Traditional Tongan Mats

Woven mats are commonly used for bedding and flooring.

Traditional tongan mats. Mats are the most treasured possessions in tongan households and are traditionally presented at births weddings funerals and other special occasions. The mats are used for a variety of purposes. They are also presented at special occasions such as births deaths and weddings. Like tapa making mat weaving is an everyday part of tongan life.

The fala tui is one of the most attractive mats. The tongan women s pride skill patience and beauty are all depicted by these two ancient crafts. Women gather in small groups to weave sing or talk together. They were also given a ta ovala a woven mat wrapped around the waist which signifies tongan respect to the higher ranks.

The culture of its inhabitants has surely changed greatly over this long time period. Before the arrival of european explorers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries the tongans were in frequent contact with their nearest oceanic neighbors fiji and samoa. The fala fihu is made from the kie if woven with single strip it is known as kie tonga and holds a chiefly rank if in double thickness it is still a treasured article of the tongan woman but it cannot be substituted for a kie tonga. Mat weaving is one of the ancient tongan handicrafts.

Mats and tapa are the traditional tongan gifts and to this day no tongan is born marries or dies without being presented with mats and or metres of tapa cloth.