Burmese are very respectful to their elders to whom age represent wisdom and experience. Parents are teachers are always paid obeisance at special times of the year such as beginning and end of lent, Thingyan, etc. Burmese always pay obeisance before one leaves on a journey. Burmese eat together where elders are served meals first. If any elder is absent, a spoonful of rice is put aside in the pot. This is done as a token of respect i.e. oocha just before serving the meal. Young people never sit on a higher level than the elders. They don’t even passing in front of the elders unless unavoidable. When passing they tread softly with a slight bow. When passing something to elders both the hand should be together. While sitting on a chair men should cross their legs. They also do it when sitting on a mat but women generally don’t do this.
Children are always taught from young age to give respect to the elders and should always be kind to the young and weak. Parents regarded as solely responsible for their children’s behavior. This is reflected by the expressions mi ma hsoumma, hpa ma hsoumma i.e. undisciplined either by mother or by father and ami youk tau hnoukkyan, ahpa youk tau ko amu-aya kyan i.e. bad language from bad mother and bad body-language from bad father. You should not say ‘thank you’ in Burma among friends and within the family.
One should not touch the head of another person as because that part is the highest in anyone’s body. According to them feet is the lowest part. Pointing fingers in Buddha image is regarded as inauspicious. But these customs are slowly changing. Don’t forget to take off your shoes while entering in a house or temple. The Burmese perambulate clockwise around a pagoda. But they counter clockwise. Lovers should show any public affection on roads. It is allowed among family members and friends of same gender.
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