Mauritian Traditions and Customs
This is my favourite of the Mauritian Traditions and Customs, to make the most of the beach, even if it’s too late to catch some rays, Mauritians like to partake in a sundowner, a tradition which we feel will fill your evenings in Mauritius. A Sundowner is the name given to a drink, usually a local cocktail, taken at sunset.
Cavadee festival is celebrated in January or February. Bodies are pierced with needles, tongues and cheeks with pins, devotees in a trance carry the ‘Cavadee’ on their shoulders as a penitence. The ‘Cavadee’ is a wooden arch, covered with flowers and with a pot of milk at each end.
An event peculiar to Mauritius is the annual pilgrimage of Pere Laval, the French social reformer. Every September 9th, Mauritians of all faiths walk or drive towards the tomb of the Blessed Jacques Désiré Laval, the Apostle of the Black People at St.Croix, Port Louis. The belief in Père Laval, to whom powers of healing are attributed is reminiscent of the Lourdes Pilgrimage in France.
Every Mauritian is brought up with the Sega dance. Rhythmic, lively music, colourful Creole lyrics, the Sega is seen and lived as the dance expressing freedom and ‘ joie de vivre’. Sega is the national dance heard everywhere on beaches, in shops, in hotels and on each and every occasion for entertainment.
Traditional clothes are saris and churidaars. Most people wear them on special occasions and some wear them daily
The majority of the Mauritians are incredibly polite. Proper greeting is the norm. Practice your Bonjours and Bonsoirs. Mauritian children are brought up to greet everyone they are introduced to with a kiss on each cheek, French style. Between adults and men, a handshake is fine.
In Mauritius there is a strong emphasis on family solidarity, it is common to find extended families with aunts, uncles, and other relatives living together. There is great respect for the elderly, it is the duty of their children to take care of them.
Games hold a particular place in Mauritian society and have been adopted by the younger generation. It will be very hard to find a single family in Mauritius with no cards, dominoes or carrom board in their house. (Carrom is a “strike and pocket” table game, similar to table shuffleboard). It’s very common to play games in Mauritius on Sunday afternoons.