Cultural Practices
Country Greetings Table Manners Circumcision Burial
Philippines The common greeting Leaning on one's arms Circumcision, or Funeral lights, a
gesture is called while seated at a dinner "Tuli" is a long- guest registry book,
“mano”, which is table is considered standing practice a donation box, and
frequently translated as impolite. Rice is served and rite of passage flowers surround the
'bless' in English. Mano with nearly every meal. for boys in the coffin. The vigil is
is performed to If a meal is not served Filipino society. It is attended by family
demonstrate respect for with rice, it is usually a significant and friends.
elders and to accept a considered a snack milestone in the
blessing from an elder. rather than a main path to adulthood
It is typically directed at course. in Filipino culture.
those who are two
generations or more
older.
New Zealand Initial introductions are Meals are often served The procedure is The Maori in New
frequently made using family-style. Keep your performed less Zealand honor those
first names. A elbows off the table commonly in New who have died with
handshake is the most and your hands above Zealand (estimated a three-day burial
common way for the table when eating. at less than 10% of rite, which is
strangers to greet one Indicate you have boys), mostly for becoming less
another. It should be finished eating by social, cultural or commonly practiced
confident, firm, and laying your knife and religious reasons. It these days. The
accompanied by eye fork parallel on your is generally agreed open coffin also
contact. plate with the handles among medical allows people to
facing to the right. professionals that, place flowers,
except in a few photos, and other
instances, there is tokens of love inside
no medical reason the final resting
for routine place of a loved one.
circumcision.
Canada First names are It is very rude to speak Canada’s Most funerals in
normally used in initial with your mouth full of pediatricians are Canada are held one
introductions or shortly food. about to update to four days after
thereafter. A handshake When eating at their advice on death. If they are
is the common greeting someone’s house and whether baby boys held more than four
between strangers. they ask whether you should be days after death, the
Shaking with a firm would like more food or circumcised, reason is usually to
hand and eye contact not, it is okay to decline revising their stand accommodate
reflects confidence. or accept depending on for the first time in people who are
Canadians may laugh how hungry you are. 17 years. travelling long
lightly over handshakes Neither is considered distances and need
to diffuse the formality. rude. more time to arrive
Offer to help clean up
the meal with your host
when everyone has
finished eating.
Malaysia When greeting a group Since it is common for Female circumcision Death, to the
of people, the oldest food to be cut in bite- is an old practice, of Malays, is part of a
person should be size pieces, knives are removing some predestined life
greeted first. Always rarely used when external parts of a cycle. Malay Muslim
address individuals eating. People often eat female’s funerals are solemn
according to their with their hands. reproductive organ. and dignified affairs
appropriate titles (i.e. Restaurants may not It is observed in that follow specific
Mr, Mrs, Doctor) unless provide utensils but Malaysia. In Islamic rites
they specifically ask you instead place a water Malaysia, the according to syariah.
speak more casually. If pitcher on the table so National Fatwa The deceased's body
you indicate that you everyone can wash Council issued a must be handled
prefer to be addressed their hands before religious edict in with respect and
on a first name basis, using them to eat. 2009 making it reverence at all
you may find they feel mandatory. times.
more comfortable to
continue to use your
title and last name.
South Korea The most common way Food should not be Circumcision in Korean funerals, no
to greet in South Korea eaten with one’s South Korean men, eulogies are held.
is with a bow. The fingers. Spoons are linking it with Visitors bow twice to
casual bow is a dip of used to eat soup, but hygienic practices. the deceased and
the head with eyes chopsticks are used for Circumcision in once to the mourner
closed, sometimes everything else. South Korea with words of
accompanied by a slight Do not blow your nose depends on the condolences to show
bend from the waist at the dinner table. perpetuation of respect. Various
cultural beliefs that delicacies and wine
support it. are served to the
visitors. Instead of
burial, cremation,
which has a shorter
period of bodily
decay, is more
commonly practiced
nowadays.
