The country of Maldives was established in the middle of the Indian ocean and the country was influenced by many other cultures like the Indians, Malaysians, Persians, and even African Americans. This big cultural mix is what makes the richness of Maldives. The Maldivian culture is very prosperous and spirited because of the fact that they include many other elements of other cultures into theirs. The Maldives were very culturally influenced by many others and through that it had grown them to form their own individual culture through learning so much about everyone else’s.
The country offers incredible views of nature and has quite an interesting history as well.
History of the culture
The Maldives were formally first called the Maldive islands and were found by Buddhist seafarers from India and Sri Lanka in the 5th century B.C. In the beginning, the islands were originally under the suzerainty of Ceylon which is now Sri Lanka. In 1887 they had come with the protection of the British and they relied heavily on the colony Ceylon until around 1948.
On July 26th, 1965 an independence agreement was signed with Britain and then for many centuries the islands had made a republican government but then the sultanate was then restored in 1954. Then in 1968 because of a referendum a republic was established again in the now free and independent country. For the most part, the Maldives was an independent country except for the period of time with the Portuguese in the 16th century where they had sought help from them but, the Maldives was a strong and stable country.
![](https://paperap.com/wp-content/themes/theme/img-rh/star.svg")
4.7 (657)
“ Really polite, and a great writer! Task done as described and better, responded to all my questions promptly too! ”
The uniqueness of the culture
When you first step on the Islands of Maldives its the stillness and the utter peace and tranquility that the island gives you. The breathtaking views are like no other when it comes to the Maldives, people describing as though stepping into a postcard. Another interesting thing about this island is that it is very secluded and not very many people are around. When you go you are basically left on your own little paradise with no locals or food vendors anywhere to be seen or bother you. Even the nights, cannot compare to anywhere else where you can see every star than you could ever believe because of the islands remote and secluded location away from any light pollution, giving you a clear night sky and fresh air to take in.
Major religions in the culture
The official religion of Maldives is Islam. Any other practice of faith other than Islam is forbidden and cannot be practiced. For over eight centuries the Maldives have only been a Muslim nation and what they always identified themselves with was intertwined with that of Islam. Since Islam is the official religion of the majority, the government is committed and obligated to do their best to conserve and secure honest Islamic values onto their nation.
Common foods used by the culture
Maldivian food considered very fresh and they use many different kinds of spices in their dishes like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and turmeric. A popular Maldivian dish to have is Boshi Mashuni. It is basically a combination of a salad and a salsa mixed together, mixed in with things like banana flowers, fresh coconut, lime, and other spices. It has a very savory taste because you add in curry leaves as well which adds a nice touch to the dish itself. Maldivian dishes are fairly healthy and light to eat, they give color and spices into their dishes which makes them unique and something definitely worth trying.
Meal patterns and Etiquette
Maldivians, just like many other countries have certain etiquette rules to follow when it comes to the dinner table or on the daily. One of the first things to follow is to dress conservatively when eating out with family or friends. A rule that Maldivians have to follow is not being able to eat with another person of the opposite sex unless it is family or spouse. Another thing to remember is to always take off your shoes at the door and when greeting others, always show respect and greet your elders first before anyone else. It is important to acknowledge everybody in the room and also for men, not being able to touch another woman when greeting unless she offers her hand first.
Cultural food tasting experience
For my Maldivian meal, I had chosen to make a traditional Maldivian breakfast. It is a very simple dish that only requires freshly grated or frozen coconut, tuna packed in water, 2 Indian green chiles stemmed and minced, 1 small minced onion, salt and pepper, and some fresh chapati. In a bowl, combine the coconut, tuna, chiles, onion, and salt and pepper. Mix all the ingredients together and eat together with fresh chapati. Personally, I really enjoyed the meal, it was something that was really new to me but it tasted really delicious and the chapati was really good together with the mix. I ate it for breakfast with my family for the first time and it’s definitely something I’m gonna make again.
Nutrition guidance system
Nutrition is extremely important in Maldives and it is the base of life. They are consistent in that children are constantly torn between Western culture and their own practices where food sources are limited. They use a Health Master Plan that contains concerning childhood objectives for nutrition. (Nutrition For You) They state that manutrion is due to the fact of lack a balanced diet. The nutritional concerns are especially poor in small community islands where health facilities and workers are limited.
Health Beliefs
The Maldives has poor nutrition due to limited food source while also being unpredictable. Maldivians live in a tropical climate due to being located in the lowest elevation of any country. They use natural herbs for pain relief and improvement for physical and emotional health. The most common herbs used for medicine are female ginseng and gooseberry. It is believed that these medicines helps relax the mind while also cleaning out the body. They stick with bottled water because they feel it is safer than water found around. Coconut water are often substitutes for water because the tropical country has many coconut trees lying around.
History and Cultural Challenges in the United States
The United States has a friendly relation with the Republic of Maldives. There are currently roughly four hundred and fifty thousand Maldivians living in the United states with a two percent growth in 2018. America which is already a melting pot of culture, it isn’t hard for the people of maldives to find the area best suited for them. There are plenty of different restaurants that can satisfy anyone from any culture. The environment will be any newcomers biggest challenge but America is an easy place to grow accustomed.
Conclusion
The Maldives might not be the most reliable or safe place to live in. But they are one of the few countries that are tropical and fun place to visit. +They are a little melting pot of culture as well from South Africa and India. They have unique blends of food that is simple yet flavorful. It definitely is not the best place to live in but a wonderful place to travel to and send postcards. With little population, any vacation is like taking a private tour of the the country. Every night can be a stargazing night with little pollution and isolation from population, Maldives is the perfect place to vacation at if you want privacy. Just make sure to take your vaccines before visiting.
Wealth Of The Maldives. (2021, Dec 27). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/wealth-of-the-maldives/
