns to tie the
bride’s and groom’s left and right wrists with ‘blessing strings’. The
praises and wishes of happiness, good health, success, prosperity, and
long-lasting love are acknowledged and witnessed by the loud sound of
the gong and joyful cheers.
Then, they throw palm flowers over
the new couple accompanied by a traditional song. After the couple is
pronounced husband and wife, the groom holds the bride’s fabric into the
bridal room accompanied by a traditional song.
At the close of this wedding ceremony,
all of the guests are invited to a wedding reception accompanied by an
orchestral concert. The Khmer wedding is a rowdy and joyous event.
Nowadays most families reduce the three-day and three-night ritual to a one-day affair.
Traditional Medicine
The
Khmer traditional medicine is a form of naturopathy using natural
remedies, such as roots, barks, leaves and herbs to motivate the body’s
vital ability to heal and maintain itself. It has been used to treat
various diseases for many years.
The ancient Khmer people first
formulated this medical lore during the Angkor period. It offers a
holistic approach avoiding the use of surgery and drugs. Practitioners
of this therapy are known locally as Krou Khmer.
Khmer traditional doctors are receiving
recognition and training from the government at the National Center of
Traditional Medicine. Medical books in Pali text have been gathered from
all the pagodas throughout the country; collated and interpreted into
the Khmer language at the center.
The center welcomes
traditional healers from across the kingdom to share knowledge and train
healers to a uniform level and to assimilate their localized
knowledge.
