The Republic of Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, miles off the coast of East Africa. It consists of the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. The name of “Madagascar” is not of local origin but rather was named by the memoirs of 13th-century Venetian explorer Marco Polo. It means “Malagasy Country”. Also known as the Kingdom of Cattle and the Hometown of Vanilla.
马达加斯加共和国（The Republic of Madagascar）是一个位于非洲东南部海岸的印度洋国家，有许多岛屿组成。岛名“马达加斯加”实际上并非源于当地，而是由13世纪的威尼斯探险家马可·波罗命名。可释义为“马尔加什人的国家”，别称有“牛的王国”、“香草之乡”。
National Flag
The national flag of Madagascar is composed of white, red and green. The white is a vertical rectangle, near the side of the flagpole. Red and green are parallel rectangles from top to bottom. The areas of the three rectangles are equal. White symbolizes purity, red symbolizes sovereignty, and green symbolizes hope.
马达加斯加的国旗由白、红、绿三色组成。白色为垂直长方形，靠近旗杆一侧。红色和绿色为从上而下的平行长方形。三个长方形的面积相等。白色象征着纯洁，红色象征着主权，绿色则象征着希望。
National Animal
Madagascar has a kind of ancient animal called a living fossil - lemur, which accounts for more than 90% of the world's surviving lemur species.
马达加斯加拥有被称为活化石的古老动物——狐猴，占世界尚存狐猴品种的90%以上。
Official Language
The national language of Madagascar is Malagasy (Malay-Polynesian language family), and the official languages are Malagasy and French.
马达加斯加的民族语言是马达加斯加语（马来-波利尼西亚语系），官方语言是马达加斯加语和法语。
Religions
About 85% of the local residents believe in Christianity (Catholic and Protestant), 4.5% believe in traditional religions, and 3% believe in Islam.
当地居民中有85%信奉基督教（天主教和新教），4.5%信奉传统宗教，3%信奉伊斯兰教。
Capital
The capital is Antananarivo, with a population of 1.6 million.
首都是塔那那利佛（Antananarivo），人口有160万。
Time
The Madagascar time is 5 hours later than Beijing time.
马达加斯加的所在的时区比北京时间晚5小时。
Education
pic｜Antananarivo University
Five years of compulsory education is implemented. Formal education is divided into five years of basic (primary) education, four years at the lower secondary level, three years at the upper secondary level. During Ravalomanana's second term, he shifted the focus of education policy to education quality. In 2008, public education expenditure accounted for 13.4% of total government expenditure. Currently, the largest university in the country is Antananarivo University.
实行五年义务教育，正式教育分为：五年基础（小学）教育，四年普通初中教育，三年高中教育和高等教育。拉瓦卢马纳纳的第二个任期期间，将教育政策的关注重点转移到了教育质量上，2008年的公共教育支出占政府开支总额的13.4%。目前，国内规模最大的大学是塔那那利佛大学。
Major Holiday
Independence Day: June 26
独立日：6月26日
Customs
pic｜Famadihana
The traditional Malagasy worldview emphasizes fihavanana (solidarity), vintana(destiny), tody (karma), and hasina (stigma of life force). In addition, Malagasy people use divination to confirm the auspicious days for important ceremonies. For example，Every four years, locals will choose auspicious days to hold famadihana. On New Year's Day, people will express their blessings to each other by giving each other chicken tails.
传统马达加斯加人的世界观都强调“团结互助”、“命运”、“因果报应”、“生命之力的烙印”。此外，马达加斯加人会通过占卜来确认举办重要仪式的吉日。例如，本地人每隔四年会择取吉日掘开祖坟，举行隆重的翻尸换衣仪式。元旦时，人们会通过互赠鸡尾来表达对彼此的祝福。
Transportation
There are two domestic airlines, with 36 airplanes and 58 airports. There are 6 international airports, and the Ivatu International Airport, Tamatave Airport and Nussibe Airport can accommodate large aircraft.
国内共有两家航空公司，拥有大小飞机36架，大小机场58个。其中有6个国际机场，首都伊瓦图国际机场、塔马塔夫机场和努西贝机场都可停靠大型飞机。
Tourism
Tsimbazaza Park is located on the banks of Lake Zimbazaza at the foothills of the Palace of Antananarivo in the capital. The garden gathers precious flowers and trees and rare animals.
津巴扎扎公园（Tsimbazaza Park），位于首都塔那那利佛王宫山麓的津巴扎扎湖畔。园内汇集着名贵花木和珍稀动物。
pic｜Tsimbazaza Park
Ambohimanga is Located 20 kilometers north of the capital Antananarivo. It is a mountain villa with dense trees. It is also called the “Holy City” because of the palace and royal mausoleum built there.
安布希曼加古城（Ambohimanga）位于首都塔那那利佛北20公里处。是一座树木茂密的山庄，因为这里建有王宫和皇室陵寝，又被称为“圣城”。
pic｜Ambohimanga
Mausoleum of Madagascar's Kings is the mausoleum of successive kings and queens, located next to the Antananarivo Palace.
马达加斯加王陵（Mausoleum of Madagascar's Kings）是历代国王和女王的陵墓，位于塔那那利佛王宫旁。
本文转自微信公众号“ BRE Overseas Education”