What are the customs, religions, occupations, language, clothing styles, and holidays of Madagascar? Thanks. IF you also tell me. What are their prominent housing styles in the country and why is this type o fhouse practical. Customs
Friends and acquaintances kiss each other 2, 3 or 4 times on each cheek every time they see each other.
A firm belief in the existence of close ties between the living and the dead constitutes the most basic of all traditional beliefs and the foundation for Malagasy religious and social values. All the Malagasy peoples have traditionally accepted the existence of a supreme God, known commonly as Zanahary (Creator) or Andriamanitra (Sweet, or Fragrant, Lord). The dead have been conceived as playing the role of intermediary between this supreme God and humankind and are viewed as having the power to affect the fortunes of the living for good or evil. The dead are sometimes described as "gods on earth," who are considered the most important and authoritative members of the family, intimately involved in the daily life of the living members. At the same time, the razana (best defined as "ancestors") are the sources from which the life force flows and the creators of Malagasy customs and ways of life. The living are merely temporary extensions of the dead. Great hardship or trouble can result if the dead are offended or neglected.
Religion
Approximately half of the country's population practises traditional religions, which tend to emphasize links between the living and the dead. The Merina in the highlands particularly tend to hold tightly to this practice. They believe that the dead join their ancestors in the ranks of divinity and that ancestors are intensely concerned with the fate of their living descendants. The Merina and Betsileo reburial practice of famadihana, or "turning over the dead", celebrates this spiritual communion. In this ritual, relatives' remains are removed from the family tomb, rewrapped in new silk shrouds, and returned to the tomb following festive ceremonies in their honour where sometimes the bodies are lifted and carried high above the celebrants heads with singing and dancing before returning them to the tomb.
Language
More than anything else, the people of Madagascar love oratory. The colorful language, Malagasy, like the people who use it, is a living synthesis of Indonesian, African, and Arabic elements. No conversation is complete without a liberal sprinkling of clever euphemisms and timeworn proverbs.
The British missionaries attempted to codify this lyrical language, using the letters of the English alphabet.
Clothing styles
Madagascar clothing is the style statement of the natives of Madagascar and is generally influenced by the European style of dressing. The clothing in Madagascar is usually a rich combination of various colors. The dye use in the clothes is natural and they are extracted from berries, minerals and various such natural resources.
Holidays of Madagascar
Holidays-Madagascar has a lot of holidays and festivals. The usual Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas are celebrated. Insurrection Day(29 May to celebrate the rebellion against the French in 1947), Oraganazation at African Unity Day(25 May), Anniversary Day(8 May), and Republic Day(30 December). In March, Alahamady Be is the low key Malagasy New Year. The Donia, a traditional music festival, is held on Nosy Be in May through June.
Music-Most contemporery and tradional Malagasy music has dance rhythms with influences from Indonesea,and the African mainland, Kenya. These rhythms are accompanied by the flute, whistle, and valina |
