Culture of East Timor
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Part of a series on the |
Culture of East Timor |
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History |
People |
Languages |
Cuisine |
Religion |
Art |
Music |
Sport |
The culture of East Timor reflects numerous cultural influences, including
UNESCO activities
Timor-Leste become a state party to the
Architecture
East Timorese architecture and landscaping is a combination of both Portuguese and indigenous Timorese. Many heritage districts, heritage towns, and heritage structures have been retained in Timor-Leste, unlike its Southeast Asian neighbors whose architectural styles have been dreadfully replaced by modern and shanty structures that have destroyed cultural domains. Timor-Leste does not yet have a policy to conserve its architecture and landscapes, but is still one of the few nations in Asia to possess well-preserved indigenous architecture and colonial architecture. A proposal is also being made by some locals for the establishment of a law which mandates all villages to have a single architectural and landscaping style to preserve their village/town aesthetics and culture.
Literature
Easily the most famous East Timorese author is Xanana Gusmão, the leader of the Timorese resistance organization Fretilin, and former Prime Minister of independent East Timor. He wrote two books during the struggle for independence. Also a poet and painter, he produced works describing the culture, values, and skills of the Timorese people.
Other important writers of Timor include: Luís Cardoso, Fernando Sylvan, Ponte Pedrinha, Jorge Barros Duarte, Crisódio Araujo, Jorge Lauten, Francisco Borja da Costa, Afonso Busa Metan and Fitun Fuik.
Music
Religion
East Timor has been nominally Catholic since early in the Portuguese colonial period. The Catholic faith became a central part of East Timorese culture during the
The 'Apostolic Administrator' (de facto Bishop) of the Diocese of Dili, Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, began speaking out against human rights abuses by the Indonesian security forces, including rape, torture, murder, and disappearances. Following pressure from Jakarta, he stepped down in 1983 and was replaced by the younger priest, Monsignor Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, who Indonesia thought would be more loyal. However, he too began speaking out, not only against human rights abuses, but the issue of self-determination, writing an open letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, calling for a referendum. In 1996 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with exiled leader José Ramos-Horta, now the country's President.
However, in spite of the majority of the country's people now being Catholics, there is freedom of religion in the new secular republic, and the former
Sports
East Timor has joined many international sport associations, including the
East Timor has taken part in several sporting events. Although the athletes came back with no medals, East Timorese athletes had the opportunity to compete with other Southeast Asian athletes in the
Horse racing
Horse Racing is a popular sport in Timor Leste. Although less than 14 hands high, the Timor pony is used. It is renowned for its agility and strength. Regional race meets are held throughout Timor-Leste.
Film
An extensive collection of Timorese audiovisual material is held at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. These holdings have been identified in a document titled The NFSA Timor-Leste Collection Profile, which features catalogue entries and essays for a total of 795 NFSA-held moving image, recorded sound and documentation works that have captured the history and culture of Timor-Leste since the early 20th century.[5] The NFSA is working with the Timor-Leste government to ensure that all of this material can be used and accessed by the people of that country.[6]
The extensive audiovisual material in the Max Stahl archive on the independence of Timor-Leste have been inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2013 as "Birth of a nation: turning points."[7]
Cuisine
The cuisine of East Timor consists of regional popular foods such as pork, fish, basil, tamarind, legumes, corn, rice, root vegetables, and tropical fruit. East Timorese cuisine has influences from Southeast Asian foods and from Portuguese dishes from its colonisation by Portugal. Flavours and ingredients from other former Portuguese colonies can be found due to the presence of Portuguese soldiers from other colonies in East Timor.
Public holidays
East Timor now has public holidays that commemorate historic events in the liberation struggle, as well as those associated with Catholicism and Islam. They are defined in the Timor-Leste Law no. 10/2005.[8]
Date (Gregorian calendar) | Date (Islamic calendar) | Name | Notes |
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1 January | New Year's Day | Celebrates beginning of the Gregorian year. Festivities include counting down to midnight at 00:00 on the preceding night of the New Year's Eve with fireworks display and party. | |
10 Dzulhijah |
Idul Adha | Date varies according to the . | |
March–April | Good Friday | This is the Jesus Christ . | |
1 May | Labour Day | Celebrates the economic and social achievements of workers. | |
20 May | Independence Restoration Day | Independence from the Republic of Indonesia in 2002. | |
May–June | Corpus Christi |
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30 August | Popular Consultation Day | Anniversary of the Popular Consultation in 1999. | |
1 November | All Saints' Day | ||
2 November | All Souls' Day | ||
12 November | National Youth Day | Anniversary of the Santa Cruz massacre in 1991. | |
28 November | Proclamation of Independence Day | Independence from the Republic of Portugal in 1975. | |
1-2 Syawal | Idul Fitri | Date varies according to the Islamic calendar. Celebrates the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. | |
8 December | Immaculate Conception | ||
25 December | Christmas Day |
This Christian holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ . |
References
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "The World Heritage Convention has entered into force for Timor-Leste". Whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Atauro Island: scientists discover the most biodiverse waters in the world". The Guardian. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Uma Lulik – Lospalos, East Timor". Atlasobscura.com.
- ^ "Homepage". Nbcsports.com. 23 August 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ NFSA provides insight into Timor-Leste history, Nfsa.gov.au
- ^ A connection with Timor-Leste, Nfsa.gov.au
- ^ "On the Birth of a Nation: Turning points | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Unesco.org. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
- ^ "Timor-Leste Law no. 10/2005" (PDF). Archived from the original on 2008-03-07.
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Further reading
- Parkinson, Chris (2010). Peace of Wall: Street Art of East Timor. Mulgrave, Vic: Affirm Press. ISBN 9780980637823.
External links
- Art of Island Southeast Asia, a full text exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art