Colors of Moorea - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Moorea Island is extremely popular with honeymooners. This can be easily explained by the fact that the shape of this picturesque island resembles a heart. The resort regularly holds incredibly beautiful and upscale wedding ceremonies. Even though such ceremonies carry no legal weight whatsoever, they’re still performed on a daily basis. The newlyweds are even given a one-of-a-kind marriage certificate written on a sheet of a palm tree bark.

The cultural traditions of local residents are pretty outlandish and sophisticated, and are reflected in absolutely all areas of life. For instance, the islanders pay special attention to their wardrobe and never wear black clothes. Travelers should also respect this tradition and wear the most colorful and brightest clothes they have.

If you don’t have any suitable clothes, then you can always buy some at local markets. They offer a large choice of bright shirts, pareos, and swimwear that form a dazzling whirlpool of colors and their unique combinations. Necklaces are yet another distinguishing part of the local style, worn by both women and men. The traditional Taire necklace comes in several different shapes. Some are intended exclusively for festive ceremonies, while others are made in marvelously bright colors and are used for receiving guests. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Ever-smiling and sociable, local people are always happy to tell travelers from distant countries about their traditions. They prefer to communicate on first-name terms, even if they met the person a couple of minutes ago. Take it not as a token of disrespect, but rather as one of the national characteristics of the indigenous population.

We can’t fail to mention local souvenirs, and especially wooden handicrafts, as well as amulets and jewelry woven from coconut fiber. Moorea is also famous for its gorgeous black pearl jewelry, one of the most important crafts on the island. For many indigenous people, selling souvenirs is a lifelong business and the only way to earn their living. All in all, travelers will be surprised by the variety and ingenuity of local handicrafts produced by the finest workmen.

Festivals held on the island are as colorful as islanders’ clothes. One of the most outstanding events on the island is Moorea Painapo Festival that is dedicated to pineapples and held in early September. The most large-scale events take place at Cook Inlet, in Temae, and in the village of Haapiti located in the south of the island. Pineapples are widely used on the island. During the festival, visitors can not only taste different dishes with pineapples and tropical cocktails, but also take part in interesting games and competitions that will especially stick in young tourists’ memory. Besides, themed tours are organized here. During the festival, you can listen to music and enjoy dance performances.

The fans of spectacular regattas will like the Tahiti Moorea Sailing RDV held in mid-June. Its distance is 24 km. The starting point is picturesque Cook Inlet on Moorea Island. It is the embankment of the capital of French Polynesia, Papeete. At this time, you can learn about local culture by watching the locals’ dance performances that mark the final of the regatta. Also, you can take a themed tour during the festival. Due to this, you can learn more about the island. There is no better time for water sports, for example, diving or surfing.

The other interesting festival is organized specifically for tourists who want to see all the sights of the island. It is the Circle Island Ride by Truck held in early November. The visitors have a unique opportunity to take a tourist bus and see the landmarks of the island to ukulele music. The sights here are priceless, so it is not for nothing that the island is called paradise. Remarkably, it is the most picturesque festival on the island. By visiting it, you can learn about the local culture.

Businessmen can be interested in the Indo-Pacific Fish Conference held in early October. Everyone will like doing business in a real paradise. The conference represents the island as a cost-effective business partner. The island is the largest supplier of pineapples in French Polynesia at least. Those who want to improve their health can take part in the running contest held in late March in the north of the city. There are two marathons: the two with a 4-km distance for novices, the 21-km one for experienced runners, and the 42-km track for professionals. The competition is named “Tahiti-Moorea Marathon”.