At Sainte Marie, the inhabitants are attached to traditions. The social or family events are faithfully linked to practices invoking the ancestors' spirits. The wealth and the variety of these rituals underline the authenticity and the depth of the "Saint-marien" cultural identity. Besides, because of its insular character, Sainte Marie organised to depend only on itself and knew how to find on the spot resources to entertain themselves. The simplicity, the creativeness, the beauty and the spontaneity of the "saint-marien" dances and songs permit to realise the omnipresent joy of the inhabitants of the island.

All those who had one day the chance to see the traditional dances and songs show of the association of Vohilava's youth have certainly been touched by the ease and sincerity of the gestures and attitudes, the beauty of the singing voices, the joy and simplicity of this young group of Sainte Marie who wonderfully expresses the virginal character of Nosy Boraha island (vernacular name of Sainte Marie). The company is managed by the respectable Charline, midwife and masseur of Vohilava's village. She works at Soanambo hotel and her massage is so good that it inspired many poems. The choregraphies, texts and costumes are made by young people which creations are always improving. Dances and traditional shows raise money which is shared to buy school stationery for the twenty members of the association.

Morengy

On public holidays, when the setting sun starts to give its orange color, a nervous rhythm melody can sometimes be heard. These percussions means for the surrounding that a Morengy show is having place. A circle of spectators spontaneously gather around the barrel « la Barica » that many players are striking. A champion, sometimes many, get into the circle, fist raised, proudly. If a combattant draws his two fists closed toward another, it's a direct challenge. This last one has just to do the same to take up the challenge. The referee crosses his armes between the fighters: it is the start of the confrontation. If the tomtom stops, the battle must cease immediately. The punches and kicks never last more than a few seconds. Sainte Marie's inhabitants are quiet people. These battles, done between men as well as between women, are outlets which main appeal lies in the champion's humorous show.

Zebus fight

Like everywhere in Madagascar, the zebu occupies an important place in the "saint-marien" society. This animal that assumes a sacred character is synonymous of social ease. And therefore, the fight of zebus is a mean for the owners to put in evidence their success. Organised during the days of rest, on Sunday or on holidays, the game consists in the natural confrontation of two male zebus on a vast free land. Before the event, the owners agree on the modes of fight. The promoters avoid that the animals get injured during the fight. Thus, the horns are protected and a referee must supervise the fight so that there are not any serious injuries. The animals are sized up, the place and the maximal length of the fight are set, and finally the conditions of the victory are defined. No bet is taken on the outcome of the fight because the game must keep a free and amusing character. The fight generally lasts one hour, under the hourras of the spectators and end often by the flight of one of the zebus.

Tsaboraha

The Tsaboraha is a traditional practice widespread in Nosy Boraha. While permitting big human collaborative gatherings, this ceremony is a mean to reinforce the social relationships. During the three days of its unfolding, the Tsaboraha requires the involvement of all swathes of the society. After the initiator family got the authorisation of the ancestral spirits, men, women and children of the region began to work by actively participating to the preparation of the ritual. At each of the numerous stages, important quantities of "Betsabetsa" will be distributed. The men are going to cut the wood that the children brought back from the surrounding forests. The women will sort out the rice. The young men of the village will proceed to a type of bullfighting; the "Tolon'omby" with a young and robust bull marked by a white mark on the forehead. Once tamed, the beast will be brought to the" Fijoroana ", sacred place where it will be sacrificed the following day after a festive evening and a research of the sacred tree during the night. After the death, the meat of the zebu will be shared and prepared for the feast that sometimes can gather 1000 people. The sacrifice of the animal is always motivated by a well founded reason which will be explained by the" Tangalamena ", the chief of the community.

Tromba

During a specific and secret ritual, good residual spirits regularly possesses the «tromba», a person endowed for the invocation. Real sacred medium, the "tromba" is then capable to lead the important rituals of the village. These mediums are consulted in order to communicate with the ancestors. In order to completely embody the character, the medium adopts the particularities of behaviours and language as well as the tastes of the reincarnate person. In the same way, during the possession, the tromba wears the dress characterising the ancestor. So, one of the Trombas of the village of Vohilava, embodying a sailor drowned by a stoup, wears a hat with a red pompon and a marine tunic when he is possessed.

Fady and sacred places

In Sainte Marie, the cult of the ancestors leads to the festive ceremony of "Okatrarana". This ancestral ritual consists in the exhumation and the burial of the remains of a person beloved by the family. Thus, like anywhere else in Madagascar, the cemetery is an important and particularly sacred place.

According to the beliefs of Sainte Marie, the" Razanas" or spirits of the ancestors are at the origin of all events appearing in life. Therefore, it is very important to grant faith to their wishes. These ancestral requirements explain the presence of many sacred places in Sainte Marie of which it is better to respect the "fady" or taboo. If the purposeful non respect of these "fady" would be at the origin of bad consequences, the fact to pass besides these interdictions without knowing them wouldn't have any ominous effect. On the «Ile aux Nattes», there are places where it is forbidden to go on Tuesday and Thursday. All the villages of Sainte Marie are endowed with a sacred place, the" Tany masina", where take place the rituals, recognisable thanks to the presence of a small white flag. The site of the natural swimming pools
is also he a " fady " place.