Editing Laos (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Laos}}
{{See also|Lao art|Laotian society|List of festivals in Laos|Music of Laos}}

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Lao cuisine}}
[[File:3 Nagas Feast.jpg|thumb|An example of [[Lao cuisine]] ]]
[[Glutinous rice|Sticky rice]] is a staple food. There are traditions and rituals associated with rice production in environments and among ethnic groups. For example, Khammu farmers in Luang Prabang plant the rice variety ''khao kam'' in quantities near the farm house in memory of dead parents, or at the edge of the rice field to indicate that parents are still alive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adb.org/Evaluation/case-studies/LAO/Evaluation-Synthesis-on-Rice.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702234215/http://www.adb.org/Evaluation/case-studies/LAO/Evaluation-Synthesis-on-Rice.pdf|archive-date=2 July 2007|title=Evaluation Synthesis of Rice in Lao PDR|access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref>

The most famous Lao dish is ''[[larb]]'' ({{langx|lo|ລາບ}}, {{IPA|lo|lâːp|}}; sometimes also spelled ''laab'' or ''laap''), a spicy mixture of marinated meat or fish that is sometimes raw (prepared like ''[[ceviche]]'') with a variable combination of herbs, [[Leaf vegetable|greens]], and spices. It is often accompanied by sticky rice and [[green papaya salad]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hutton |first1=Wendy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VKbYYXO4Id4C&q=larb+laos&pg=PA125 |title=Green Mangoes and Lemon Grass |publisher=Periplus Editions (HK) Limited |year=2007 |isbn=9780794602307 |access-date=21 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781741792331 |title=Southeast Asia on a Shoestring |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |year=2010 |isbn=9781741792331 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781741792331/page/82 82] |quote=laap laos. |access-date=21 January 2015 |url-access=registration |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Southeast Asian Cuisine: What to Eat in Southeast Asia and Where to Find It |url=https://www.tripsavvy.com/southeast-asian-cuisine-1458385 |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=tripsavvy |publication-date=26 June 2019}}</ref><ref name="Kraig2013">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9XCjAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA311 |title=Street Food around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture |date=9 September 2013 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |others=Colleen Taylor Sen |isbn=978-1-59884-955-4 |editor=Bruce Kraig |pages=311– |accessdate=21 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="Minahan2010">{{cite book |last=Minahan |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qM5XAAAAYAAJ |title=The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-313-34500-5 |accessdate=21 June 2021}}</ref><ref name="Webb Roten 2009 p. 94">{{cite book |last1=Webb |first1=L.S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgWrCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA94 |title=The Multicultural Cookbook for Students |last2=Roten |first2=L.G. |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-313-37559-0 |series=EBL-Schweitzer |page=94 |access-date=June 26, 2016}}</ref> A French legacy is still evident in the capital city, [[Vientiane]], where [[baguette]]s ({{langx|lo|ເຂົ້າຈີ່}}, {{IPA|lo|kʰȁw tɕīː|}}) are sold on the street. They were first introduced when Laos was a part of [[French Indochina]].

=== Dances ===
{{Main|Dance and theatre of Laos}}
[[File:20171113 Theatre of the Royal Palace, Luang Prabang 2447 DxO.jpg|270px|thumb|''Fone Nang Keo'' dance, also known as ''Lao royal dance'']]
The dance-dramas of Laos were originally only performed for the royal court. Having their origins in [[Cambodia]], the dance-dramas and musical accompaniment are all very similar to those of [[Khmer classical dance]]. According to Lao legends surrounding the first ruler of [[Lan Xang]], it is said that in addition to a large army of Khmer soldiers, King Fa Ngum was accompanied by numerous female dancers from the court of [[Angkor]].<ref>Ray, N. (2007). ''Vietnam, cambodia, laos and the greater mekong.'' Oakland, California: Lonely Planet Publishers.</ref>

The Lao royal dance is called ''Fone Nang Keo'' ({{langx|lo|ຟ້ອນນາງແກ້ວ}}, {{literal translation|Dance of Lady Keo}}) in  honour of Queen Keo Kengnya (also known as Queen Keo Lot Fa), a [[Khmer people|Khmer]] princess from [[Khmer empire|Angkor]] and wife of King [[Fa Ngum]]. She is credited for bringing both [[Buddhism]] and [[Culture of Cambodia|Khmer culture]], including the royal dance, to the imperial capital of [[Luang Prabang]]. During times of peace, her entourage would practice a dance derived from the [[Royal Ballet of Cambodia|Khmer royal ballet]].<ref name="nangkeo">{{cite web |url=http://sayasackp.free.fr/texte/nangkeo/histoirenangkeo.pdf |title= La petite histoire de Nang Kêo|last= Phounpadith|first= Sayasith |language=fr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/view/moladok-ich/ich/%E0%BA%9F%E0%BA%AD%E0%BA%99%E0%BA%99%E0%BA%B2%E0%BA%87%E0%BB%81%E0%BA%81%E0%BA%A7 |title=ຟ້ອນນາງແກ້ວ |website= Moladok ICH |language= Lao |quote=ຟ້ອນນາງແກ້ວ ໄດ້ກໍາເນີດເກີດຂຶ້ນມາໃນສະໄໝເຈົ້າຟ້າງຸ່ມ. ພະອົງໄດ້ນຳເອົາສາສະໜາພຸດ ແລະ ສິລະປະການຟ້ອນລຳຈາກຂະເໝນ ເຂົ້າມາເຜີຍແຜ່ ໃນເມືອງຊຽງດົງ-ຊຽງທອງ. ຟ້ອນນາງແກ້ວ ເປັນການຟ້ອນປະຈໍາພະລາຊະວັງ ເພື່ອຖວາຍເຈົ້າຟ້າງຸ່ມມະຫາຣາຊ ແຫຼ່ງຫຼ້າທໍຣະນີ ແລະ ມະເຫສີແກ້ວເກັງຍາ ເນື່ອງໃນໂອກາດຕ່າງໆ ເຊັ່ນ: ສະຫຼອງງານບຸນສໍາຄັນ, ແຂກຕ່າງປະເທດມາເຂົ້າເຝົ້າ, ເວລາສ້າງວັດວາອາຮາມ ສຳເລັດ. ເມື່ອກ່ອນ ເພີ່ນເອີ້ນການຟ້ອນນີ້ວ່າ “ນາງແກ້ວພົມມະຈາລີ” ຕໍ່ມາ ເຈົ້າຟ້າງຸ່ມ ຈຶ່ງປ່ຽນຊື່ ຂອງການຟ້ອນ ຕາມພຣະນາມ ຂອງມະເຫສີນາງແກ້ວເກັງຍາ ເປັນ “ຟ້ອນນາງແກ້ວ” (ໝາຍເຖິງ ແກ້ວບໍລິສຸດ). ນັບແຕ່ນັ້ນມາ, ການຟ້ອນນາງແກ້ວ ເປັນສິລະປະ ຮີດຄອງປະເພນີ ທີ່ສວຍງາມ ເຊິ່ງຊາວຫຼວງພະບາງ ໄດ້ປົກປັກຮັກສາ ແລະ ສືບທອດຕໍ່ກັນມາ ຮອດປະຈຸບັນ.}}</ref>

Most dance dramas depict scenes from the Lao [[Ramayana]] known as [[Phra Lak Phra Lam|Phra Lak Phra Ram]] (ພຣະລັກພຣະຣາມ {{IPA|lo|pʰāʔ.lāk pʰāʔ.láːm|}}), the ''Sadok'' (ຊາດົກ {{IPA|[sáː dók]}}), or the [[Jataka]]. The Ramayana is thought to have been gradually adopted through the Khmers and through Siam, both stemming from the ancient Khmer tradition.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.bl.uk/asian-and-african/2014/04/the-ramayana-in-southeast-asia-2-thailand-and-laos.html|title=The Ramayana in Southeast Asia: (2) Thailand and Laos|website= British library|quote=The Rama story is thought to have been known to the Thais since at least the 13th century. It was adopted from older Khmer sources, hence the similarity to the Khmer title Reamker.}}</ref>

Lam Lao (ລຳລາວ) or [[morlam]] (ໝໍລຳ {{IPA|[mɔ̌ː lám]}}) is the general descriptor for Lao folk music, which at its most basic level consists of the singer/story-teller and the khene (ແຄນ {{IPA|[kʰɛ́ːn]}}). Troupes travel around like [[minstrels]] performing at various locales. There are many regional styles, depending on the local tone contours and preferred instrumentation and melodies.<ref name="Rachel, Lam 2007">B., Rachel, Lam, M. B., Cullen, A. et al (2007).  World and its peoples: eastern and southern asia. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corp.</ref>

=== Cinema ===
{{Main|Cinema of Laos}}
The first feature-length film made after the monarchy was abolished is ''Gun Voice from the Plain of Jars'' directed by Somchith Pholsena in 1983 and its release was prevented by a censorship board.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Southiponh, Som Ock |author2=Gerow, Aaron |title=Starting an Asian Cinema: Laos Past and Present |journal=Documentary Box |date=1999 |volume=12 |page=27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dt9kAAAAMAAJ |access-date=1 January 2019 |publisher=Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410140149/https://books.google.com/books?id=Dt9kAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> A commercial feature-length film was ''[[Sabaidee Luang Prabang]]'', made in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/good-morning-luang-prabang-ndash-and-hello-to-laoss-film-industry-843557.html|title=Good Good Morning, Luang Prabang – and hello to Laos's film industry|last=Buncomb|first=Andrew|work=The Independent|date=10 June 2010|access-date=22 May 2014|archive-date=3 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403212836/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/good-morning-luang-prabang-ndash-and-hello-to-laoss-film-industry-843557.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2017 documentary feature film ''[[Blood Road (film)|Blood Road]]'' was predominantly shot and produced in Laos with assistance from the Lao government. It was recognised with a [[News & Documentary Emmy Award|News and Documentary Emmy Award]] in 2018.<ref>{{Citation|title=Blood Road|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6900092/|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624003146/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6900092/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Australian filmmaker Kim Mordount's first feature film was made in Laos and features a Laotian cast speaking their native language. Entitled ''[[The Rocket (2013 film)|The Rocket]]'', the film appeared at the 2013 [[Melbourne International Film Festival]] and won three awards at the Berlin International Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|title=Q&A with director Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket)|url=http://miff.com.au/kimmorduant|work=Melbourne International Film Festival|publisher=MIFF|date=August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004244/http://miff.com.au/kimmorduant|archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref> Examples of Lao feature films that have received international recognition include Lao New Wave Cinema's ''At the Horizon'', directed by Anysay Keola, which was screened at the OzAsia Film Festival,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-18770068|title=A tale of revenge in Laos challenges censors|last=Catt|first=Georgia|website=BBC News|date=22 August 2012|access-date=22 May 2014|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624001805/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-18770068|url-status=live}}</ref> and Lao Art Media's ''[[Chanthaly]]'' ([[Lao language|Lao]]: ຈັນທະລີ), directed by [[Mattie Do]], which was screened at the 2013 [[Fantastic Fest]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fantasticfest.com/films/chanthaly|title=Chanthaly|publisher=Fantastic Fest|date=2013|access-date=15 May 2014|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624004140/https://fantasticfest.com/films/chanthaly|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenanarchy.com/2013/09/fantastic-fest-2013-review-chanthaly-is-a-haunting-portrait-of-modern-day-laos.html|title=Fantastic Fest 2013 Review: Chanthaly is A Haunting Portrait of Modern Day Laos|last=Marsh|first=James|work=ScreenAnarchy|date=26 September 2013|access-date=7 January 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028114355/https://screenanarchy.com/2013/09/fantastic-fest-2013-review-chanthaly-is-a-haunting-portrait-of-modern-day-laos.html|archive-date=28 October 2020}}</ref> In September 2017, Laos submitted ''[[Dearest Sister]]'' ([[Lao language|Lao]]: ນ້ອງຮັກ), Mattie Do's second feature film, to the [[90th Academy Awards]] (or the Oscars) for consideration for [[List of submissions to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]], marking the country's first submission for the Oscars.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/laos-dearest-sister-first-foreign-language-oscar-film-1202563352/|title=Laos Selects 'Dearest Sister' as First Foreign-Language Oscar Submission|last=Frater|first=Patrick|date=19 September 2017|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624003212/https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/laos-dearest-sister-first-foreign-language-oscar-film-1202563352/|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of 2018, Laos has three theatres dedicated to showing films.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brzeski|first1=Patrick|title=Cannes: Southeast Asia Is Ready for Its Big-Screen Close-up|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/cannes-southeast-asia-is-ready-big-screen-close-up-1110530|access-date=1 January 2019|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=Valence Media|date=9 May 2018|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624001857/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/cannes-southeast-asia-is-ready-big-screen-close-up-1110530|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
[[File:Phuan Girls.JPG|thumb|Lao women wearing ''[[sinh (clothing)|sinhs]]'' ]]
[[File:Lao New Year, dancers.jpg|thumb|Lao dancers during the [[New Year]] celebration ]]
There are some public holidays, festivities and ceremonies in Laos.
*Hmong New Year (Nopejao)
*Bun Pha Wet
*Magha Puja
*Chinese New Year
*Boun Khoun Khao
*Boun Pimai
*Boun Bang Fai (Rocket festival)
*Visakha Puja
*Pi Mai/Songkran (Lao New Year)
*Khao Phansaa
*Haw Khao Padap Din
*Awk Phansaa
*Bun Nam
*Lao National Day (2 December)<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 November 2016 |title=Laos'un Festivalleri |trans-title=Festivals of Laos |url=https://gezimanya.com/asya/laosun-festivalleri |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308151547/https://gezimanya.com/asya/laosun-festivalleri |archive-date=8 March 2021 |access-date=6 March 2018 |work=Gezimanya |language=tr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.visit-laos.com/festivals.htm|title=Laos Festivals & Events|work=visit-laos.com|access-date=6 March 2018|archive-date=15 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615025833/http://www.visit-laos.com/festivals.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Media ===
The Lao government controls media channels to prevent critique of its actions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Laos: Crony scheme in control of press and civil society |url=http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2014/05/laos-crony-scheme-control-press-civil-society/ |website=index on censorship |date=12 May 2014 |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=3 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303175155/https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2014/05/laos-crony-scheme-control-press-civil-society/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Lao citizens who have criticised the government have been subjected to enforced disappearances, arrests and torture.<ref name="state">{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2012/eap/204213.htm|title=2012 Human Rights Reports: Laos|publisher=State.gov|access-date=9 August 2014|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624001945/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2012/eap/204213.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="atimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/NB22Ae01.html|title=Off the air in Laos|work=Asia Times Online|access-date=9 August 2014|archive-date=29 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329180831/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/NB22Ae01.html|url-status=unfit}}</ref>

=== Sport ===
[[File:Stadenat-vientiane.jpg|thumb|[[New Laos National Stadium]] in [[Vientiane]]]]
The martial art of [[muay Lao]], the national sport,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goabroad.net/Brooklynmonk/journals/1197/Muay-Lao,-the-forgotten-art-of-kickboxing|title=Muay Lao, the forgotten art of kickboxing|last=Graceffo|website=GoAbroad Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415230120/http://www.goabroad.net/Brooklynmonk/journals/1197/Muay-Lao,-the-forgotten-art-of-kickboxing|archive-date=15 April 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a form of kickboxing similar to Thailand's [[muay Thai]], Burmese [[Lethwei]] and Cambodian [[Pradal Serey]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Thailand – Sports and recreation |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Thailand/Sports-and-recreation |language=en |access-date=26 January 2020 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624002018/https://www.britannica.com/place/Thailand/Sports-and-recreation |url-status=live }}</ref>