The inhabitants of Sainte-Marie Island are proud of their history and traditions. Many of them have Malagasy, Asian or African origins or are descendants of pirates, for example.
Due to their history, the inhabitants of Sainte-Marie Island have inherited the culture of welcoming foreigners.
Among the major traditions on Sainte-Marie Island are the worship of ancestors, fights and sacrifices of zebus. Here, life is guided by the ancestors’ spirits. This is the reason why there are sacred and prohibited (« fady » in Malagasy) places on the island, which we will ask you to respect.
