Madagascar
"Fitiavana, Tanindrazana, Fandrosoana"
Holiday and festivals
- New Year's Day: The Malagasy people celebrate New Year’s Day along with the rest of the world from midnight on December 31 through January 1.
- Alahamadi Be: Is Madagascar’s traditional New Year’s Day, which takes place in March and lasts for two days. Crowds hit the street in celebration, homes are decorated in lights and friends and family visit to wish eachother well.
- Martyrs’ Day: Also held in March on the 29th, Martyrs’ Day commemorates the 1947 rebellion against French colonial rule which eventually led to Madagascar’s independence after thousands of lives had been lost.
Feria Oramena: The carnival atmosphere of Feria Oramena held in June focuses on Madagascar’s favorite seafood, lobsters.
Top 10 places to visit
- Ranomafana National Park
- Masoala National Park
- Andasibe-Mantadia
- Royal Hill of Ambohimanga
- Ifaty
- Avenue of the Baobabs
- Nosy Be
- Tsingy de Bemaraha
- Isalo National Park
- Ile Sainte Marie
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS:
Nosy Be
The small island of Nosy Be is one of Madagascar’s premier tourist spots attracting thousands of tourists from across the globe year round.
Tsingy de Bemaraha
The Tsingy de Bemaraha Reserve líes in the southern region of Madagascar’s largest natural reserve, Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve.
Isalo National Park
The Isalo National Park is notable for is varied terrain. Located in the central southern region of Madagascar, the park includes areas of grassland, steep canyons and sandstone formations, all dotted by occasional pools lined by palm trees.
Language & Currency: The local money is the Ariary. Official languages are Malagasy and French.
DID YOU KNOW?
- Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, approximately 226,656 square miles (587,040 square kilometers). The only larger islands are Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo. The Capital and largest city is Antananarivo.
Culture of Madagascar
The culture of Madagascar reflects the origins of the Malagasy people in Southeast Asia and East Africa. The influence of Arabs, Indians, British, French and Chinese settlers is also evident. Theater and dance are strong traditions on the island. A traditional form of theater emerged in the form of the hiragasy, a day-long spectacle of music, song, dance and oration performed by a troupe (typically related by blood or marriage and of rural origin) or as a competition between two troupes.