Culture in Flores

The population is around 85% Catholic, but many still also hold Islamic and animist beliefs. On top of that, between different tribes and communities there are many distinct languages spoken and cultural traits. Churches sit alongside megalithic stones, ancestral shrines and houses crowned with buffalo horns. In Ngada communities for instance, if a person dies prematurely or unexpectedly then it is believed to be the result of evil spirits that must be chased out. So while the deceased might receive a Catholic burial service, the village ancestors must also be appeased with a ritual animal sacrifice.

Rituals and ceremonies play a strong part in culture here, offerings are used to placate or thank spirits, ancestor worship, and maintaining balance in the circle of life between light and dark, sun and moon, good and evil. In locations such as Ruteng or Labuan Bajo you might witness a bloody Warrior (whip) dance, as young men violently demonstrate their virility.

Throughout your Flores vacation you’ll stay in small, locally run guesthouses, and depending on the operator, perhaps in a series of homestays in family houses. You’ll eat at locally owned warungs (restaurants) wherever possible, perhaps watch a demonstration of ikat weaving, learn how to plant rice or tap palm juice, and generally be immersed in a culture that has continued practically unchanged for centuries.

When you visit villages you’ll see people simply going about their daily business. Perhaps the occasional old lady weaving ikat (a tie-dyed cloth used for clothing and rituals) for sale, but that’s about as far as it goes in terms of ‘selling the culture’ to tourists. For this reason the importance of local guides cannot be overstated. They will introduce you to people, perhaps enabling you to take a peek into their houses, and interpret any questions either you or the residents may have for each other. They’ll tell you when and where it’s okay to take photographs, explain traditional rituals and farming practices, help you pick out food in markets or understand the layout of sacred cemeteries. They’re invaluable.