Culture

Culture

Located in Oceania, Tonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific

Ocean, directly south of Western Samoa and about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to

New Zealand. Its 176 islands, 36 of them inhabited, are

divided into three main groups – Vava'u, Ha'apai, and

Tongatapu –The largest island, Tongatapu, on which the capital

city of Nukualofa is located.

EASYVOCABULARY

WORDSHello: Malo e leleiGood bye : Nofo a

How are you: fefe hakealright: saipe

Thank you: MaloPlease: Kataki

Sorry: fakamolemoleExcuse me: Tulou

Mat-weaving Woven mats serve a variety of purposes, from the ordinary to the ceremonial. Many woven mats are passed down from generation to generation, the mats in the palace that form the true crown jewels of Tonga.

Tattooing Tongan males were often heavily tattooed. In Captain Cook's time only the Tuʻi Tonga (king) was not. Later it became the habit that a young Tuʻi Tonga went to Samoa to be tattooed there.

Western church music and Western classical and popular

music would then start to mingle with the pure Tongan music, resulting in the often

hybrid music of contemporary Tonga. Now popular guitar styles are used throughout

Tonga too.

Early visitors, such as Captain Cook in the 1770s, and William

Mariner in the 19th century, describe traditional dance

performances featuring singing and drumming.

Dance

- Traditional songs, passed down over the generations, are still sung at chiefly ceremonies.

- Some ancient dances are still performed, such as ula, ʻotuhaka and meʻetuʻupaki.

- different types of dances such are Kailao, Lakalaka, Ma’ulu’ulu, Mako, meʻetuʻupaki,

ʻotuhaka, soke, tau’olunga, and the ula

Tongan food is made up of foods from the land and the sea. Tongan people are hunter and gatherers of land and sea.

Because of Tonga's beautiful tropical weather, we have allot of rain and sunshine. This type of weather environment is perfect for cultivation.

The soil has deposits of volcanic ash, this contributes to a very fertile soil. A lot of land Tongan foods are made up of different root crops, it's a substitute for your common potatoes.

The Festivals and Events in Tonga are celebrated with great pomp and fervour throughout the country. Both the Christians and the non-Christians celebrate the Christmas in Tonga with great enthusiasm and fervour. The most renowned Festivals and Events in Tonga include the Crown Prince’s Birthday, Boxing Day, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Good Friday, Constitution Day, and the Emancipation Day. The New Year is also reckoned as one of the most famous Festivals and Events in Tonga.

THIS AND THAT

If you are invited by a Tongan family to join them having a meal, be prepared to sit on the floor and to eat withyour fingers. Prior to each meal somebody says a prayer. Watch your host and follow his actions.Tongans like to have some fun with the tourists - if any story told to you seems not very plausible, you better ask another source!

LEGENDS

'Eua Island is the oldest island in the

Tonga it is 40 million years older and has some great myths,

legends and stories. Below are just a few for your enjoyment.

Tourist Destination.Nested in the South

Pacific, the Kingdom of Tonga is the 'True South Pacific'. With over 170

islands, there's plenty to do for every traveller.

From historic tours around Tongatapu, to

adventure activities and water sports like diving and whale watching, to staying in a boutique hotel on the stunning

islands of Vava'u, you'll find it all here. This is the official site of the Ministry

of Tourism / Tonga Visitors Bureau.