The importance of knowing the culture and lifestyle of your desired study abroad country is that you do not have to worry about getting embarrassed once you are there. This is a pivotal part of the process of immersing yourself into a new environment and country! As you should expect, the Tonga culture is diverse and unique in its way to your host family. On this guide, we have set information that will open your mind and widen your appreciation of the Tonga culture and lifestyle compactly!
The Tonga are profoundly proud of the amount of cultural heritage they share. The sheer diversity of culture has made for an interesting group of people staying together in one place. From customs to received modernities, the Tonga have accumulated a wide blend of different cultures over the years. For a small country, Tonga has a wide and complex history. Its people are of many religions, sects, histories and political scenes but they are all alike when it comes to the Tonga experience.
Tonga was first called the ‘Friendly Islands’ by British seafarer Captain James Cook in his first visit of 1773. He arrived by chance during the Inasi festival, the annual donation of herbs to the islands’ chief, and so was invited by the locals to join in the feast. Captain Cook took the invitation and left the islands with great memories. However, rumor has it the islanders had planned to kill him but could not agree on a plan how to exeute it. Regardless, the ‘Friendly Islands’ tag has remained, and a visit to Tonga will show a great heritage of Polynesian culture and hospitality that can be seen today.
The culture of the country is typically Polynesian, and the history of the nation reflects through the ages it has been one of the most dominant countries in the region, a fact which has heavily affected the culture. Traditional dress and dance still feature heavily in Tongan culture, although are usually reserved for vital ceremonies, such as the Tau’onlonga. However, the arrival of Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries, and particularly the influence of Christian missionaries, saw the locals discard many of their traditional insights and ways of life, and adopt new ones. For example, today around 98% of the population is Christian!
" Its a place to be" - Martin from Canada
