Fady are taboos on the use of certain substances, particularly foods, or on the performance, including the timing, of certain acts.
They continue to regulate much of Malagasy life. The matter of taboo is very important in the Malagasy society. Each tribe, each region have their own forbidden behavior, acts etc. Those fady are transmitted through generation and some are just created by the astrologer or Ombiasa, or the respectful person in the village or area. It is then recommended to everybody to follow the advise of the native when they travel around.
For example, to deny hospitality to a stranger is fady, as is the act of refusing this hospitality. According to one fady, it is wrong to sit in the doorway of a house while the rice is sprouting, since the door of the house is compared to the gateway of birth and by blocking it, one might impede the birth of the rice.
There are also some sacred place or sites in the Island because people believe that some spirits of the ancestors are living there and they offer sacrifices like zebu, red chicken and rhum but never human sacrifice. In any traditional ceremonies, zebu and rhum are very important symbols.
It is important to remember, however, that fady, particularly dietary prohibitions, vary widely among different ethnic groups, and from village to village within the same ethnic group. To be at home in a different locality, travellers must acquaint themselves with a large number of local variations.
Ilay Tours is well aware of these customs throughout the island and can advice you about the do's and don'ts.
