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How To Avoid Giving Offence

There are certain customs and practices that if ignored could cause offence and in some circumstances lead to your host being fined by the village council. Below are some pointers to how to behave whilst visiting Samoan villages. It should be pointed out that in general the closer you are to are to Apia the less rigidly these are enforced.

• Samoa is a very Christian country and the Sabbath is vigorously observed. This should always be bourne in mind when you are travelling around Samoa on a Sunday. No work should be carried out on a Sunday and you should not swim near villages.
• Most villages have some form of Sa, in the early evening, this is a recognised time for prayer. The start of the Sa is signified by the ringing a bell, and once it has started you should not stop in the village. Pass through and wait for it to finish. In some places appointed villagers will line up along the road to stop people from stopping.
• If you can see that a family you are visiting is at worship, do not enter their house until they have finished.
• The dress code is pretty relaxed in Samoa, but wearing bikinis and shorts in public places, with the exception of the beach, is not a good idea for women, and men should keep shirts on when walking in the street.
• Nude bathing is not permitted.
• Some villages have additional dress codes and it is a good idea to ask your host about them, otherwise they could incur a fine from the village council on your behalf.
• In some places there are superstitions about women passing through the village with long brown hair let down.
• Shoes should be removed when entering a fale
• When seated, sit cross legged, and never with you feet straight out in front of you, this is considered to be rude.
• Don't eat or drink whilst walking through a village.
• Always ask permission of the pulenu'u if you wish to swim at a beach near a village or visit some other attraction.
• There appears, currently, to be a certain amount of official intolerance towards de facto relationships. If you are travelling as an unmarried couple it is probably polite not to mention the fact. If people refer to you as husband and wife, do not correct them.

If you think that there is anything else that should be included in this list, or if there are practices unique to certain villages, please let us know.