View source for Culture of Timor-Leste

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{{Culture of East Timor}}

The '''culture of Timor-Leste''' reflects numerous cultural influences, including [[Portugal|Portuguese]], [[Roman Catholic]], and [[Malaysia|Malay]], on the indigenous [[Austronesia]]n cultures in [[Timor-Leste]].

==UNESCO activities==
Timor-Leste become a state party to the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Convention]] on 31 January 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1625/|title=The World Heritage Convention has entered into force for Timor-Leste|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=Whc.unesco.org|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> It has yet to nominate possible inscriptions in any [[UNESCO]] networks such as [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]], [[World Heritage List]], [[World Network of Biosphere Reserves]], [[Creative Cities Network]], and [[Global Geoparks Network]]. Major contenders for the country includes [[Atauro Island]], which [[Conservation International]] has cited as having the most biodiverse waters in the world,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/17/atauro-island-timor-leste-the-push-to-protect-the-most-biodiverse-waters-in-the-world|title=Atauro Island: scientists discover the most biodiverse waters in the world|date=17 August 2016|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref> Cultural Landscape of the Fataluku,<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/uma-lulik| title = Uma Lulik – Lospalos, East Timor |website=Atlasobscura.com}}</ref> and Historic Monuments of [[Dili]].

==Architecture==
East Timorese [[architecture]] and [[landscaping]] is a combination of both Portuguese and indigenous Timorese. Many heritage districts, heritage towns, and heritage structures have been retained in Timor-Leste, unlike its Southeast Asian neighbors whose architectural styles have been dreadfully replaced by modern and [[shack|shanty]] structures that have destroyed cultural domains. Timor-Leste does not yet have a policy to conserve its architecture and landscapes, but is still one of the few nations in [[Asia]] to possess well-preserved [[indigenous architecture]] and [[colonial architecture]]. A proposal is also being made by some locals for the establishment of a law which mandates all villages to have a single architectural and landscaping style to preserve their [[village]]/town [[aesthetics]] and [[culture]].

==Literature==
[[File:Leia livros timor.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Campaigning for reading in Timor-Leste.]]
Easily the most famous East Timorese author is [[Xanana Gusmão]], the leader of the Timorese resistance organization [[Fretilin]], and former Prime Minister of independent East Timor.  He wrote two books during the struggle for independence. Also a poet and painter, he produced works describing the culture, values, and skills of the Timorese people.

Other important writers of Timor include: [[Luís Cardoso]], [[Fernando Sylvan]], Ponte Pedrinha, [[Jorge Barros Duarte]], [[Crisódio Araujo]], [[Jorge Lauten]], [[Francisco Borja da Costa]], [[Afonso Busa Metan]] and Fitun Fuik.

==Music==
{{main|Music of Timor-Leste}}

==Religion==
{{main|Religion in Timor-Leste}}
[[File:East Timorese hakka wedding.jpg|thumb|left|An East Timorese wedding in 2006]]
Timor-Leste has been nominally Catholic since early in the Portuguese colonial period. The Catholic faith became a central part of East Timorese culture during the [[Indonesia]]n occupation between 1975 and 1999. While under Portuguese rule, the East Timorese had mostly been [[animist]], sometimes integrated with minimal Catholic ritual, the number of Catholics dramatically increased under Indonesian rule. This was for several reasons: Indonesia was predominantly [[Muslim]]; the Indonesian state required adherence to one of six officially recognised religions and recognise traditional beliefs; and because the Catholic Church, which remained directly responsible to the [[Holy See|Vatican]] throughout Indonesian rule, became a refuge for East Timorese seeking sanctuary from persecution.

The 'Apostolic Administrator' (''de facto'' Bishop) of the Diocese of [[Dili]], Monsignor [[Martinho da Costa Lopes]], began speaking out against human rights abuses by the Indonesian security forces, including rape, torture, murder, and disappearances. Following pressure from [[Jakarta]], he stepped down in 1983 and was replaced by the younger priest, Monsignor [[Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo]], who Indonesia thought would be more loyal. However, he too began speaking out, not only against human rights abuses, but the issue of self-determination, writing an open letter to the Secretary General of the [[United Nations]], calling for a referendum. In 1996 he was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]], along with exiled leader [[José Ramos-Horta]], now the country's [[President of Timor-Leste|President]].

However, in spite of the majority of the country's people now being Catholics, there is freedom of religion in the new secular republic, and the former [[prime minister]] [[Marí Alkatiri]], is a [[Muslim]] of [[Yemen]]i descent.

==Sports==
{{Main|Sport in Timor-Leste}}
Timor-Leste has joined many international sport associations, including the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC). The IOC board has granted full recognition to the East Timorese Olympic Committee (COTL). The IOC had allowed a mainly symbolic four-member team to take part in the 2000 Sydney Games under the Olympic flag as "Independent Olympic Athletes." The Federação de Timor-Leste de Atletismo has joined the [[International Association of Athletics Federations]] (IAAF). The Federação de Badminton de Timor-Leste joined the International Badminton Federation (IBF) in April 2003. The [[East Timor Cycling Federation]] has joined the [[Union Cycliste Internationale]]. The Confederação do Desporto de Timor Leste has joined the International Weightlifting Federation. Timor-Leste is also a full member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Timor-Leste has taken part in several sporting events. Although the athletes came back with no medals, East Timorese athletes had the opportunity to compete with other Southeast Asian athletes in the [[2003 Southeast Asian Games]] held in [[Vietnam]] in 2003. In the 2003 ASEAN [[Paralympics]] Games, also held in Vietnam, Timor-Leste won a bronze medal. In the [[2004 Summer Olympics|Athens 2004 Olympic Games]], six athletes participated in three sports: athletics, weightlifting and boxing. Timor-Leste [[Timor Leste at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games|won three medals]] in [[Arnis at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games]]. Timor-Leste was also one of the competing nations in the [[2006 Lusophony Games|first]] [[Lusophony Games]], winning a bronze medal in the women's volleyball competition (finishing third out of three teams), despite the fact the team had lost all its three games. On October 30, 2008, Timor-Leste earned their first international points in a [[FIFA]] match with a 2–2 draw against Cambodia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/home-page|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081102193546/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/27457471/|url-status=dead|title=Homepage|date=23 August 2015|archive-date=2 November 2008|website=Nbcsports.com|access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>

== Horse racing ==
Horse Racing is a popular sport in Timor Leste. Although less than 14 hands high, the [[Timor Pony|Timor pony]] is used. It is renowned for its agility and strength. Regional race meets are held throughout Timor-Leste.

== Film ==
An extensive collection of Timorese audiovisual material is held at the [[National Film and Sound Archive|National Film and Sound Archive of Australia]]. These holdings have been identified in a document titled The NFSA Timor-Leste Collection Profile, which features catalogue entries and essays for a total of 795 NFSA-held moving image, recorded sound and documentation works that have captured the history and culture of Timor-Leste since the early 20th century.<ref>[http://www.nfsa.gov.au/about/media/releases/2012/12/14/nfsa-provides-insight-timor-leste-history/ NFSA provides insight into Timor-Leste history], ''Nfsa.gov.au''</ref> The NFSA is working with the Timor-Leste government to ensure that all of this material can be used and accessed by the people of that country.<ref>[http://nfsa.gov.au/blog/2013/04/24/connection-timor-leste/ A connection with Timor-Leste], National Film and Sound Archive</ref>

The extensive audiovisual material in the Max Stahl archive on the independence of Timor-Leste have been inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2013 as "Birth of a nation: turning points."<ref>{{cite web |date=August 8, 2025 |title=On the Birth of a Nation: Turning points {{!}} United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |url=https://www.unesco.org/en/memory-world/birth-nation-turning-points |access-date=2017-03-26 |website=Unesco.org}}</ref>

==Cuisine==

The [[cuisine of Timor-Leste]] consists of regional popular foods such as pork, fish, basil, tamarind, legumes, corn, rice, root vegetables, and tropical fruit. East Timorese cuisine has influences from [[Southeast Asia]]n foods and from [[Portuguese cuisine|Portuguese dishes]] from its colonisation by Portugal. Flavours and ingredients from other former Portuguese colonies can be found due to the presence of Portuguese soldiers from other colonies in Timor-Leste.

== Public holidays ==
Timor-Leste now has public holidays that commemorate historic events in the liberation struggle, as well as those associated with Catholicism and Islam. They are defined in the Timor-Leste Law no. 10/2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unmiset.org/legal/RDTL-Law/RDTL-Laws/Law-2005-10.pdf |title=Timor-Leste Law no. 10/2005 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307110034/http://www.unmiset.org/legal/RDTL-Law/RDTL-Laws/Law-2005-10.pdf |archive-date=2008-03-07 }}&nbsp;{{small|(16.7&nbsp;KB)}}.</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Date (Gregorian calendar) !! Date (Islamic calendar) !! Name !! Notes
|-
| 1 January || || [[New Year's Day]] || Celebrates beginning of the [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] year. Festivities include counting down to midnight at 00:00 on the preceding night of the [[New Year's Eve]] with fireworks display and party.
|-
| 3 March || || [[Veterans Day]] || </tr>
|-
| || 10 [[Dhu al-Hijjah|Dzulhijah]] || [[Eid al-Adha|Idul Adha]] || Date varies according to the [[Islamic calendar]]. The holiday commemorates the willingness of [[Islamic views on Abraham|Ibrahim]] to sacrifice his son [[Ishmael|Ismael]] as an act of obedience to [[Allah]]. </tr>
|-
| March–April || || [[Good Friday]] || This is the [[Friday]] before [[Easter]] Sunday, which is the first Sunday after the first [[Paschal Full Moon]] following the official [[equinox|vernal equinox]]. This [[Christianity|Christian]] holiday commemorates the [[crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]], death and [[resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]] of [[Jesus Christ]]. </tr>
|-
| 1 May || || [[Labour Day]] || Celebrates the economic and social achievements of workers. </tr>
|-
| 20 May || || [[Independence Day (East Timor)|Independence Restoration Day]] || Independence from the [[Republic of Indonesia]] in 2002. </tr>
|-
| May–June || || [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]] || </tr>
|-
| 30 August|| || Popular Consultation Day || Anniversary of the [[1999 East Timorese independence referendum|Popular Consultation]] in 1999. </tr>
|-
| 1 November || || [[All Saints' Day]] || </tr>
|-
| 2 November || || [[All Souls' Day]] || </tr>
|-
| 3 November || || [[Women in Timor-Leste|National Women's Day]] || </tr>
|-
| 12 November || || [[National Youth Day]] || Anniversary of the [[Dili Massacre|Santa Cruz massacre]] in 1991. </tr>
|-
| 28 November || || [[Proclamation of Independence Day (East Timor)|Proclamation of Independence Day]] || Independence from the [[Republic of Portugal]] in 1975. </tr>
|-
| || 1 [[Shawwal|Syawal]] || [[Eid al-Fitr|Idul Fitri]] || Date varies according to the [[Islamic calendar]]. Celebrates the end of the [[fasting]] month of [[Ramadan]]. </tr>
|-
| 7 December || || [[Memorial Day]] || </tr>
|-
| 8 December || || [[Immaculate Conception]] || </tr>
|-
| 25 December || || [[Christmas Day]] || This Christian holiday celebrates the birth of [[Jesus Christ]]. </tr>
|-
| 31 December || || [[National Heroes Day]] || </tr>
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Timor-Leste}}
* [[List of museums in Timor-Leste]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Palmer |first1=Lisa |last2=McWilliam |first2=Andrew |title=Spirit Ecologies and Customary Governance in Post-conflict Timor-Leste |journal=[[Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde]] |date=2019 |volume=175 |issue=4 |pages=474–505 |doi=10.1163/22134379-17504003 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26806656 |jstor=26806656 |jstor-access=free |access-date=30 January 2025 |issn=0006-2294|doi-access=free }}
* {{cite book |last1=Parkinson |first1=Chris |title=Peace of Wall: Street Art of East Timor |date=2010 |publisher=Affirm Press |location=Mulgrave, Vic |isbn=9780980637823}}
* {{cite book |last=Pascoal |first=Ezequiel Enes |date=1967 |title=A Alma de Timor vista na sua Fantasia. Lendas, fábulas e contos |location=Braga |publisher=Barbosa & Xavier |language=PT}}
* Paulino, Vicente. «As lendas de Timor e a literatura oral timorense». In: ''Anuário Antropológico'' [Online], v.42 n.2 | 2017, posto online no dia 12 junho 2018, consultado o 30 julho 2024. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/aa/2175; {{doi|10.4000/aa.2175}} (In Portuguese). 
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/42850/rec/1 Art of Island Southeast Asia], a full text exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

{{East Timor topics}}
{{Southeast Asia topic|Culture of}}
{{Culture of Asia}}

[[Category:Culture of Timor-Leste]]
[[Category:Festivals in Timor-Leste]]
[[Category:Culture of Southeast Asia|Timor-Leste]]
[[Category:Austronesian culture]]