Modesty is valued very much in Tonga, most females do not wear short shirts or low cut tops. What we usually consider 'swimming attire' is deemed inappropriate. Women usually wear T-shirts and shirts while men wear T-shirts and longer shorts or pants to swim in. While it is ok for tourists to wear swimming attire to the beach, it is frowned upon by the public of Tonga. It is required by law that all male older than 16 wear shirts in public. Pants have been traditionally considered inappropriate for women, but it is becoming more and more common among the young women. Longer hair styles are considered inappropriate for men.
Traditional Tongan style clothes for men include a piece of clothing called tupenu (a calf length piece of material wrapped around the waist of a man) underneath a ta'ovala (a piece of very fine material, made from the leaves of a pandanus tree, it is also wrapped around the waist and tied with a coconut-fiber rope). Shirts with open necks are worn as a sign of respect. It is more common today to see more of the clothes that we wear in America, including; ties, suit jackets, and pants. The tupenu and the ta'ovala are required (along with a tie) for formal occasions such as meeting with and associating with royalty.
Women's traditionally wore a kiekie over a tupenu. The kiekie is similar to the ta'ovala, made from pandanus leaves woven into different designs that hang as strips from the waist. It is more common today for the women to wear dresses, although sometimes the kiekie is sometimes wore over tupenu, skirts, or a dress. Women usually wear a ta'ovala at weddings, funerals and other special occasions.
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Traditional Tongan style clothes for men include a piece of clothing called tupenu (a calf length piece of material wrapped around the waist of a man) underneath a ta'ovala (a piece of very fine material, made from the leaves of a pandanus tree, it is also wrapped around the waist and tied with a coconut-fiber rope). Shirts with open necks are worn as a sign of respect. It is more common today to see more of the clothes that we wear in America, including; ties, suit jackets, and pants. The tupenu and the ta'ovala are required (along with a tie) for formal occasions such as meeting with and associating with royalty.
Women's traditionally wore a kiekie over a tupenu. The kiekie is similar to the ta'ovala, made from pandanus leaves woven into different designs that hang as strips from the waist. It is more common today for the women to wear dresses, although sometimes the kiekie is sometimes wore over tupenu, skirts, or a dress. Women usually wear a ta'ovala at weddings, funerals and other special occasions.
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pioneer.uen.org
onlineculturegrams.com
onlineculturegrams.com
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ldschurchtemples.com
english.china.com
flickr.com
onlineculturegrams.com
kristiina.kaapeli.fi
I really love your cultures. For me i love the female kiekie, it looks stunning on ladies waist. About modesty you've mention, Im happy that your country promote modesty but for us its dying out due to western influences. People are more into media which they tries to copy what they do rathers than keeping our heredity. Our culture is gradually dying out this days but Im so happy to see yours are well kept everywhere. I admire lot of Tongans here. Thank you
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