4th June: Tonga Independence Day

It's Emancipation Day in Tonga, which commemorates independence from Britain in 1970. Here are 10 things you might not know about Tonga:

1. Tonga is a Polynesian archipelago consisting of 177 islands of which just 52 are inhabited. It is situated just east of the International dateline, and so Tonga is the first nation in the world to see in the new year.
2. The population is 103,000, seventy percent of which live on the main island, Tongatapu. The capital city is Nuku'alofa. Twice as many Tongans live abroad, mainly in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
3. Tonga means "south" in Tongan and other Polynesian languages. Tonga was also known as "The Friendly Islands" by Captain Cook, because he received such a warm welcome there - although according to the writer William Mariner, the friendliness was just for show; the chiefs actually wanted to kill Cook but could not agree on a plan.
4. A very important historical figure in Tonga is Tāufaʻāhau, the warrior, strategist, and orator who united Tonga into a kingdom in 1845. He adopted the name Siaosi, which is the Tongan equivalent of George, after King George III. Tāufaʻāhau declared Tonga a constitutional monarchy, and it remains so to this day. He abolished serfdom and limited the power of the chiefs. During a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 1853, he saw beggars, and when he asked about them, he was told that they were unable to work because they had no land. Tāufaʻāhau went home and added a clause to the constitution stating that land in Tonga could only be given to natural-born Tongans and not sold to outsiders. This is still the case today.
5. The highest point in Tonga is an extinct volcano (1,046 m) on the island of Kao.
6. The flag of Tonga is red with a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner, which contains a red cross. The cross reflects the deep-rooted Christianity in Tonga; red represents the blood of Christ and his sacrifice; white signifies purity.
7. Observance of the Sabbath is written in to the Tongan constitution, so by law, no commerce or entertainment is allowed from midnight Saturday to midnight Sunday. The constitution declares the Sabbath sacred forever.
8. Flying foxes and small Bats are the only land mammals native to Tonga.
9. Tattoos are traditional for Tongan men - in Captain Cook's time most of the men would have lots of tattoos. The only man who didn't would be the king, because his high rank meant that nobody was allowed to touch him.
10. Men in Tonga traditionally did all the cooking. Cooking was deemed to be too hot and heavy work for women to do. Working the fields was considered men's work as well. Women looked after children, gathered seashells and wove clothing, bedding and mats.