Religion

Religious Beliefs. Tuvalu is solidly Protestant with a Congregationalist flavor. Other sects and religions have few adherents. While some syncretic pre-Christian beliefs in magic and sorcery remain, the Christian deity is universally acknowledged, with the Tuvalu Christian Church giving equal prominence to Jesus.


Religious Practitioners. For several decades after missionization, the (mainly Samoan) pastors of the London Missionary Society wielded great power. The role of pastor became a prestigious career choice for Tuvaluan males as well, a number of whom were appointed to other parts of the Pacific. Locally, deacons (men and women) and lay preachers (men only) play important parts in religious affairs.


Rituals and Holy Places. Church buildings are important holy places on each island, and are among the most impressive structures in terms of size, cost, and design. Tuvaluans celebrate the regular Christian holidays and days of worship. Religious celebrations are often protracted; Christmas festivities, for example, can last several weeks and mobilize abundant resources.


Death and Afterlife. Christian ideology proclaims the existence of Heaven and Hell as the destinations of souls. Alternative views, if they exist, are not officially condoned, though the spirits of the dead are believed to have the power of action under certain circumstances (lack of filial piety, bad relations between kin, etc.).

Currency

This is one of the beautiful design that I have been seen.  It is legal tender, Silver Proof finish. Only 2,500 of this coin minted for worldwide collector.The item is still available at Franklin Mint but already out of stock at Taisei. The Franklin Mint sell this item for USD$99.

The reverse show raised, etched turtle image set against a full-color ocean environment in the background. With the word TUVALU MARINE LIFE, Eretmochelys imbricata, year 2010.

Country: Tuvalu.
Material: silver proof.
Monetary Denomination : one dollar.
Fineness (% purity): .925
Minimum Gross Weight (g): 25 g
Maximum Diameter (mm): 38.61 mm
Mintage: 2,500 worldwide.

Food customs

Food in Daily Life. The most important cultivated plant is pulaka (swamp taro), grown in large pits dug into the top layer of a freshwater lens, and valued for its resistance to drought and high salinity. Also of importance to the daily diet are coconut palms (used for the collection of kaleve "toddy" as well as for the nuts), pandanus, bananas, and breadfruit. Fish was traditionally the main source of dietary protein. Today, particularly on Funafuti, imported rice and flour figure prominently in the daily diet, as well as canned and frozen meat. Weakly brewed tea has long been part of daily fare, often in preference to the nutrient-rich coconut toddy. Meals are consumed two or three times a day at home. The few restaurants are all on Funafuti.

Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Feasts consist of the daily staples, but in larger quantities, and with the addition of pork and fowl meat (the product of local animal husbandry), and occasional treats such as wild birds and turtle.

What is Tuvalu?

Tuvalu is a group of islands lost in the Pacific about halfway between Australia and Hawaii. Independence from Britain in 1978 and now a constitutional monarchy. It consists of 4 and 5 coral reef atolls (a kind of island in a lake). And it is the independent nation with the lowest number of inhabitants (10,810 in 2006) after the Vatican. Its main economic activities in the last century were: self sustainable agriculture, breeding pigs, and printing stamps.