The people of Tonga originally came from Fiji and are believed to have moved to the islands in 1500 BC. You’ll hear the Western Polynesian language while in Tonga, but English is also widely used and is often what is used in schools. In 1875, the king of Tonga declared the country a constitutional monarchy and put together Tonga’s first constitution. Today, Tonga is the last Polynesian monarchy.
The culture of Tonga straddles both the traditional Tongan way and the western way. Some traditional customs include cooking in earth ovens, performances of Tongan songs and dances, and a focus on fishing and farming the tropical vegetation and blue lagoons that make up the area of Tonga. In addition, there is a Tongan law that dictates a person must wear a shirt in public. It is even custom to wear shorts and a t-shirt when swimming at public beaches. In general, the people of Tonga dress conservatively, and it is advised for visitors to do the same.
If visiting on the weekends, be aware that most businesses close by 1pm on Saturday and don’t open at all on Sunday.
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