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Country: Cambodia
Did You Know?
- In Cambodian villages the houses are built on tall wooden legs to keep the houses dry if there's a flood. The houses are usually 5 to 10 feet (150 to 300 cm) above the ground, and people enter by a ramp or a ladder.
- There are over a hundred words in Khmer for different kinds of rice.
- Cambodians usually do not celebrate birthdays. They count themselves as one year older only at the Buddhist New Year in April.
Population
About 14 million people live in Cambodia. The Khmer (kuh-mare) make up more than 70 percent of the population. The Sino-Khmer (mixed Chinese and Khmer) make up about 10 percent. There are also many Vietnamese living in Cambodia.
Because Cambodia and Vietnam have fought so many wars, there are often prejudices against Vietnamese living in Cambodia. During the 1970s and '80s, many people fled war and oppression in Cambodia to start over in other countries. These refugees went to places like the United States, France, Australia, and Canada. Most people who stayed in Cambodia are farmers, so about 80 percent of the population lives outside cities.
Religion
About 95 percent of Cambodians are Theravada Buddhists. Buddhism is an important part of the culture and heritage of Cambodia. Buddhists believe that everything in the universe is part of a cycle, or wheel. Death is seen as both a beginning and an end, because Buddhists believe that they will be reincarnated (reborn as another person or animal). By doing good deeds and helping to support monks, Buddhists earn merit, which they believe will help them in their next life.
When an oppressive group called the Khmer Rouge came to power in the 1970s, most Buddhist records, libraries, and buildings were destroyed, and many monks were killed because the Khmer Rouge felt that religion was a threat to their control. After the war, people began to return to Buddhism right away. Even though the Khmer Rouge tried to destroy the religion, Buddhism's roots in Cambodia were too deep.
Today, Buddhism has made a huge comeback. There are many temples and monasteries (places where monks live), and many men become monks for a few days or even several years, although very few live as monks for their entire lives. Families are very proud when their sons become monks. For many families, this is the best way for sons to show that they are grateful to their parents.
Food
An old Cambodian saying is that Cambodians eat what they have and figure out how to make it taste good. Most Cambodians don't have much money for food, so they take what they can buy and find ways to make it into a tasty meal. Cambodian food uses many fresh fruits and vegetables and contains little fat. It is one of the healthiest types of food in the world.
The two basic dishes in Cambodia are soup and rice. A bowl of soup may have fish, eggs, vegetables, meat, and spicy broth. Rice is prepared in many ways and is eaten at every meal. Cambodia once produced so much rice and so many different kinds that it was known as "the cradle of rice."
Fish is a big part of the diet, but other meats are expensive and are usually eaten in small amounts or on special occasions. Almost every Cambodian dish contains prahok, fermented fish paste, which many eat over rice. Cambodian food has been influenced by Indian, Chinese, and European cuisine. Cambodians eat with chopsticks, spoons, and their fingers--depending on the food and family custom. In the countryside, family members gather around a mat and eat from a shared platter.
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