Customs and habits of Northern Mariana Islands-Saipan

The Northern Mariana Islands have become a truly international family. Recent census information indicates that there are approximately 18000 Native Americans on the island, including Chamorro and Carorans. The remaining approximately 30000 residents come from the Philippines, China, South Korea, Japan, other Western Pacific Islands and the mainland United States. A very small proportion comes from Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. In the Mariana Islands, tourists can experience various customs and customs.

There are two types of indigenous people living on the island: Chamorro and Caroran. The island not only maintains long-standing indigenous traditions, but also continues to carry forward and continue these traditions. As long as tourists come to the Mariana Islands, they will find that they can unknowingly integrate into the local culture and enjoy this bizarre cultural journey.

Every year, the Chamorro and Karorans celebrate their many traditional festivals with singing and dancing, displaying local handicrafts and throwing feasts.

At the weekly Garapan Street Market, you can taste authentic local delicacies such as apigigi, a food made of coconut and wrapped in banana leaves. This lively market is located in the heart of Saipan and is world-famous for its wide array of local arts and handicrafts.

At the annual FLAME Tree Arts Festival, you can also watch the traditional Carolinian Stick Dance, which originated from ancient warrior battles. In addition to exciting performances, artists from across the Western Pacific Islands will also showcase their masterpieces at the festival.

The three-day Liberation Day Festival commemorates Saipan's liberation in 1944 by overthrowing foreign occupation. The annual Liberation Day parade is usually held on July 4th. Before that, it is a month-long carnival. All people can flock to American Memorial Park and join the carnival parade. Another beginning for this important festival is the selection of the Ms. Liberation Day Queen.

Don't miss the Taste of the Marianas Festival on Saipan in May. Events are held every Saturday. The first day of the Food Festival is also the opening ceremony of CNMI Tourism Month. Visitors not only have the opportunity to taste local and international cuisine carefully cooked by the island's chefs, but also enjoy live performances by local bands and dances, share the joy of the festival with local residents, and purchase local handicrafts. The cooking and cocktail competition is the climax of this event. As the influence of the competition continues to expand, chefs from outside the island are invited to serve as judges every year.

The Tinian Fiesta is held every year in the city on Tinian Island. In addition to sumptuous food and horse riding competitions, the festival queen is also selected.

San Francisco De Borja Fiesta on Rota is the largest and most popular festival on the island. This festival not only includes barbecues, horse riding and dancing, but also the selection of Rota Queen.

The CNMI Museum of History and Culture in the Northern Mariana Islands is located on Saipan and was formerly a Japanese hospital. The exhibits in this museum not only reflect the archipelago's more than 4000 years of history, including many prehistoric objects from the Chamorro and Carjolan people, but also display objects from Spain, Germany, Japan, World War II and the Commonwealth period. The museum's collection includes gold, pottery and metal artifacts collected from the large Spanish ship Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion, which was killed in 1638. The salvage was detailed in the September 1990 issue of National Geographic Magazine.