Madagascar customs and taboos

The full name of Madagascar is the Republic of Madagascar. It is an African island country located in the western Indian Ocean, facing the African continent across the Mozambique Channel. The entire island is composed of volcanic rocks. As the first island in Africa and the fourth largest in the world, Madagascar is rich in tourism resources. Since the 1990s, the country's government has listed tourism as a key development industry and encouraged foreign investors to invest in tourism. 98% of the residents are Malagasy.

Madagascar has a unique terrain and large differences in climate. The east belongs to a tropical rainforest climate, with hot and humid all year round, with annual precipitation reaching 2,000 - 3,800 mm, and an average annual temperature of about 24℃; the central plateau belongs to a tropical plateau climate with a mild climate, with annual precipitation of 1,000 - 2,000 mm, and an average annual temperature of about 18℃; The west is on the leeward side, with less precipitation and belongs to a tropical grassland climate, with annual precipitation of 600- 1,000 mm, and annual average temperature of about 26.6℃; The southern region has a semi-arid climate, with annual precipitation less than 600 mm and an average annual temperature of about 25.4℃. Affected by the monsoon, the island has the dry season from April to October, and the rainy season from November to March of the following year. The capital, Antananarivo, is about 1,200 meters above sea level and has an average annual temperature of 18°C.

Malagasy people account for more than 98% of the total population and are composed of 18 ethnic groups, the larger of which are: Imelina (26.1% of the total population), Beshimizaraka (14.1%), Beshelho (12%), Himicht (7.2%), Sakarawa (5.8%), Antandero (5.3%) and Antesaka (5%).

The languages, cultures, customs and habits of all ethnic groups are generally the same. There are also a small number of Comoros, Indians, Pakistan and French people who have settled in Malaysia, as well as about 50,000 overseas Chinese and Chinese Americans. The national language is Malagasy (belonging to the Malai-Polynesian family), and French and English are officially spoken. Among the residents, 52% believe in traditional religions, 41% believe in Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), and 7% believe in Islam.

1. Religious beliefs

Madagascar has loose religious policies and various religions coexist peacefully. Among the residents, 52% believe in traditional religions, 41% believe in Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), and 7% believe in Muslim Islam. A very small number of people profess Orthodox and Evangelical religions.

2. Etiquette and Taboos

Worship of cattle: Local people have a special worship of cattle, and agricultural areas are marked by the number of cattle they own. The cow's head is the symbol of the country. Newborn calves are baptized like babies, and the cow cannot be forced to work one day a week. If a car encounters cattle on the road, it must give way to the cattle. "Don't hurt cattle without cause" is the creed of the people of this country.

Worship of ancestors: Although there are differences in tribal customs in various regions, one common characteristic among Malaysian people is the custom of offering sacrifices and worshipping to their ancestors as gods. In the eyes of Malaysians, the dead ancestors are the holders of energy, the descendants they protected, and the source of physical and spiritual strength for future generations. On every major festival or celebration, Malaysian people hold grand sacrifices and blessing ceremonies, placing offerings such as chickens, ducks, and cows, and serving homemade sugarcane wine and honey. Through sacrificial activities, ethnic people sometimes receive "divine metaphors" from their ancestors to help them make decisions or overcome difficulties. If someone suddenly encounters an accident or suffers from a strange disease, it will be regarded as punishment for lack of respect for their ancestors. When traditional Malaysian people hold a funeral for the deceased, they will blow and dance traditional dances. Women high-fives, men wield javelins, and coffin bearers shake violently as they walk until they reach the cemetery.

Corpus Festival: It is a custom unique to Ma to express nostalgia and respect for the deceased. As the name suggests,"turning over a corpse" means taking the body of the deceased out of the tomb and turning it over. The centaurs believed that the deceased had been buried in the cold and dark underground for several years and should come out to "breathe and bask in the sun." Exchanges are usually carried out several years after the deceased is buried. For hygiene reasons, the dry season is generally chosen, and the specific date is chosen by the Feng Shui master in the tribe. When the corpse turning ceremony was held, people carefully took out the body from the tomb, wrapped it in new linen, and then walked forward surrounded by people. Men and women sang and danced, and the more lively it was, the more respect they showed for the dead. Finally back to the cemetery. During re-burial, according to custom, the body needs to be turned over seven times before sealing the coffin. The importance and pomp of the "turning over the corpse" ceremony were even more serious than the grandeur of the burial.

Circumcision: In the traditional belief of Malaysians, all boys need circumcision. Only in this way can these boys become manly in the future. From June to September every year, adults gather together with boys aged 2-5 to perform a circumcision ceremony, called "circumcision." This ceremony is of great significance to the people of Malaysia. People celebrate with singing and dancing. On a large scale, thousands of people will participate.

3. Daily etiquette

Malaysians are more friendly to foreigners. Shake hands when meeting, and greet relatives or friends you are familiar with and close to the face when meeting. Wear formal clothes or formal dresses for formal or high-level events. For general occasions, dress neatly. When you first come to Malaysia to engage in business activities, you should prepare a business card with French printed on it. You can give small gifts when you meet for the first time, such as exquisite handicrafts and daily necessities. Since local people respect their elders, tourists should pay attention to being polite to the elderly whether they are riding, traveling or visiting. When traveling to Malaysia, you can bring some one-dollar bills as a tip to the person who provides you with direct services.

Tuesday and Thursday are taboo days. On the day before Christmas, only a small amount of poultry meat will be eaten for dinner; no meat will be allowed during the week before the New Year. Locals avoid black, which represents death and disaster.

4. Public holidays

Civil servants of state agencies and regular employees of enterprises implement a five-day working week and an eight-hour working day. There are 30 days of paid vacation every year. Other official holidays include: January 1: New Year's Day, 1 day off; March 29: Memorial Day of the Anti-French Struggle in 1947, 1 day off; April 24: Easter, 1 day off; May 01: International Labor Day, 1 day off; May 25: United Nations Day, 1 day off; June 26: Independence Day (National Day), 1 day off; August 15: Assumption Day, 1 day off; November 01: All Saints 'Day, 1 day off; December 25: Christmas Day, 1 day off.

There are also religious holidays with no fixed dates calculated by week every year: Ascension Day and Pentecost Day (both have one day off). The regulations on horse holidays are relatively strict, and rest days are generally not changed. If there is a statutory holiday on weekends, no change will be made.