Holidays and customs taboos in Malawi
Full name
Malawi: Republic of Malawi (Chichwa: Dziko la Malaï; English: Republic of Malawi), located in southeastern Africa, is a landlocked country surrounded by Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. It covers an area of 118,000 square kilometers and has a population of 15.118 million. Malawi is named after Lake Malawi in its territory. This lake is the third largest lake in Africa, covering an area of 30,000 square kilometers. The water can reach a depth of more than 700 meters. There are many unique freshwater fish species in the world.
Malawi is a multi-ethnic country. Among the country's total population, Malawians account for 50% of the total population, Longwe account for 19%, Yao account for 14%, Ngoni account for 9%, Fipa and Nyaku account for 3%, and there are less than 2% of other races from India, Pakistan, Europe and other places.
Malawi's ethnic composition is complex and scattered. In the southwest, there are mainly Chiwa, Nyanga, Nsenga, and Sikunda. These tribes infiltrate and mix each other. They are commonly known as the Malawian people and are the largest major family in Malawi. Among them, the Chiwa people have the largest number and mainly live in the central and southern regions. They speak the same language as the Ngoni and Yao people-Chiwa language.
In the northwest are the Tumbuka and Tonga people. The Tonga people mainly live on the west bank of Lake Malawi and make a living by fishing.
The east is mainly dominated by the Yao people, which originated in the northeastern region of Mozambique and migrated to Malawi in the second half of the 19th century. The Yao people implemented a matriarchal clan system and a family system involving men marrying women. The Ngoni people live in the southeastern region. The Ngoni people realize a patrilineal clan system, and the patriarch has absolute authority.
In northern Malawi, the Ngonde people are mainly inhabited. They are mainly engaged in animal husbandry and inherit the family business according to the patrilineal line, but there is no clan organization. The Longwe people live in southern Malawi. They had their own language, and their matriarchal clan's social structure was very similar to that of the Yao people.
Malawians are hospitable. When interacting with them, we must pay attention to etiquette and treat each other sincerely. Malawians have a strong national self-esteem. During conversation, we must not use words, hints or metaphors that are detrimental to their national feelings, otherwise it will cause displeasure. In addition, when interacting with Malawians, you should not easily ask about their age, property, etc. Malawi is taboo to talk about issues such as the president's health and family planning. Generally, Malawian men are not allowed to have hair beyond the nape of the neck, and they are not allowed to wear bell-bottom pants that are narrow and wide at the bottom. Women are not allowed to wear revealing clothing. Wear dark suits at banquets and other formal occasions.
In Malawi, especially in rural areas, most people live in round huts. It uses branches to weave mud to make walls, and uses banana leaves and thatch to cover the roof. Generally, a village has thirty to forty round thatched houses, divided into large houses and small houses. Large houses are relatively spacious and are mostly occupied by the elderly or parents, and are equipped with daily necessities; small houses are relatively narrow and are mostly occupied by young people or children. In addition, Malawians are accustomed to getting up early and going to bed early, and most people go to bed around 9:00 p.m.
Most Malawians eat corn paste every day; people with good living conditions use corn flour and milk to make pancakes, and use tomatoes and beef to make red soup and eat them together. Malawians have the habit of eating termites, especially during the spring termite breeding season.
Malawi's legal holidays: January 1, New Year, January 15, National Hero Chilembwe Memorial Day, March 3, Martyrs 'Day, April 22-25, Easter (April 22-25 in 2010. The specific date of each year depends on the full moon) May 1, Labor Day, May 14, Kamuzu Banda Day (It was the birthday of Malawi's founding father, and the first president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, was born on May 14, 1902) July 6, Independence Day and National Day (Malawi became independent on July 6, 1964, and the Republic was established on July 6, 1966) September 11 Eid al-Fitr (the specific date of each year depends on the full moon, and in 2010 it is September 11) October 17 Mother's Day December 25 Christmas Note: The above are national public holidays. If it coincides with Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday will be automatically closed.