Surinamese culture is very diverse and dynamic, and has strong Asian, African and European
influences.
The population is composed of the contribution of people from the Netherlands, India, Africa,
China and Indonesia, as well as indigenous peoples who lived in the area, before the
arrival of European settlers.
About 90% of people established in Suriname have ancestors who come from other countries
and regions.
== Cultural events == New Year's Eve
Holi-Phagwa Easter
Labour Day Indian Arrival Day
Keti Koti Javanese Arrival Day
Indigenous People's Day Day of the Maroons
Chinese Arrival Day Independence Day
Christmas
== Music ==
Suriname is a South American country, a former colony of the Netherlands.
The country is known for its kaseko music, and for having an Indo-Caribbean tradition.
Kaseko is probably derived from the French expression casser le corps (break the body),
which was used during slavery to indicate a very swift dance.
Kaseko is a fusion of numerous popular and folk styles derived from Europe, Africa and
the Americas.
It is rhythmically complex, with percussion instruments including skratji (a very large
bass drum) and snare drums, as well as saxophone, trumpet and occasionally trombone.
Singing can be both solo and choir.
Songs are typically call-and-response, as are Creole folk styles from the area, such
as kawina.
Kaseko evolved in the 1930s during festivities that used large bands, especially brass bands,
and was called Bigi Pokoe (big drum music).
Following World War II, jazz, calypso and other importations became popular, while rock
and roll from the United States soon left its own influence in the form of electrified
instruments.
== Cuisine ==
Surinamese cuisine is extensive, since the population of Suriname came from many countries.
Surinamese cuisine is a combination of many international cuisines including Indian, African,
Javanese (Indonesian), Chinese, Dutch, Jewish, Portuguese, and Amerindian cuisines.
This has ensured that Surinamese cooking has spawned many dishes; the different groups
were influenced by each other's dishes and ingredients; this new Surinamese cuisine included
roti, nasi goreng, bami, pom, snesi foroe, moksi meti, and losi foroe; because of this
blending of many cultures, Surinamese cuisine is a unique creation.
Basic foods include rice, plants such as tayer and cassava, and roti.
Usually, there is chicken on the menu in many variations of the Chinese snesi foroe, the
Indian chicken masala and pom, a very popular party dish of Creole origin.
Also, salted meat and stockfish (bakkeljauw) are widely used.
Yardlong beans, okra, and eggplant are examples of vegetables in the Surinamese kitchen.
For a spicy taste, Madame Jeanette peppers are used.
Besides the casserole pom, roti (often served with a filling of chicken masala, potato and
vegetables) is also often served on festive occasions with many guests.
Other well known dishes are moksi-alesi (mixed boiled rice with salted meat, shrimp or fish,
and any vegetable), rice and beans, peanut soup, battered fried plantain, bara and the
original Javanese nasi goreng and mie goreng.
Desserts include boyo, a sweet cake made with coconut and cassava, and fiadu, a cake containing
raisins, currants, almonds, and succade.
== Religion ==
Christianity: 48.4% Hinduism: 22.3%
Islam: 13.9% Indigenous religion: 5%
Winti: 1.8% Javanism: 0.8%
Obeah Judaism