Traditions
This is one of the most common Asian traditions. It is usually done before entering a home and it is considered an essential act of courtesy.
What is taking off your shoes?
This Polynesian dance can be performed sitting or standing, with undulating gestures to instruments and chant. Originally, it was a religious dance performed by trained dancers before the king to honor the gods.
What is Hula?
In most Asian countries this number is considered the luckiest.
What is 8?
This festival of colors was originally a Hindu tradition and is one of the most famous spring festivals in the world.
What is Holi?
This is a popular food in Vietnam and is considered the country’s national dish. It consists of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat.
What is Pho?
This greeting is one of the five forms of traditional greetings in ancient Hindu scriptures. It translates to “I bow to you”. The greeting is indicated by folded palms placed before the chest.
What is Namaste?
This dance is often considered as Tonga’s national dance, a bend of choreography, oratory, and vocal and instrument polyphony. This cultural expression is practiced by communities throughout the islands and occurs at important celebrations such as the coronation of the monarch.
What is Lakalaka?
This stone is considered a good luck charm that represents virtue, nobility, and good fortune in Chinese culture.
What is Jade?
The Songkran Water Festival is celebrated in this country as the traditional New Year’s Day. Along with visiting elders and going to a Buddhist monastery, festivities include the throwing of water. The word Songkran is based on a Sanskrit word for “astrological passage”.
What is Thailand?
This is a type of spring roll commonly found in Indonesia and Philippines. It is made of thin paper-like or crepe-like pastry skin enveloping savory or sweet filling and is often served as an appetizer.
What is Lumpia?
In most Asian countries, especially in Japan and China, you do this to show appreciation for your noodles and give compliment to the chef.
What is Slurping?
This dance is one of important characteristic of Vietnam culture; a joyful entertainment at the Tet Festival in Vietnam. This dance is highly symbolic, supposedly to ward off evil spirits.
What is Lion Dance or Unicorn Dance?
In Asian cultures, this fish symbol is believed to bring fertility and plenitude. It is considered sacred because of its elegance, size, and long lifespan.
What is the Carp?
During the Qingming Festival, families clean and decorate their ancestors’ tombs in this country. Some people burn incense or light firecrackers at the graves and families light lanterns and fly kites. It is meant to mark the change of the seasons while honoring ancestors.
What is China?
This is a traditional side dish of salted and fermented vegetables that is very popular among Koreans.
What is Kimchi?
Pagmamano is one of the oldest and most notable traditions of this Asian country. It is a sign of respect for elders and is done by tapping the hand of the elder to a younger person’s forehead.
What is the Philippines?
This dance is a type of ceremonial Māori dance or challenge. It is usually performed in a group and typically represents a display of a tribe's pride, strength and unity. Actions include foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant.
What is Haka?
It literally means "wind-water". In Asian culture, this is a practice of arranging the pieces of living spaces in order to create balance with the natural world to invite prosperity, wealth and abundance.
What is Feng Shui?
This is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists and some Hindus in South and Southeast Asia that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha in Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism.
What is Vesak (also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day)?
Considered the national food of Singapore; this is a curry rice dish based on the Wenchang chicken. It consists of steamed white rice smothered in curries and braised gravy.
What is Hainanese Chicken Rice?
In this Asian country, it is disrespectful to hand anything to someone with just your left hand. Objects, instead, should always be passed with both hands.
What is Cambodia?
This dance originated in Australia during the 1980’s and is usually performed in schools, social gatherings, and community events. It has gained so much popularity that it has been added to school's curriculum.
What is the Nutbush Dance?
This common figurine is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. In modern times, they are usually made of ceramic or plastic. The figurine depicts a cat with a paw raised in a beckoning gesture.
What is the Japanese Maneki Nekko?
Japan is known around the world for its cherry blossom festivals. This festival is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers.
What is the Hanami festival?
Considered as Indonesia's national dish, this take on Asian fried rice is often made with sweet thick sauce called kecap (Ketchup) and garnished with acar, pickled cucumber and carrots.
What is Nasi goreng?