What are 3 cultural facts about Tonga?

Interesting facts about Tonga

  • Tonga is an archipelago of 169 islands of which only 36 are inhabited.
  • Tonga is the only Pacific country which was never colonised.
  • Tonga is the home of the humpback whales.
  • Sunday is a day of rest in Tonga.
  • British explorer James Cook visited Tonga in 1773.

What are the 4 Tongan values?

The Importance of Family The four core values are Fefaka’apa’apa’aki (mutual respect), Feveitokai’aki (sharing, cooperating and fulfilment of mutual obligations), Lototoo (humility and generosity) and Tauhi vaha’a (loyalty and commitment). Family is the central unit of Tongan life.

What is Tonga most famous for?

Ok, so the Pacific Ocean is quite a big place, but we mention it as Tonga is arguably most famous for its whale swimming experiences. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can legally swim with humpback whales.

What ethnicity is Tongan?

Polynesian
Tongans, a Polynesian group with a very small mixture of Melanesian, represent more than 98% of the inhabitants. The rest are European, mixed European, and other Pacific Islanders. There also are about 500 Chinese. More than two-thirds of the population of the Kingdom of Tonga live on its main island, Tongatapu.

Why do Tongans get circumcised?

Male circumcision This is a Christian practice of biblical context. Afterwards, the family held a feast for the new “man”. Circumcision is still practiced, but it is now done informally. Sometimes it is done at home, with relatives present.

What is Tongan traditional food?

The staples of Tongan foods are pork, chicken, beef, sheep ribs and of course fish to name a few popular meats. Add in some coconut milk, taro leaves and various starches such as yams, taro, sweet potatoes and tapioca and you can taste the true Tongan cuisine.

Do the Maori circumcise?

Abstract. New Zealand’s highly conformist Caucasian society rapidly adopted routine circumcision of children during World War II, taking it to one of the highest rates in the Western World. In contrast, the native Maori population avoided it altogether.

What is a Tongan wedding?

Fakalelea is the celebration before the wedding. Tongan weddings generally take three days. This is done to show that everyone is truly happy for the marriage to take place. There is also a lot of dancing and exchanging of other foods and gifts between the families.

What are Tongan beliefs?

Tongans place a high value on ‘loto to’ (humility). Everyone is expected to be humble, including the king. Some common practices of humility include self-deprecatory speech. Parents also avoid praising their children for accomplishments as a way to promote humility in the family.