Religions

    Cambodia today is mainly Buddhist with an increasing Muslim community, especially in the south. During a long time (from 1st to 14th century), Hinduism was the main religion. It's strong influence is still visible in Angkor Wat. Shiva was the favorite divinity of the royal family. She was taken over on the 12th century by Vishnu. Buddhism - from the Theravada school (ancient doctrine) - was introduced in Cambodia between the 13th and the 15th century from Sri Lanka. It was the official religion until the Khmers rouges regime (1975).

The Theravada doctrine define three principal aspects of human presence : the dukkha (suffering), the anicca (transitory character of every thing) and the anatta (non substantial character of reality). The ultimate objective of Theravada buddhism is the nibbana (nirvana in sanskrit), litteraly : "explosion" or "extinction" of the causes of the dukkha. Every man has to become a monk during a short period of his existence (ideally between the end of his training and his entrance into the active life).

Birth

    In the old times, the cambodian woman was giving birth with the help of the traditional "sage femme". Theses women were getting their knowledge from experience and transmission from their grand-mothers. As soon as the child was born, the women was put on a bed under which a small fire was lit (called in Khmer "Aing Phloeung", which has to burn 3 to 7 days. Next to her, paddy offers and traditionnal medecines. A healer (in Khmer called "Krou") dispose white strings around the new mother to protect her agains evil and bad spirits and pronounce the conjuration formulas. Generaly, the mother was feeding milk to her baby for a long period of time lasting up to 18 months. Because of the slow developpement in the villages and sometimes the lack of knowlege and hygiene for the newly born, infantile mortality was very high (33 for 1000 in 1958). That's the reason why ancestors called the process of giving birth in Khmer by the expression "Chlang Tonlé" which means "To cross the river" and which is still widely used nowdays.

Wedding

    Generaly, the parents choose the future bride, and propose her to their son who, in most cases, agree. Creation of a new family is mandatory for Khmer people; it's the society cell to which they give all the importance and time necessary. The procedure to conclude a wedding is usually long and divided in many steps. It normally goes trough a 3rd party, and parents and intermediates need to show a lot of diplomacy, circonspection and patience.

Death

    In the country, the gong is played to announce the death and a white banner called "soul banner" is suspended in front of the house. Villagers bring all sort of things like rice, candles, incence sticks or silver to the defunt's family. At the moment of death, a lamp is lit to burn during the time when the body is exposed and of which the flame will be used to communicate fire to the body. The body is washed and dressed, a coin is put into the body's mouth for his future needs, before exposing him into the coffin. Poor people expose the body one or two days into their house, rich families expose it up to seven days. Incineration is the common way for the funerals. Ashes from the body are gathered into a clay urn, painted with different colors. For those who believe that born from dust, they have to come back to dust, their ashes are not kept and are thrown in the river. The death of a close parent is followed by a period of 7 up to 100 days. The elder son, in charge of driving the funeral, along with 4 monks, shave his head and eyebrows. His dressed in white and can enter the religion for one day or more depending on him. Generaly, those who have a lot of respect for the deceased, shave their heads and dress in white as a sign of recognition.

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