Hello. Namaste. Hola. Bonjour. Sat Sri Akal.
These are greetings of respect in various languages spoken worldwide. They form the cornerstone of a strong cultural identity, since communication unlocks the values, traditions and beliefs of a particular culture.
What exactly is culture?
It is a group of common beliefs, traditions, conventions, rituals, and behaviors demonstrated by a set of people. It includes various facets of a community such as language, art, food, clothing, rituals, and social habits. It also influences how people interact with one another, understand the world and transfer knowledge and customs to future generations.
It may seem muddled to guide children on culture and the associated etiquette, as the nature of the subject may seem nuanced. Below is a child-friendly version of ideas to introduce culture into their lives and guide them better.
Understanding cultural greetings
This is the first step that marks the start of a conversation. A common way of greeting is by folding hands and saying a ‘Namaskar’ or ‘Namaste’. Another would be a handshake in urban areas. In some other cultures, hugging, waving and bowing are also considered acceptable forms of greeting.
Let your children know that the same protocol must be followed when they go to someone else’s home, as well. Depending on the age of the people in the household, they can greet them accordingly - they can shake hands or hug young people, depending on the comfort level, while they can bow down at the feet of elders.
Honouring elders
Respect is an emotion that is taken very seriously in a social context. Children need to touch the feet of elders or bow down to them to get their blessings. The significance behind this action is twofold - the first is to gain humility, and the second is to appreciate the wisdom and experiences that the elders have. This not only improves family relationships but also fosters respect and gratitude for the senior citizens.
Also, teach young ones to say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ to elders, whenever the situation demands the same.
Proper eating etiquette
Make children conscious of their blessings in receiving food on their plates. Teach them to wash their hands before sitting down to eat and instruct them to eat with their hands. It is believed that the latter action connects them with the food and helps them savour it, bite by bite. They must also know enough not to scrap the plate clean. In other cultures, it is proper etiquette to eat with a closed mouth, to say 'excuse me', or to wait for others to join you at the table, especially if you are eating with forks and knives.
Gift-giving etiquette
This is a slightly tricky area since gifts carry various connotations depending on the giver and the receiver. Often, red, yellow and green are considered to be auspicious colours and are preferred for gift wrapping. Concerning the actual gift, religious and cultural beliefs need to be taken into consideration before presenting anything. Avoid giving white flowers because they are commonly used at funerals. An oddly precise item to remember is that when a man gifts a woman, he should add that the gift is from his entire family to avoid coming out as flirty.
General guidelines
Instruct them to wash their feet when they enter a home, be it yours or that of a close relative or friend. This is because we consider feet to be unclean. Inform them about the custom of sitting with their feet pointing away from the deity when visiting temples. Hospitality is another important point to take into account - it is good manners to offer food and beverages to guests, for they are considered equivalent to God. Likewise, when you visit someone else’s house, do not forget to take a box of sweets or a gift with you.
Each culture has its idiosyncrasies, but they have a common thread that emphasizes values of love, respect, politeness and empathy. Hence, enlighten your children on the significance behind these actions, while also nurturing an appreciation for other cultures. This will broaden their perspectives and help them embrace the positive aspects of diverse traditions. By raising them as global citizens, you will enable them to create meaningful memories with friends from all around the world.
