New Caledonia is a multicultural society consisting of several ethnicities, with the largest being the Kanaks. Various immigrant ethnicities have also added to the cultural diversity and customs.
General etiquette
Greetings are face to face, maintaining eye contact and usually verbal or by gestures. You should maintain a respectable distance and should not attempt to hug a person unless you are very close to them or unless they gesture you to. Just like many cultures, you should not touch someone’s hair unless they allow you to do so. Respect in New Caledonia is demonstrated in many ways, one should dress modestly and one must wait to be invited into a conversation. When invited into a home, it is usually the norm to bring a gift for the host family.
Religion
New Caledonia is predominantly Christian, with half of these being Catholics and some being Protestants. Christians make up 85.2% of the population, 10.4% have no religion, 2.8% are Muslims, 0.6% are Buddhists, 0.2% practice folk religion, and 0.8% practice other religions.
Food and cuisine
New Caledonian cuisine is a fusion of island cooking, with Melanesian tastes, and unique French flavors. Food is an integral part of the new Caledonian life. Visitors to New Caledonia can indulge in the unique combination of flavors that bring out a unique Caledonian taste. Some of the dishes include:
- Bougna-this is a dish made from chicken, lobsters, and fish that is mixed with yams, sweet potatoes, coconut milk, and wrapped in banana leaves. This is then placed in an oven or cooked over hot rocks.
- Vol au vent des fruits de mer- this is a pastry dishwith French influences consisting of mussels, prawns, scallops, and fish filets which are combined in a creamy sauce.
- Bulime- this is a specialty made from snails simmered in wine, garlic, and herb butter. This meal can be served in different ways and can be stuffed with parsley and garlic butter, or incorporated into a soup, or served with Bougna.
- Venison- this is deer meat, turned into a delectable dish. This can be served in different ways, either as a stew, as ragout, or as sausages, and as salami, or seasoned and skewered.
- Blue prawns- these prawns are said to be sweeter than regular prawns. They have become so popular around the world. They are distinctly colored blue because of the plankton that they feed on. This is a dish worth trying when you get to New Caledonia.
Music
Contemporary music of New Caledonia is a fusion of the traditional Kanak sounds and rhythms with western music like jazz, funk, rap music, and Caribbean flavored music, and Oceania-themed music. Traditionally, music in New Caledonia is Melanesian in nature.
Sport
New Caledonia has several sporting codes which are played including football, rugby, tennis, mountain biking, water sports including kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, and triathlon, to mention but a few. They also
" Its a place to be" - Martin from Canada
