This section provides an overview of the cultural practices, values, and expressions maintained and adapted by Lao Americans across generations. These traditions reflect a deep connection to Lao heritage while also evolving in response to life in the United States.
Lao American cultural life is rooted in practices such as Theravāda Buddhism, Boun (festival) celebrations, language preservation, classical music and dance, textile arts, and cuisine. Temples (wats) serve as central cultural and spiritual hubs, offering religious services, language instruction, and community events. Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao), weddings, and funerary rites remain important rites of passage, often blending traditional and American customs.
This section highlights:
Religious and spiritual practices, including Buddhism and ancestral veneration
Community festivals and cultural holidays
Traditional clothing, weaving, and crafts
Performing arts, including dance, music, and storytelling
Foodways and culinary heritage
Intergenerational transmission of language and values
Resources featured here include ethnographic studies, cultural preservation projects, community organization websites, and visual/media archives. Together, they document how Lao Americans sustain cultural identity while navigating assimilation, innovation, and cross-cultural exchange.