Holidays & Observances in Tonga

Tonga is an island country in the Pacific Ocean. It is a former British protectorate, and much of its culture comes from that relationship including the popularity of Christianity, which is practiced by a large majority of the people and plays a part in the everyday life of Tongans. For instance, most businesses in Tonga do not open at all on Sundays. There are also parts of the indigenous Tongan culture that persevered through European occupation including the monarchy which is still in place today. Due to Tonga’s location very near the international Dateline, it is the first country to greet each day and therefore the first country to greet the New Year. Because of this, New Years is one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in the country.