Culture of Mauritius
is a multi-ethnic, multilingual and plural society with a population composed mainly of four major ethnic and religious groups. It is often depicted as a "rainbow nation".
The island of Mauritius did not have any indigenous population and has been characterized by successive waves of European colonization and multiple immigrations. Under French rule between 1715 and 1810, slaves were imported on the island from mainland Africa and Madagascar.
Indian migrants from Pondicherry first arrived on the island in 1736. Later, massive immigration from the Bhojpuri-speaking regions of India took place following the abolition of slavery in 1835 by the British Empire. After an early influx of Chinese migrants into Mauritius, mostly from Fujian, Cantonese and Hakka migrants from Southern China settled on the island, first as indentured labourers and later as free merchants. Hakka Sino-Mauritians eventually became the dominant group within the community.
The co-existence of Mauritians of Indian, African, European, and Chinese ancestry eventually led to a sharing of values and cultures, a collective participation in festivals and an increased understanding between people of different ethnic backgrounds. Mauritians from different cultural backgrounds are very distinct from each other, and it is also highly unpopular to encourage the dissolution of cultural boundaries in Mauritius. Mauritian high culture is French and Indian dominated.
Religions
The Constitution of Mauritius prohibits discrimination based on creed and provides for the right of individuals to change, manifest, and propagate their religious beliefs. The government of Mauritius recognizes 6 groups as religions: Hindus, Roman Catholics, Muslims, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Seventh-day Adventists; other religious groups must register as associations.The people of Indian descent follow mostly Hinduism and Islam. The Franco-Mauritians, Creoles and Sino-Mauritians follow Christianity. Hinduism is the major religion, followed by Christianity, followed by Islam and some form of Chinese-related religions; a very small number of people follow Buddhism.
A majority of Sino-Mauritians identify as Catholic Christians. However, Sino-Mauritians also follow some form of Chinese-related religions. A minority of Sino-Mauritians follow Buddhism; they also follow Confucianism. Guan Di is an important deity for Sino-Mauritians, especially for those working in the business field. In Chinese pagodas, altars can also be found for Guan Yin, the Goddess Mazu, the God Choy Sun. Pagodas also shelter ancestral cult altars and ancestral tablets. Following Chinese tradition, religious services are typically conducted one week after death at the pagoda and the ancestral tablet of the deceased with his name written in Chinese characters is deposited behind the altar. On Chinese New Year, descendants of the deceased can practice the ancestral rites before the ancestral tablets as a sign of respect.
Public holidays and festivals
Celebrated festivals with public holidays
Public holidays on the same dates| Name of holiday | Description | Date | Type of calendar |
| New Year's Day | Celebration to welcome the new year, celebrated by Mauritians of all origins. Some Mauritians keep vigils on New Year's Eve and set off fireworks. | 1-2 January | Follows Gregorian calendar |
| Abolition of Slavery Day | Commemoration of the end of slavery in Mauritius in 1835. | 1 February | Follows Gregorian calendar |
| National Day | Celebration of Mauritius' independence from Britain in 1968. | 12 March | Follows Gregorian calendar |
| Labour Day | Observed in solidarity with other workers worldwide | 1 May | Follows Gregorian calendar |
| Arrival of Indian indentured labourers Day | Commemoration of the indenture labourers' contribution to the heritage and development of Mauritius. | 2 November | Follows Gregorian calendar |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Follows Gregorian calendar |
Public holidays with different dates
The festivals listed below are not celebrated on the same date every year. Therefore, only the months when they are likely to be celebrated is given.
| Name of holiday | Month of the year based on Gregorian calendar | Ethnic/religious groups | Description |
| Chinese Spring Festival | January or February, dependent on the Chinese calendar | Chinese Festival of Sino-Mauritians and Overseas Chinese living in Mauritius | The Spring Festival, which is the Chinese New Year, is celebrated in January/February, depending on the adjustment of lunar days. Red, the symbol of happiness, is the dominant colour. Food is piled up to ensure abundance during the year and the traditional wax cake is distributed to relatives and friends. Firecrackers are lit to ward off evil spirits. |
| Thaipoosam Cavadee | January or February, dependent on the Tamil calendar | Hindu festival of Tamil Mauritians | Cavadee is celebrated in honour of Hindu deity Lord Murugan during January/February, more precisely by the Tamil community in Mauritius. Along with the fire-walking and sword-climbing ceremonies, Cavadee is among the most spectacular Tamil events. The body pierced with needles and the tongue and cheeks with skewers, the devotee, trance-like and in penance, walks in procession to the temple bearing the "Cavadee", a wooden arch covered with flowers with a pot of milk at each end of its base which he or she places before the deity. |
| Maha Shivratree | Between February and March | Hindu Festival of mainly Bihari Mauritians and other Hindu communities as well | Maha Shivaratree is celebrated in honour of Hindu deity Lord Shiva during Falgun month. Hindu devotees, clad in spotless white, carry the "Kanwar" - wooden arches covered with flowers – set foot for the pilgrimage to Ganga Talao, to fetch the Ganga Jal from the lake. The whole scene is reminiscent of the great rituals on the banks of the Holy Ganges in India. |
| Ugadi/Gudi Padwa | March | Hindu Festival of Telugu community and Marathi community in Mauritius | Ugadi/Gudi Padwa is the Hindu New Year for Telugus and Marathis respectively. |
| Assumption Day | 15 August | Christian Festival | During odd years, and Assumption Day in even years. The decision to alternate between the two dates was a government decision to avoid increasing the number of unworked days after Abolition of Slavery and Arrival of Indian indentured labourers were declared public holidays in the early 2000s. |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Between August and September | Hindu Festival of Marathi community in Mauritius | Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated by the Marathi-speaking community in Mauritius on the 4th day of the lunar month of the Hindu calendar. It marks the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu deity of wisdom and remover of all obstacles according to Hindu mythology. |
| Divali | Between October and November | Hindu Festival | Divali is the most jovial of all Hindu festivals. Celebrated in October/November it marks the victory of righteousness over evil in the Hindu mythology. Traditionally, clay oil lamps were placed in front of every home turning the island into a fairyland of flickering lights; these have now been replaced mostly by decorative electric lights. |
| All Saints' Day | 1 November | Christian Festival | During odd years, and All Saints' Day in even years. The decision to alternate between the two dates was a government decision to avoid increasing the number of unworked days after Abolition of Slavery and Arrival of Indian indentured labourers were declared public holidays in the early 2000s. |
| Eid Ul-Fitr** | Any time of year because Islam is based on a lunar calendar | Muslim Festival | The exact date of this festival is subject to confirmation as its celebration depends on the visibility of the moon. Eid-Ul-Fitr** is celebrated to mark the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. It is a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing for Muslims. Special prayers are offered at mosques during that morning. |
Major events without public holidays
Clothing of Mauritius
Fashion in Mauritius is also influenced by formality-related rules, personal preference, differences between urban and rural lifestyles, and the diverse origins of the Mauritian population, including ethno-religious identity. Mauritians of all backgrounds wear bright colours, especially Mauritian women. Flip-flops, which are suitable for the Mauritian climate, are worn by all Mauritians regardless of their cultural background.Beachwear and tight or revealing clothing is acceptable in many resorts but not considered appropriate in towns and villages. Both Western-style clothing and traditional ethnic clothing are worn in Mauritius.
Cuisine
The cuisine of Mauritius is a blend of African, French and other European cuisines, as well as Chinese, and Indian influences. It is common for a combination of cuisines to form part of the same meal.Beef and pork are not commonly found in restaurants given dietary restrictions of Hindus and Muslims.
Mauritius has had strong ties with French culture throughout its history and was left with a very French "savoir vivre". Even today, the popularity of French dishes like the bouillon, tuna salad, daube, civet de lièvre or coq au vin served with good wine show the prevalence of French culture in Mauritius. As the years passed by, some have been adapted to the more exotic ingredients of the island to confer some unique flavour.
During the 19th century, after the abolition of slavery, Indian workers who migrated to Mauritius brought their cuisine with them. Those indentured labourers came from different parts of India, each with their own culinary tradition, depending on the region. Traces of both northern and southern Indian cuisine can be found in Mauritius. Some common preparations are curry, chutney, rougaille poisson sale and pickles, most of which use local ingredients. The Mauritian versions of those dishes have a local flavour and differ, at times considerably, from the original Indian recipes.
The end of the 19th century saw the arrival of Chinese migrants, who came mostly from the south-eastern part of China. They are largely credited with making rice, the staple diet of the island, and making noodles, both steamed and fried, popular. Chinese appetizers such as taken, crispy chicken and crispy squid have become part of the Mauritian folklore. Furthermore, Chinese and other Asian restaurants are present all around the island, and offer a variety of chicken, squid, mutton and fish dishes, most typically prepared in black bean sauce or oyster sauce. Mauritian families often consider dinner at an Asian restaurant a treat.
Along the years, each of the country's communities has adapted and mixed each other's cuisine to their liking.
The production of rum is common throughout the island. Sugar cane was first introduced on the island when the Dutch colonised it in 1638. Even then, the propensity of making rum out of sugar cane was strongly recognised. Sugar cane was mainly cultivated for the production of "arrack", a precursor to rum. Only much later, after almost 60 years, was the first proper sugar produced.
However, it was during the French and English administration that sugar production was fully exploited, which considerably contributed to the economic development of the island. It was Pierre Charles François Harel who in 1850 initially proposed the concept of a local distillation of rum in Mauritius. In part due to his efforts, Mauritius today houses three distilleries and is in the process of opening an additional three.
While not as famed as its Caribbean counterparts from Cuba, Jamaica or Barbados, Mauritian rum is slowly gaining exposure on the international stage and is considered by local stakeholders as an area of potential growth.