Although it is an Australian External Territory, the culture of the

Cocos (Keeling) Islands ) , anthem = "''Advance Australia Fair''" , song_type = , song = , image_map = Australia on the globe (Cocos (Keeling) Islands special) (Southeast Asia centered).svg , map_alt = Location of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands , map_caption = ...

has extensive influences from

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

and

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

Background

Languages, traditions, religious holidays, cuisine and customs have all been heavily influenced by the islands' large

Cocos Malay Cocos Malay is a post-creolized variety of Malay, spoken by the Cocos Malays of Home Island, Christmas Island, and those originally from the Cocos Islands currently living in Sabah. Cocos Malay derives from the Malay trade languages of the 19 ...

population. Many of these islanders trace their descent from the original planation workers brought to the island by John Clunies-Ross. During much of their habitation, the islands were isolated, leading to the development of a unique culture derived from Malay and Islamic traditions. When the Islands were fully integrated into Australia in 1984, it was introduced to the customs and culture of Mainland Australia, practiced predominantly by the ethnically European Australians who inhabit West Island. All Islanders are governed by Australian law. Language, gazetted holidays, education, media and cuisine are also influenced by mainland Australia.

Art and traditional crafts

The Islands have a strong history of art and traditional crafts influenced by Cocos Malay traditions and Australian surf culture. The Islands' tourism office encourages visitors to try their hand at traditional basket weaving and "learn about traditional jukong (boat) building".

Museums

On Home Island, residents have established a museum dedicated to the Islands' former

copra Copra (from ) is the dried, white flesh of the coconut from which coconut oil is extracted. Traditionally, the coconuts are sun-dried, especially for export, before the oil, also known as copra oil, is pressed out. The oil extracted from co ...

industry and an art gallery, The Big Barge Art Centre, which sells traditional artworks, modern paintings and photographic works and hosts art workshops for tourists. The Pulu Cocos Museum was established in 1987, in recognition of the fact that the distinct culture of Home Island needed formal preservation. The site includes the displays on local culture and traditions, as well as the early history of the islands and their ownership by the

Clunies-Ross family The Clunies-Ross family were the original settlers of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, a small archipelago in the Indian Ocean. From 1827 to 1978, the family ruled the previously uninhabited islands as a private fiefdom, initially as ''terra nullius'' ...

. The museum also includes displays on military and naval history, as well as local botanical and zoological items.

Religion

In the , 75% of the population was Muslim. Eid AlFitr (at the end of Ramadan) remains the Islands' "biggest event" of the year. The majority of the remaining population consider themselves non-religious (13.4%) with small Christian including Anglican (3.5%) and Catholic (1.5%). 6.5% of the population chose not to state their religion.

Holidays

On April 6 of each year, the Islanders celebrate Self-Determination Day, marking the date in which they voted for full integration into Australia.

Background

Art and traditional crafts

Museums

Religion

Holidays

See also

References

Further reading