Fun and festivities in French Polynesia - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

French Polynesia celebrates Christmas on the night of December 24-25th along with the entire Catholic world, and this date falls on the hottest and rainy season. A large Christmas market is opened in the capital, where you can buy presents and festive food. Many stores sell artificial Christmas trees. The residents of the island can be seen happily decorating their homes. Families gather at richly laid tables, in which you can see traditional European dishes like turkey, and food cooked in an underground furnace. At midnight, Catholics attend services in churches, and children wait for gifts from Santa Claus, who travel by canoe and enter houses through the windows that have been left open.

On New Year’s Eve, on the islands like in many other countries, fireworks are launched, as if tropical flowers were blooming in the sky. Earthly flowers adorn the hair and clothes of singers and dancers. In February, the Chinese New Year is celebrated. This is not a public holiday, but it is celebrated with great pleasure not only by the Polynesian Chinese, but also by all the other inhabitants of French Polynesia. In the cities there are great parades, live music, songs and dance performances. There is also the serving of traditional Chinese dishes.

Missionary Day in French Polynesia is celebrated on the 5th of March. This date marks the arrival of English Protestants on the islands in the year 1797. This is a public holiday, so most of the Polynesians get a day off. Services are held in Protestant churches, concerts are held in public places, and wreaths are laid at the tomb of the first Christian king, Pomare II. According to legends, the Polynesian pagan priests predicted the arrival of a new religion, so most of the local people voluntarily adopted Christianity, although this was accompanied by separate uprisings. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Easter is one of the favorite holidays of the Polynesians. As in the United States and many European countries, eggs are painted and exchanged on the islands. Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st. In some places of the country, workers’ parades are held, and the whole of French Polynesia honors the contribution of ordinary citizens of all nationalities to the prosperity of the country. May 8th, is when the islanders celebrate European Victory Day. On this date, another public holiday, which is also a nationwide holiday, is observed. It is celebrated as a remembrance to those who died in World War II, while also rejoicing over the victory that was not easily obtained.

The dates of the May and June Ascension, Pentecost and Spirit Day celebrations may vary. Polynesian Catholics and Protestants actively attend churches and temples and pray at home, glorifying the Holy Trinity, noting the ascension of Christ to heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. On these days, sermons and liturgies are held. On the 29th day of June, the Day of autonomy is marked. In 1880, King Pomare V transferred the rights to rule the islands to France. Officially, autonomy was obtained on the 8th of September, and on this day a festival is held annually. There is in connection with the date in the government, and politicians who advocate full independence from France propose that June 29th be considered as a day of mourning.

The first week of July in Tahiti is full of music and colors. On these days, begins the Heiva festival, which lasts for almost a month. Polynesians from all over the country invariably come here. On some islands, festivals are also organized, but in smaller scale. Locals dress in traditional costumes, adorn themselves with flowers and celebrate their culture and life on the beautiful islands. Many hundreds of musicians, singers, dancers and artists compete with each other in workmanship. Fire shows are held, and all interested people can walk on red-hot stones. Bastille Day, or National Day, is celebrated on July 14th along with France.

All Saints Day is a public holiday marked on the first of November, when Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants honor their saints. Every four years on the Marquesas Islands is held an enchanting festival of art and culture. The festival falls on different dates, but it invariably celebrates the culture of the indigenous people. Guests from New Zealand and the Hawaiian Islands come here during this event. Every year, the Marquesas Islands receive about two thousand participants. The festival revives the ancient traditions of dance, singing, language, tattoos, woodcarving, among others things. This festival is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture.