Diet
Tongan food is very rich， such as cassava， taro， banana， breadfruit， bananas， coconut， sweet potatoes， a variety of tropical vegetables and pork， chicken and so on. The tables for guests are full of local characteristics of the spectrum of dishes， such as roast pork， fried chicken， shrimp stew， a variety of seasonal vegetables and coconut milk mixed with raw fish， grilled bananas， betel steamed， baked taro， tropical fruits and so on.
The most striking is the roasted whole pig， and all pigs feast is the most solemn and welcome feast. After the firewood， host and guest sat on the floor. First， the elder nobility prayed in Tonga， then the hostess cut down the first piece for the owner to taste， finally every one started to enjoy it.
医疗
汤加实行全国免费医疗制度。例如，2001年，全国共有4家医院，34家卫生所，302张病床，医生52名，护士303名。人类发展指数位列联合国开发计划署第54位，在南太岛国中居首位。全国男性人均寿命69岁，女性人均寿命74岁。
教育
汤加的公办学校对5～14岁儿童实行免费教育。初、中级义务教育普及，几乎没有文盲。没有大学，但设有南太平洋大学分校。汤加法律规定教会可参与教育，独立办学。政府和一些英联邦国家提供部分奖学金送学生出国深造。
饮食
汤加的食物十分丰富，有木薯、芋头、芭蕉、面包果、香蕉、椰子、地瓜，各种热带蔬菜以及猪肉、鸡肉等。招待客人的餐桌上摆着各种富有当地特色的菜肴，有烤猪、炸鸡、焖大虾，各种应时蔬菜以及椰汁拌生鱼、烤香蕉、蒸槟榔、烤芋头、热带水果等。
最引人注目的是烤全猪，全猪宴是汤加最隆重的迎宾宴。小猪烤制后，宾主席地而坐，首先由贵族长者用汤加语作祈祷，然后由女主人切下第一片献给主人，接着众人一起开始享用。
Strange Customs and Etiquette 奇特的礼仪风俗
Etiquette
When the Tonga people meet with the guests in social situations ，they usually shake hands and greet each other. When the low levels meet the ones of high rank， they must salute a kiss-foot ceremony.
When the locals treat the guests， they are used to hand-holding even they have prepared knives for themselves. When visiting their home， if you sit on the straw， the guests will be so happy. The gift is appropriate， but it only suits between close friends. However， flowers are not considered as a gift.
Taboo
In Tonga， there are many taboos. Foreign guests should pay attention to understand and respect them. There are many ceremonies when treating guests which both men and women should participate in， otherwise it will be regarded to be unfriendly. And you should keep quiet when eating and speaking loudly is uncivilized.
Custom
The most Tonga people are Christian， many of whom are devout Catholics. People who live in the city must be rest at home on Sunday and never go out. It is the so-called "Sabbath". If someone goes out to work， or goes on the road bare-chested， he is considered to be illegal.
The Tonga people have a unique style， that is the fat people are considered as beauty. The people， especially women， can be married only up to a certain degree. Thus the country has the name of "the kingdom of the fat".
In Tonga， the most popular girls must be fat， necks should be short and waists should be thick. If the waist is not thick enough， she must circle thin cloth around to cover up. The Tonga people were generally tall and fat， because they eat so many potatoes， sleep too much， and rarely participate in physical exercises.
礼仪
汤加人在社交场合与宾客见面时，一般是以握手为礼，并相互问候。当地位低的人拜见地位高的人时，要施吻足礼。
当地人请客时虽然也为主人准备刀，但他们习惯于用手抓。在他们家里，你坐在草垫上，这家人会很欢迎。送礼是合宜的，但只有亲密的朋友之间才送礼。不过，鲜花是不被看作礼物的。
禁忌
汤加存在着许多禁忌，外来客人要注意了解并尊重，汤加人在迎客、送客时要举行许多仪式，客人不论男女都要参加，否则会被视为不友好。并且，吃饭时要保持安静，高声说话是不文明的举动。
风俗
汤加全国大部分人都信仰基督教，许多人是虔诚的教徒。住在城里的人，星期天从来不出门，绝对在家休息，这就是所谓的基督教徒的“安息日”。如果有人出去工作或袒胸露膀走到马路上，会被认为是违法的。
汤加人还有一个独特的风情，那就是以胖为美，特别是女人，只有达到一定胖度才能嫁得出去，因而这个国家又有“胖子王国”的美称。
在汤加，最受欢迎的姑娘必须长得肥胖，脖子要短，腰要粗大，如果腰细就会用布一圈一圈地缠起来加以掩饰。汤加人普遍身材高大肥胖，据说这同汤加人长期食用薯类食物、睡眠过多、很少参加体力锻炼有关。
