Culture & Beliefs of Myanmar

Every Myanmar has a birthday once a week, perhaps not in the sense of celebration, but the day of the week on which a Burmese is born affects many decisions in their lives. It dictates the first letter of their name and where they pray at the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, which, along with many other shrines features planetary posts for each day of the week.

There are eight such posts, each identifiable by an animal (a tiger for Monday, a Lion for Tuesday, and so on). Wednesday is split into two, an elephant without tusks in the morning, one with tusks for the afternoon. Corresponding “planets” would be Mercury for Wednesday morning, Saturn for Saturday and the Moon for Monday.

There is also a Burmese “planet” called Rahu (Wednesday afternoon), said to be the cause of eclipses. Worshippers bring offerings of flowers and fruit to their planetary post, and anoint their animal with water.

Buddhism, more than anything else, has shaped Burmese history and culture. Eighty-five percent of the population today follow the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, a royal prince who lived some 2,500 years ago in India. Though bought up surrounded by wealth and luxury, he eventually renounced worldly riches and devoted his life to teaching.

Eight of the Buddha's hairs are believed to be enshrined in the Shwedagon Pagoda. The foundation stone of this magnificent gold-leafed edifice, one of the world's great religious sites, is said to have been laid by the Mons around 480BC. Following the Buddha's death, the Buddhist world divided into two schools. Theravada Buddhists believe you are an individual on your own and feel they adhere more to the Buddha's original thinking. Tha Mahayana school believes an individual's life is linked to others, thus affecting the world.

Buddhists believe that all humanity is subject to pain and suffering from birth to death, and tolerance and forgiveness should supersede, vengeance and hatred. Although Myanmar is a devoutly Buddhist country, the people have retained a wealth of lore and superstitions which date back to the animistic beliefs of their ancestors.

Buddhism, a tolerant faith, does not contradict these earlier traditions, which have become entwined with the national religion, giving a rich texture to spiritual life. Besides astrology, which influences many aspects of daily life, from the selection of business partners to days when it is unwise to cut one’s hair, traditional beliefs encompass a spirit world inhabited by an assorted cast of supernatural beings, none more important than nats, mischievous little spirits that can wreck havoc if not placated with offerings of flowers, money and food.

Before Buddhism was introduced into Ancient Burma by King Anawrahta in the 11th century, an animistic religion held sway, based on the worship of these spirit nats.

The spirits are not to be treated lightly; King Anawrahta tried to put the nats in their place and was gored to death by a wild buffalo, a fate predicted by his soothsayers. Buddhism never totally superseded these powerful creatures, and today pagodas and nats shrines sit happily side by side.

Sights of Myanmar

Myanmar is a jewel that has remained hidden for decades, but which is now opening up to the world revealing astonishing natural beauty and an unparalleled cultural heritage.
With a civilization that's more than 2,500 years old, Myanmar is a mysterious and magical land with magnificent temple architecture set in timeless and sublime landscapes.
Everywhere a visitor travels in Myanmar, they will encounter hospitable, inquisitive and friendly people more than willing to share their fascinating culture.

National Dress

The national dress of men and women in Myanmar is a sarong called a 'longyi' which is wrapped around the waist and takes the place of trousers and skirts.
The longyi has many advantages being a very practical form of wear for the tropical climate. During the day it can be flapped about to cool the legs while at night it helps to keep out mosquitoes.

Crafts

Handicrafts are Myanmar’s biggest shopping attraction. Lacquerware, hand-woven textiles, embroidery, woodcarving and silverwork are all good value. Gems and jade are also tempting, but you need to be an expert to be sure of what you are buying.

Myanmar’s traditional markets are not only the best shopping venues but also ideal places in which to browse and absorb the atmosphere of a typical Oriental bazaar, where you will find everything from hardware to handicrafts.

The place to head for in Yangon is Bogyoke Aung San Market, once known as Scott Market. This long stretch of covered market in Bogyoke Aung San Street, between Sule Pagoda Road and Shwedagon Pagoda Road, has everything for the buyer and browser alike. Other treasure hoards lurk among the stalls that line the covered stairways leading up to the Shwedagon Pagoda. Lacquerware is one of the most characteristic of all Burmese handicrafts. The lacquer is made by mixing the sap of the thitsi tree with ash, the fineness of which determines the quality.

The resulting paste is applied to the surface of objects usually made of woven bamboo, sometimes of wood, although in the past the finest pieces of lacquerware were made of horsehair.

Bowls, trays, betel-nut containers and small decorative boxes are some of the most common items, tables and screens among the larger pieces. To make one multicoloured item can take up to six months and involves a dozen or more stages of production.

Today lacquerware is produced in Northern Thailand and Laos as well as Myanmar, but the best workmanship is found in the villages around Bagan.

Food & Drink

Cuisine in Myanmar is a cross between Chinese and Indian and a typical family meal consists of liberal servings of rice, usually eaten with a curry. Although Myanmar's cuisine is influenced by India, as well as by China, the curries are slightly different from the Indian variety, involving fewer spices and more garlic and ginger.

Meat is not eaten in large quantities. Chicken, fish or prawns usually constitute the main course and Burmese cooking makes full use of the wide variety of vegetables available throughout the year. Fish sauce and dried shrimps are commonly used as seasonings.

Two of the most typical Burmese dishes are ‘mohinga’ and ‘onho khaukswe’. The former is a thick fish soup eaten with slightly fermented rice noodles; the latter consists simply of noodles, most commonly prepared with chicken stewed in coconut milk. Desserts usually consist of fruit, including such exotic treats as mangosteens and the foul smelling but delicious durian.

Green tea, as well as tea curiously brewed with milk and sugar, are the most usual drinks, while coffee has more recently become popular. Alcoholic drinks are generally not favored in a Buddhist country, although there are local beers and strong liquors made from the juice of the toddy palm.

Festivals

The people of Myanmar love to celebrate and throughout the year find endless reasons for festivities. Highlight of the calendar is Thingyan, Myanmar New Year. Anyone who has been the target of a hose will understand why it is known as the water-throwing festival.

At a time determined by astrologers in March or April the whole country stops work for several days and people devote themselves to drenching one another with water from buckets, pots, balloons, whatever is ready to hand. Visits to pagodas, street parades and family feasts also herald the traditional descent to earth of the king of the nats, bringing blessings for the New Year.

Water plays a more sedate role in the full-moon festival of Kason a month later. Kason celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, and bo trees, the type of tree under which the Buddha attained nirvana, are ceremonially watered. The bo tree at the Schwedagon, reputed to be a descendent of the original in India, is a particular focus.

The full moon in June or July sees the beginning of Buddhist Lent, traditionally a three-month period which coincides with the monsoon. Even this does not dampen the relish for merriment, and although many monks enter a retreat, Taungbyon, just north of Mandalay, plays host in August to one of the greatest ‘nat pwe’ (festivals) with much eating, drinking and traditional theatre.

The rainy season is also the time for boat races and other water-borne events, the most spectacular of which takes place in October on Lake Inle. The Karaweik, a magnificent bird-headed royal barge, makes a stately procession between lakeside villages and monasteries while the lake’s famous leg rowers hold competitions.

The Festival of Light heralds the end of Lent at the full moon during September/October. Thousands of candles and lamps illuminate every house and pagoda. This is followed one month later by Tazaungmone, the weaving festival, when young girls make new robes for monks in contests held by moonlight.

December is the month for small, regional nat festivals while January sees a stream of religious events focused on local temples. The Myanmar year ends in February with a joyful harvest festival, when elaborately prepared meals are presented to monks, and families sit down to delicacies served with the bounty of the rice fields.