• Freedom of religion is practiced in Myanmar, although a majority (some 89.1%) are  Buddhists in Myanmar. But Myanmar seems democratic that Buddhism is not defined as   the official religion of the country, like most Islamic countries does.

• Faith and religion are a little hard to differentiate or divide, and they are often very much inter-related or confused. All teaching by a religion is generally considered as religious matters, while other customs and traditional beliefs not taught by a religious body is considered as faith. In addition to that, superstition often influences the faith and the lives of the Myanmar people.

Superstitions

Superstition of different cultures are interesting in some ways. Here are some of the      Myanmars:-

• Don't go underneath a staircase. You will loose your will power.

• Don't go under a pole or rope, where women used to hang-dry their longyis. You will loose your will power.

• Don't leave a shoe or a slipper up-side-down. It'll cause bad luck.

• Don't keep a broken glass or a mirror in homes. Replace the window panes asap if broken.

• Don't wash your hair within a week after a funeral in the neighborhood.

• Don't hit the pot with a ladle after you stir the curry. It's like hitting your parents' head.

• Don't hit 2 lids of pots and pans against each other. A tiger may bite you.

• Don't feed someone with the palm upward. The food might cause you disorder.

• Don't clip your nails at night. Ghosts don't like that.

• Don't take kids to dark places. Ghosts may possex them.

• Carrying some hairs of an elephant tail will avoid evil.
  etc, etc, etc...

1500 Strings or Rays of Love

No, this is not a song sang by Madonna, "Rays of Love". Myanmars have analyzed the anatomy of love in very details. As Myanmars believe,

• there are 1500 ways how people love in a man-woman's (couple's) relationship, and

• that are 528 ways how people love in father-mother-son-daughter or brother-sister relationship.

Isn't that so interesting? We hope to bring you the whole list of that soon.

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