Customs and habits in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe, the full name of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (Portugal: República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe, English: The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe) is an island country located in the southeastern Gulf of Guinea in the west and central Africa. It is 201 kilometers east of the African continent and consists of 14 islands including Sao Tome and Principe. Both St. Paul and Prussia are volcanic islands with rugged terrain, tropical rainforest climate, and hot and humid all year round.
About 90% of the population of Sao Tome and Principe lives on Sao Tome Island. The residents are mainly Bantu, the rest are mestizo, and the official language is Portugal. Portugal is a new Latin language that uses the Latin alphabet. It belongs to the Latin family. It uses Portugal mainland, parts of Africa and Asia, and Brazil as its language areas. Portugal is based on popular Latin with a number of dialect characteristics. As a Romance language, it is sister to Spanish, French, Italian and Romania.
The main religion in Sao Tome and Principe is Catholic. Catholicism is an important sect of Christianity. It is also known as the three major sects of Christianity, along with the Orthodox Church and Protestantism. It is also known as the "Catholic Church","Roman Catholic Church", and "Catric Church", and is also known as the "Old Church" to distinguish it from Protestantism. This faction believes in God and Jesus Christ, and honors Mary as the Mother of God; it believes that God the Father transformed into heaven and earth and created mankind; the Son of God was born into man and redeemed mankind; the end of the world will come again, and the human body will be resurrected at the end of the world. Accept Christ's judgment, good people will enjoy eternal blessings, and evil people will suffer eternal suffering.
The people of Sao Tome and Principe are very hospitable and welcome visiting guests, whether in the city or in the countryside. Traveling in this country, enthusiastic hosts always prepare fruit banquets with local ethnic flavors for their guests. Sao Tome and Principe is known as a country of etiquette. They have received a series of strict education in religion, etiquette, language, etc. since childhood. In international diplomatic occasions, they shook hands and adopted internationally common titles.
The people of Sao Tome and Principe eat bananas and breadfruit as their traditional staple foods, and have many local traditional dishes such as Calulu, Blabla, and Isaquente. There are not many types of vegetables in Sao Tome and Principe. Tomatoes, onions, and potatoes are the most popular ones. Meat such as pigs, sheep, and chickens are common. Locals love spicy flavors and are not used to sweet dishes. Most local restaurants use barbecue cooking methods. Although Sao Tome and Principe is rich in high-quality coffee, most local people do not like coffee, but prefer tea.
Main attractions in Sao Tome and Principe: Sao Tome Island is a small island close to the equatorial line with tropical scenery on the coast. The coastline at the southern end of the island is tortuous and changeable, with steep cliffs and open places. Tall coconut trees sway in the sea breeze. Standing on the steep rocks and gazing at the changing sea water. Sometimes green, sometimes blue, the waves rush to the shore one after another, crushing on the reef, stirring up white waves three feet high.
The terrain of Principe is rugged and mountainous, with its highest point reaching 948 meters above sea level. It is hot and rainy all year round, and the annual precipitation in the south is as high as more than 4000 millimeters. The forest is dense. It mainly grows tropical crops such as cocoa, coffee, sugar cane, oil palm, and coconut. The main town is San Antonio, on the northeastern coast of the island, and is the only port for external communication on the island.
The "National Museum" in Sao Tome City is the Fort São Sebastião site built in the 15th century by Portugal colonists. It houses many relics from the Portugal colonial era, blue and white porcelain from China, and a turtle specimen room.