Faritanin' Antananarivo Local Customs

  Plastic palanquin for the French...
by Norali
 
  • Plastic palanquin for the French officials
      Plastic palanquin for the French...
    by Norali
  • Zebu horn is the main material for these !
      Zebu horn is the main material for these...
    by Norali
  • Handmade Embroidery on tablecloth...
      Handmade Embroidery on tablecloth...
    by Norali
  • On little girl dresses
      On little girl dresses
    by Norali
  • We're skilled in handicraft, aren't we ?
      We're skilled in handicraft, aren't we ?
    by Norali
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Religion- Belief system

by Norali

Although I've never been aware of this, not all Malagasy are Christians. It took me a stay in Brussels to have met a Muslim Malagasy woman for the first time (beside the Pakistani & Comoro communities, that is). The Moslem community accounts for 4% of Madagascar population. What surprised me lately was that the Christians don't even make up for half of the whole population. I used to think we were all Christians since my Malagasy acquaintances were all Christians. Wrong! Only about 40% of Madagascar's population are Christians. The remaining still maintain our traditional belief system. It is based on the ancestor worship & the belief in Zanahary = Creator. One has to say that the traditional Malagasy belief system does have a stronghold even on us Christians. Being Christian is not uncompatible with Famadihana (turning of the bones) for instance, neither with geomancy. We use to ask an...

Tip Photo
Vokatra... auctions for charity or churches

by Norali

Vokatra means "result" or "harvest" or "output", depending on the context. Vokatra I refer to in this tip are the auctions made to collect money (fund raising) for the parishes. They use to take place in countryside churches.You have to understand that most of families in urban Tana have their roots in Tana surroundings (countryside). Malagasy people are fervent believers. They use to return once a month (if not each week-end) to the village where they originate from. One sunday to attend the mass and pay visit to relatives. In Tana, I live in Malaza, a countryside North of the center, where my dad's family comes from. Most of my uncles and aunts live in urban area for convenience. But on week-ends, at least, on Sundays, they use to pay us a visit, bring food and we spend Sundays together, sharing food and chat. Listening to music. So do many families.Easter is the time for countryside...

Tip Photo
Famadihana in Merina region

by Norali

Hmmm... You are entering here in one of our mysterious local customs, that most of time, only Malagasy people understand.Textually, "Famadihana" means "Returning" (the dead corpse, in this case). This custom is a rite of the two tribes of central highlands: the Merina (from Tana province) and Betsileo (from Fianarantsoa) people. The tip and below travelogue rather deal with the Merina famadihana. I don't know whether it differs from the Betsileo rite or not. To be sure, I'd better stick to what I know. So far, this is released with my current knowledge of the rite, not documented. The text in the travelogue is mine, with the facts from the Famadihana preparations we had in our family in 1995 and pictures of a Famadihana in a peasant family (another family) in Merina region.Click here to know more.I hope the travelogue will grow with the time.

Tip Photo
Local traditions and culture in Faritanin' Antananarivo

Top 3 Hotels in Faritanin' Antananarivo

Hotel Carlton  Antananarivo

 32 Opinions

 Hotels in Antananarivo

Residence Lapasoa  Antananarivo

 1 Review and 11 Opinions  Résidence Lapasoa Isoraka BP 3650 Antananarivo Tél :22 611 40. 180.000 FMG Beautiful colonial... 

 Hotels in Antananarivo

Hotel Tamboho  Antananarivo

 24 Opinions

 Hotels in Antananarivo

18 Hotels in Faritanin' Antananarivo
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Faritanin' Antananarivo attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Faritanin' Antananarivo sightseeing.

Experience Faritanin' Antananarivo
Local Customs: Cities in Faritanin' Antananarivo
  1. Antananarivo Local Customs
  2. Antsirabe Local Customs
  3. Ambohimanga Local Customs
  4. Anosy Avaratra Local Customs
  5. Malaza Local Customs

More Cities in Faritanin' Antananarivo

 

Questions and Answers

lillyia profile photo

Q:  Hello, We have holiday planned for October and just discovered we are expecting a baby. Any advise? What is the malaria... 

GrumpyDiver profile photo

A: Same answers as you got last time. Get advice from a knowledgable doctor. If your own doctor is not comfortable in dealing with the issue, get a referral to a doctor... 

Read 7 Replies

postQuestion_button