The Karen, pronounced Kah- Ren (emphasis on the second syllable), are indigenous to the Thailand-Burma border region in Southeast Asia and are one of the many ethnic groups in Burma.
The Karen people are very diverse, with different ethnic and language sub-groups. Buddhism and Animism (spirit worship) Christian. -Karen people live in southeast Asian, in Burma (Myanmar) and in Thailand.
Traditionally, the Karen are farmers who grow rice, corn, vegetables, sesame, and chilies. A typical Karen meal consists of rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat. Meals are usually flavored with chilies, tumeric, ginger, cardamom, garlic, tamarind, and lime juice.
In Karen culture, being direct is considered rude. The American way of communication such as being direct, use of loud speech, and body language can be uncomfortable for most Karen. Decisions are usually made by consensus and confrontation is avoided. Conflict may be addressed in a group or by an intermediary.
The Karen have five known religious beliefs: Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, the Lehkai, and Telahkon. Of these five, the majority of Karen are Animist, Buddhist, or Christian. There are many Karen refugees who are Christian in the United States. Also common are Karen Muslims of Indian decent.
Marriage is considered to be for life, and among Karens of all faiths, adultery is considered taboo—an unnatural act that can bring catastrophe on the whole village. Karens have an average of four or five children, but infant and child mortality rates are very high.
The US leads the way with 1,584,764 Karens - a country where Karen also happens to be the 23rd most popular name. This is easily the highest number in the world, almost four times the number found in the UK, which placed number two on the list.
The Karen came to MN due to ethnic cleansing and genocide from the Burmese Military Dictatorship. The Karen settled in Minnesota due the open policy on receiving refugees. Currently there are estimated to be over 17,000 Karen people living in the Minnesota.
The Karen flag. The Karen flag has red, white and blue panels that represent courage, purity and honesty. The nine sunrays represent the nine Karen districts and the Karen drum is a symbol of the Karen people.
Karenni, sometimes also known as the Red Karen (so-called because it was a favoured colour in traditional clothing) or Kayah, actually refers to a Karen grouping which includes a number of ethnic groups that speak related Tibeto-Burman languages such as Kekhu, Bre, Kayah, Yangtalai, Geba, Zayein and Paku.
Djibouti. Spelling this East African country is almost as difficult as pronouncing it, thanks to the silent "d" and the "i" that sounds like an "a." The one and only way to say Djibouti is "Ja-BOO-tee." And for more nations that are hard to spell, These Are the Most Misspelled Countries in the World.
In most of its Western forms, Karin was originally a Swedish form of Katherine, but in English speaking countries is usually thought of as an alternate spelling for Karen.
Karen is spoken in areas of Burma and Thailand, and also by refugees in other countries. Scholars disagree on the origins of the Karen languages, but the general consensus is that they belong to the Tibeto-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages.
Traditionally, most Karen people are farmers who cultivate “hill rice”. They live in villages that are small clearings in the forest. Houses are made entirely of bamboo and thatch. A nearby stream or river may provide a place for villagers to bathe, do washing, and collect drinking water.
It is called the frog drum because it is covered with frog skin. The three colors denote a certain meaning; red is for bravery, white for purity/sincerity, and blue for honesty. The nine rays of light streaming from the rising sun indicate the nine regions from which Karen people trace their origins.
Karen is one of the most mainstream names Australia has ever seen. Karen was one of Australia's most popular girl's name for 37 straight years from 1950 to 1986.
Minnesota. Believed to be the state with the largest Karen population, most Karen who live in Minnesota reside in the Twin Cities area although the exact population is unclear.
Migration: More than 140,000 Karen refugees have fled to Thailand from Burma because of war and human rights abuse, and the persecution they have experienced for decades (Lane, et al, n.d). There are nine major refugee camps in Thailand in which the Karen community live in exile, the largest camp being Mae La.
Death and Afterlife.
Some non-Christian Karen believe in an afterlife in a place of the dead, which has higher and lower realms ruled over by Lord Khu See-du. The k'la leaves the body at death; eventually it will be reincarnated in a proper body but, as a ghost, it can possess the body of another person.
Marriage. A Karen may marry anyone who is not closely related (i.e., anyone except siblings, first cousins, and lineage mates). Among Pwo and Sgaw Karen there are proscriptions against certain matrilineal and intergenerational marriages.
Karen families are cross-generational; it is common for many generations to live close to each other. Parents, children, and grandparents often live under the same roof. On average, Karen families usually consist of four or five children, but infant and child mortality rates are very high.