Traditional New Year celebrated in Madagascar -- Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 -- English Window to China New

Andriampeno Ravo, president of an association of kings, said the main programs of the ceremony are include a fire not extinguished, royal bath, sprinkling water, eating New Year breakfast and sharing rice years.

The ceremony began on Thursday by a ritual named "Afo tsy maty, " which means non extinguished fire. Then in a poor light, local population had dancing with the animation of traditional musicians during the Malagasy New Year's Eve.

"The not extinguished fire is aimed at keeping every one alive on the first day of the year," professor Andriambololona Nivo, president of Ambohidrabiby natives, told Xinhua in an interview.

On the first day of the New Year, a royal bath ritual takes place at the royal water fountain. It is a sunrise ritual. This year, it should be held at 5:48 a.m. local time (0248 GMT), according to Ny Andriana Ratsihoarison Mamiarinjara, who is the Ombimanga -- representative of the four dynasties over the Indian Ocean island country. But the place was damaged by the cyclone Giovana, which hit the country in February.

The ceremony continued to the sprinkling water to the gathering by the priest, who recited a prayer, "May God Creator bless you to be always in health, to live in abundance, and to be alive for long time."

Before another step consisting of the New Year breakfast, the gathering must wash their right hands. The New Year breakfast is rice mixed with milk and honey for the meaning of sweet.

The breakfast is eaten without plate or spoon, but Malagasy people use a banana leaf held by the left hands as a plate and his right hand as a spoon. Leaf is usually used to replace the plate and hands replace the spoon in such a traditional meal in Madagascar.

Following the breakfast is the sharing of rice ears, which means a "wish for a harvest next year," said professor Andriambololona Nivo. After this ritual, each family can do as it likes. They can kill chicken, pig or cattle for the celebration of the New Year.

Madagascar has its own traditional New year, but the official New year celebrated in the country is the first day of January. Many experts prefer to celebrate the traditional New Year. They think it is a important way to protect Malagasy cultural.

Professor Andriambololona Nivo said, "The Malagasy new year existed during the royal era, from 16th century to 1896. But French colonizers changed the Malagasy calendar by European calendar when they arrived in Madagascar in 1896. However, the royal descendent in Antananarivo has taken its place again in the celebration of the traditional Malagasy New Year since 15 years ago.

By Laperozy Eric
ANTANANARIVO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Madagascar celebrated its traditional New Year by a two-day ceremony which ended on Friday in a village of Ambohidrabiby, 25 km northeast of the capital Antananarivo.

Traditional New Year celebrated in Madagascar -- Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 -- English Window to China New