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Politics and Royalty
Culture
Arts and Crafts
Rites of Passage

Politics and Royalty

	Royal Family of the Kingdom of Tonga The present monarch, King George V was sworn in as King on 11 September 2006, which also made him the 23rd Tu’i Kanokupolu. His Majesty King George Tupou V ‘s, full name is Siaosi Taufa’ahau Manumataongo Tuku’aho and was born 4 May 1948. Learn more about the Kingdom of Tonga’s royal family here.
	Tongan Coat of Arms The Coat of Arms includes the Three Stars, Crown, Dove and Chestnut Tree Leaves. Learn more about the Kingdom of Tonga’s Coat of Arms here.
	Tonga’s Flag The Kingdom of Tonga’s flag is red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner. Learn more about the meaning and history behind the Kingdom of Tonga’s flag here.

Culture

	Tongan Values Tongans are guided by four core values. Learn more here.
	Tongan Dancing – “Masterpiece of Humanity” The Kingdom of Tonga has a number of traditional dances, including Lakalaka, Me’etu’upaki, ‘Otuhaka, Ma’ulu’ulu, Ula, Tau’olunga, Kailao and Soke. The Lakalaka is on the UN World Heritage list, alongside the great monuments of mankind such as the Acropolis in Athens, the Pyramids in Egypt and the Statue of Liberty in New York. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed, in 2003, the Lakalaka to be a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” or for short a “Masterpiece of Humanity”. Learn more about the Lakalaka and our other dances here.
	Religion in the Kingdom of Tonga Sunday in the Kingdom of Tonga is devoted to church going and relaxation. The harmonized singing, clanging of church bells and the beat of the “lali” (wooden drums) are all familiar sounds of a Tongan Sunday. Learn more about Religion in the Kingdom of Tonga here.
	Tongan Food and Feasting Feasting plays a major role in the Tongan lifestyle. Tongan feasts contain a variety of dishes and are known throughout the Pacific to be massive in size. Learn more about Tongan food and feasting here.
	Tongan Language Whilst English is widely spoken in the Kingdom of Tonga (as it is the official language), we thought you might like to learn some Tongan too. Learn more about Tongan language here.
	Kava Drinking kava is an ancient custom in the Kingdom of Tonga, as well as in many other Pacific island countries. Learn more about kava here.
	Family Structure The ‘Family’ is the central unit of Tongan life. Each family member plays a role with older persons commanding the most respect. A typical family unit may consist of adopted children, cousins and other distant relatives, alongside the usual smattering of siblings and grandparents. Learn more about the Tongan family structure here.
	Tin Can Mail It was in 1882 that trader William Travers working on Niuafo’ou for the firm of Osternman Dervy & Company in Sydney, Australia, arranged with the Tongan Postal Officials for the use of kerosene cans or biscuit tins as a form of water-proof mail containers. More >>

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Arts and crafts

The ancient Polynesian Kingdom of Tonga is well known for its handicrafts, of which the most prominent are tapamaking and weaving.

Tongan women’s pride, skill, patience and beauty are all depicted by these two ancient crafts.

	Tapa Making and Painting Tapa is a traditional Tongan gift. To this day no Tongan is born, marries or dies without being presented with metres of tapa cloth (and/or mats). Tapa making is done by hand and, as a result, no two pieces are alike. Learn more about the tapa making and painting here.
	Mat Weaving Mat weaving, like tapa making, plays an essential part in the everyday life of the people. Women gather in small groups to help each other with the weaving and will often be found singing or talking to keep themselves from getting tired. Learn more about mat weaving here.

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Rites of Passage

	Tongan Weddings Weddings are of enormous cultural significant in the Kingdom of Tonga. A traditional Tongan wedding is a family event. Learn more about Tongan weddings here.
	Tongan Funerals Funerals are of enormous cultural significance in the Kingdom of Tonga. In contrast with the taboos regarding death in Western society, death in the Kingdom of Tonga follows a highly ritualized grieving process. Learn more about Tongan funerals here.

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