KILISIMASI FIEFIA

KINGDOM OF TONGA

Interesting Facts

• The holiday season starts on November 4 which is Tonga's national holiday and ends January 1.
• Christmas Day in Tonga is a singing and dancing celebration. All the villages would have a singing competition and friends and family would get together and exchange food with each other to show their unity and love for one another.
• In December its the summer season and sightings of large humpback whales are often seen because of the warm climate.

Tongan Traditions

• Gift giving in Tonga is a little different; woman usually prepare tapa cloths or mats called ngatu and give it to their brothers and then the brothers would prepare a tokonaki or raw food like meats to give to their sisters.
• A fun activity during Christmas time for the kids and adults too is called fana pitu. Fana pitu is translated as the shooting bamboo.

Decorations

• Any tree will work for a Christmas tree such as an olive tree or palm tree.
• The trees are mostly decorated with balloons and candy and paper chains.
• A tradition is where coconut husks are lined along the beach and are lit with fire. This is their version of Christmas lights. This is called the Tutukupakanava.

Food

• Christmas food in Tonga is Roasted pig, ufi, sweet potato (kumala), taro, taro leaves, corned beef, coconut milk, and all sorts of fish and seafood.
• The food is cooked in an underground BBQ pit called umu.

Ofa te mou mau ha kilisimasi fiefia!