A cultural tradition that should be familiar to visitors of Laos is the nop, where two hands are presented in a prayer and accompanied by a friendly “sabaidee”. Sadly, young Lao people are finding less time for tradition as Laos enters the modern era, and the nop is becoming less common.
Traditionally, Lao children have been taught to give the nop to their elders, monks and Buddha as a sign of respect. When receiving a gift, it is polite to nop the giver. At parties, hosts and guests will show each other the nop to greet and welcome each other. If you make a mistake you should nop to apologise because this can help you avoid arguments.
The nop is also used in modern situations and places such as in offices, factories, restaurants and hotels across the country. A young Lao person at a job interview may give the nop to show respect and demonstrate good manners. This can give them an edge over competitors, as polite people are pleasant to work with.
The nop is also used in prayer. A Lao person may sit before a monk or Buddha image and perform the nop. Monks perform the nop when receiving alms as do the people giving them. Lao people will also perform the nop to sacred stupas, or to stupas of their ancestors.
The nop is seen most frequently around the time of traditional Lao festivals, such as Lao New Year, when young people ask their older relatives for blessings and also honour Buddha, monks and their ancestors at sacred stupas. It is also performed at baci ceremonies and wedding parties.
It is a beautiful custom that Lao people should be making every attempt to preserve. To give the nop to monks or images of Buddha, bow your head slightly and join your hands together with thumbs slightly outstretched, positioning them between the eyebrows.
To nop your parents, do the same as above, but adjust your hand position so that the thumbs are near the end of your nose. Students giving the nop their teachers should bow their heads slightly, join their hands together, and position the thumbs just below the lips. To greet friends, or people of a similar age, position the hands on the chest and bow your head slightly.
For older people, or leaders of the country, join your hands together at the chest and raise them so that the thumbs are positioned near the chin. To achieve this, you may need to bow your head a little more than usual.
when the above people choose to nop and show respect to those below them, those who experienced such humility will be encouraged to nop and show kindness in return.
good manners need to start at the top.
parents, elders, teachers, leaders, and newspaper man always give advices and teach others
how to behave and think, how to say, what to believe, why certain things are good or bad, and to some
extend a child's life will be dictated most of his/her life untill he/she is married off. And for some, until death. LOL.
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"to walk the talk"
1-a good leader will encourage devoted followers.
2-a good husband will encourage an affectionate and lovely wife. LOL
3-parents who give love, affection and practice discipline in their own lives and displine their children will encourage good citizens.
4-a gov't that shows financial responsibility, practices non-corruption policy, and shares wealth with the people, this act by the gov't will give people hope and inspire the feeling of love and devotion for their country.
5-companies and businesses that practice social responsibility to the community and environment, and have fair worker policy will encourage more productive employees.
if adults expect displine, good behaviors and manners from younger adults and
to prevent a contradiction between talk and action, leaders must lead and adults and parents must show discipline in their own lives.
i only nop when i greet laotian elders. i thought that it was customary for the younger person to initiate the nop.. am i right?
Unfortunately tradition lost and westernization won.
Globalization: 1 Lao Tradition : 0
-- Edited by Lan_Xang at 22:17, 2009-01-28
well it would be AWKWARD here in america if i nop to my (white) teacher everyday. then i would feel like i'm alienating myself. however, when i did attend lao school, all the students (including myself) would nop to our teachers.
to me tradition is like love. like love, tradition can be lost. and when it's lost it can be found again.
those who truely love something or an idea, will find ways to perserve it. to those young people who are new to the idea of love or tradition, love and tradition will inspire them, give them a sense of who they are, a sense of belonging and completeness.
what love and tradition give to young people in return people will try to perserve tradition and give respect back.
when the above people choose to nop and show respect to those below them, those who experienced such humility will be encouraged to nop and show kindness in return.
good manners need to start at the top.
parents, elders, teachers, leaders, and newspaper man always give advices and teach others
how to behave and think, how to say, what to believe, why certain things are good or bad, and to some
extend a child's life will be dictated most of his/her life untill he/she is married off. And for some, until death. LOL.
------------------------
"to walk the talk"
1-a good leader will encourage devoted followers.
2-a good husband will encourage an affectionate and lovely wife. LOL
3-parents who give love, affection and practice discipline in their own lives and displine their children will encourage good citizens.
4-a gov't that shows financial responsibility, practices non-corruption policy, and shares wealth with the people, this act by the gov't will give people hope and inspire the feeling of love and devotion for their country.
5-companies and businesses that practice social responsibility to the community and environment, and have fair worker policy will encourage more productive employees.
if adults expect displine, good behaviors and manners from younger adults and
to prevent a contradiction between talk and action, leaders must lead and adults and parents must show discipline in their own lives.
YOU LEAD AND WE WILL FOLLOW.
-- Edited by tinko at 19:37, 2008-12-28
-- Edited by tinko at 19:38, 2008-12-28
I have never heard such thing. Only the respect one get respected and that's how people should act. It would be lame to Nop at a baby or a donkey when people look at you. Try and see how it feels.
But I think it should be mutually respect. That's why I use "Nop" only when I meet Lao people who respect me and I respect them.
Often, I like to slightly salute (like Japanese people do) with people who are not in the same position with me. I think it's a good pratice, no need to be too much formal when we see each other every day.
With people who are in the same position I shake hand.
I also shake hand with foreigners. Definitely, it's not good to practice "Nop" with foreigners.
