August 27, 2018

In Madagascar, family is sacred, as it is in all countries. It is a support system that allows us to flourish. However, the Malagasy family differs from others in its size and the relationships between its members. It is truly fascinating to gain insight into how families are connected in Madagascar before visiting. This understanding will allow you to comprehend much of what you encounter.

An Extended Family

Even the concept of a family united by blood is quite different in Madagascar. In most countries, family comprises grandparents, their children, and grandchildren. But Malagasy people have generous hearts, and their families are expansive. All descendants of the same lineage form a family—including siblings and even cousins of grandparents. Beyond blood relations, Malagasy people also consider as family members those who come from the same village or share a common tomb. These people share the same cultures and values. They are welcomed as such during ceremonies or simple visits. The Malagasy are remarkably warm when it comes to welcoming guests.

What distinguishes the Malagasy family, beyond its size, is that members know one another—nearly all of them. This happens through traditional ceremonies such as the vodiondry (traditional Malagasy wedding), famadihana (turning of the bones or exhumation), circumcision, and more. This expansiveness becomes most apparent during family mourning. However, these bonds extend far beyond celebrations and sorrows; they are reflected in daily life. The extended family supports one another in every circumstance. For example, an aunt or uncle living in the city will host a niece or nephew pursuing studies there. Malagasy people also enjoy spending vacations with their grandmother or aunt, whether they are second or third cousins.

There is nothing to hide from family, as it exists to care for one another. This mentality reinforces the fihavanana spirit among the Malagasy. The Malagasy are highly conservative, which explains the existence of "lova tsy mifindra" (inheritance that does not transfer)—a practice from a certain period where a cousin marries their cousin. Through this, the family grows while preserving its material heritage within the family itself.

Family Education

Children are raised in close proximity to their family. Mothers struggle to leave their little ones and let them go. It is not uncommon to see young people in their 30s or 35s still living with their parents if they remain unmarried. Often, when parents are separated, widowed, or retired, they return to live with their children. These are normal practices, but entirely different from certain countries, such as France, for example.

Culture and Tradition Society Tourism

Charlène Nomadays

SEO writer from the very beginning at Nomadays, Charlène evolved into content manager and head of the communications department, accompanying the adventure from its inception with passion and loyalty. After spending seven years in Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.