I have just
celebrated my third birthday in Madagascar,
and though this one was spent amongst other volunteers it reminded me of
celebrations in the past.
Like
everywhere, celebrations are big here in Madagascar,
but they are not celebrated entirely the same.
Take birthdays for example.
Had I
had this last birthday with my Malagasy friends in Vondrozo it would be
expected that I buy all the drinks and snacks for the party, where in the United
States you would expect that, though you may
provide a lot for the party, those in attendance would also provide things
(namely drinks).
 |
Graduation Party |
Here is another example. When I was leaving Vondrozo to start my new
job with Peace Corps in Diego my school wanted to throw me a going away party
to thank me for my service. Throwing me
a party meant that I had to find a venue (a classroom at my school; easy), find
someone to play music as background noise and later dancing (my laptop,
speakers, and a friend; done), and provide all the drinks and snacks (at a
fairly hefty price).
 |
My going away party at my High School |
That is not to say that all
celebrations are not, at least in some part, compensated for by the
guests.
In most cultural celebrations
the guests bring small gifts in the form of money in an envelope to give to the
person/family throwing the party.
This
gift is a form of congratulations to the person who is having the
celebration.
In the Southeast the
biggest celebration is the circumcision (you can read about the first one I
attended at my site
here
or about the biggest celebration, Sambatra,
here).
During this celebration the family of the boy
provide all of the food, drinks, and entertainment for the party but those who
attend usually arrive with a small gift of money.
 |
Circumcision Party in Vondrozo |
 |
Sambatra in Mananjary |
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