CUSTOMS AND MANNERS: Colombia and Madagascar

 

    The customs and manners are important when comparing similarities and differences between Madagascar and Colombia. Firstly, I will investigate the two cultures to know their differences and similarities in things they tend to do in their daily life. In the second thing, I will talk about few differences like courtesy things and respect. Moreover, this essay will be focus on the similarities they have because the differences are less than similar things they do in each country. In addition, the reason why they are so kind to other people in both countries. That is why while some differences between manners and customs in Colombia and Madagascar are evident, the similarities are clear.

              

The differences between Colombia and Madagascar are courtesy things and respect. First, is not usual to do funerals on a Thursday in Malagasy belief because is considered unpolite and in Colombia the funerals can be any day. Besides, if you point with the index finger in Colombia is blunt but in Malagasy belief is common to point with the index finger and keep it bent, pointing towards oneself. In addition, picking up your spoon after an elder, respecting one’s elders is a Malagasy custom that is still strictly upheld, especially in the rural areas, once they have started eating, the rest of the family can start eating too, in Colombia is different because not in all families is a custom picking up your spoon but after they are not ready to eat. In conclusion, in Madagascar people tend to be kinder and more courteous with other people, especially with older adults.

The lunch is similar between these countries. In the first place, the national grain in Madagascar is rice, and almost all meals are accompanied with a bowl of sakay, or a spice mixture for seasoning, which includes peppers, ginger, and garlic. Colombian people, also eat rice all the time, so a lot of meals have it. On the other hand, most meals have vegetables and fruits, therefore this country has variety of this products because is tropical island, Colombia is not an island but has a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. In the third place, in both countries people prefer to eat with family. Besides, enjoy, have a good time and talk about anything.  In conclusion, the similarities between these countries when it comes to eating is notable both in some foods and in eating with family.

    Kindness and a few words in both countries are a common factor. To begin with, in both countries tend to respectfully name people of authority or older people with these words, “Sir” or “Ma’am” and in Colombia is the same but in Spanish “Señor” or “Señora”. For another thing, these countries have an expression that expresses calm, in Madagascar is “mora-mora” and in Colombia is common to say “cógela suave”. In the third place, in these countries is very important to receive blessings from older family members. In Madagascar tend to say “Ny tso-drano zava-mahery”, which literally means “blessings are powerful”. In Colombia mothers and grandmothers do that with their children and grandchildren followed by. “Qué Dios lo bendiga”. In conclusion, both countries have similar expressions in different life situations.

 

    In conclusion, is very common that people tend to say that Madagascar and Colombia are very different and have no similarities, but these countries have many things in common. The culture is a fundamental part of manners and customs because all depend to lifestyle of people in each place, for example, in Madagascar is not usually to do funerals on Thursday because is considered unpolite, and the opposite happens in Colombia because the funerals can be any day. Despite this difference, these countries have many similarities, both in friendliness with people and in dinner because in these two places they tend to eat rice with every meal, it can be with vegetables or meat.