Etiquette and Culture of Myanmar

Myanmar has many influences and conquerors from areas such as Mongolia, Tibet, and later the British East India Company, and, during World War II, the Japanese. The Bamar people migrated into the famous Irrawaddy valley, bringing the Burmese language, culture and religion- now known as Buddhism, which gradually spread across the region. 

On my initial flight to Myanmar was I was feeling apprehension sink in, due to the stringent government oversight I'd heard about. Despite these concerns, my friends and I decided to explore the city for three days, which was a fascinating experience. What did I discover during my time there?

When Myanmar Gained Independence
Myanmar has many influences and conquerors from areas such as Mongolia, Tibet, and later the British East India Company, and, during World War II, the Japanese. The Bamar people migrated into the famous Irrawaddy valley, bringing the Burmese language, culture and religion- now known as Buddhism, which gradually spread across the region. The country gained independence on 4th January 1948. Then, in 1989, the military government officially changed the colonial period English name of Burma, only to become Myanmar or Republic of the Union of Myanmar. The renaming remains a flashpoint issue. Those who were born in the country associate themselves with the demonym of ‘Burmese’.

Finding Light Heartedness and Tolerance
Do the people of Myanmar reflect the government's aggressive rule? Conversely, the people are relaxed and calm. H. Fielding Hall author of ‘The Soul of a People’ says ‘of all the lovable qualities of the Burmese – and they are many - there are none greater than these - their light heartedness and their tolerance’.

Etiquette of the Burmese People
They show outward care and kindness and are especially mindful of others and their lives, display modesty, and use the well-known Asiatic communication medium of ‘saving face’ as the Chinese. Another cultural interaction is ‘ahnarde’, which the burmalibrary.org states “conveys the idea of not having the heart or strength to do or say something that might impinge on the feelings of others.” Ahnarde permeates throughout etiquette interactions such as these:

Another interesting point of Burmese culture is the idea of the presentation of modesty and neatness in clothing, which are the cornerstone of first impressions regarding social status.

• Greetings: Ming-gala-ba is used formally to say hello and is typically accompanied by a slight bow, or more formally, where palms are folded together. The phrase “mingalaba” can mean “may you be blessed.” Informally, you can use nay-kaung-lar.
• To display ‘greater’ respect, one kneels and touches their palms and forehead to the ground three times, a practice known as ‘kadaw.’ This gesture is often used when showing respect to monks or idols. In a different manner, Indians have this culture of deep respect towards the elderly and religion.
• Those who are younger will be expected to sit or stand in a lower position than their elders, meaning they will have to use their knees to lower their height position as well as show respectfulness when in the presence of the elderly. When walking, they will walk behind the elder one. When needing to go to the front of an elderly person, an apology is given. If you are walking when an older person is sitting on a chair, it is polite to walk behind that person.
• The Burmese are well known for cleanliness, and I noticed that when I walked in Yangon’s streets within the city limits. It may be a little primitive compared to Thailand today, but it is a breath of fresh air not to see large-screen TVs and high-rise buildings dotting the skyline. 
• When it comes to the body, Burmese citizens see the head and body as vessels to keep clean, but they use the feet and left hand for the dirty.
• Dress: Another interesting point of Burmese culture is the idea of the presentation of modesty and neatness in clothing, which are the cornerstone of first impressions regarding social status. Modern women or men will wear pants, shirts or t-shirts, where the shoulders, chest and upper thighs should remain covered. The more traditional wear such longyi- a long skirt and blouse- eingyi, which may button in the front or side. For men, the traditional cotton or silk hat-gaung baung- distinguishes each ethnic group with a long-sleeved top and a longyi.

Myanmar’s Ethnic Dimensions
Walking around Yangon I felt that I was surrounded by many ethic cultures and those from different countries. The array of traditional clothing worn by the people reflected the many ethnicities and nationalities present. The country is bordered by India to the west, Bangladesh to the southwest, China to the northeast, Laos and Thailand to the east and southeast. Myanmar is home to government-recognized 135 indigenous ethnic groups. The largest groups are Bamar, followed by Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Mon, Kachin, and Kayah peoples.

One needs to respect individual preferences when referring to people from ethnic minorities. Many may not identify as ‘Burmese,’ preferring to use their specific ethnic identity, such as Karen, Chin, or Rohingya. The Karen people, in particular, may object to being called Burmese. The military-led government's repressive policies and ethnic conflicts have created a climate of self-censorship, particularly regarding sensitive political topics. Citizens often fear reprisals and hesitate to openly discuss controversial issues related to Myanmar due to concerns for their families and friends.

Would I go back to Myanmar? My answer is, “Yes.”  Despite the challenges, Myanmar's allure is undeniable. The untapped potential for exploration, the warmth of the people, the delicious cuisine, and the depth of its history have solidified my desire to make a return visit a must.

For many years, Etiquipedia contributor, Elizabeth Soos, has had a keen interest in cultural customs. With her European background and extensive travel, Soos developed an interest in the many forms of respect and cultural expectations in the countries she has visited. With her 20 years’ experience in customer service within private international companies based in Australia, and her lifetime interest in manners and research, she decided to branch out into the field of etiquette and deportment. Through her self-directed studies and by completing the Train-The-Trainer’s course offered by Emma Dupont’s School of Etiquette in London and by Guillaume Rue de Bernadac at Academie de Bernadac based in Paris and Shanghai, she founded Auersmont School of Etiquette. Elizabeth is currently traveling throughout India and brushing up on her Hindi.

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia