Fiji is an island country with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in the
South Pacific Ocean region. New Year’s Day is celebrated in Fiji
immediately after Christmas as in many other countries. However, in
Fiji, the celebration for New Year’s Day is not just one day. In parts
of Fiji, New Year’s Day is celebrated for a week or even longer.
As
Fiji is a combination of many cultures, ethnic groups and traditions,
the New Year’s Day celebration is both time-honoured and modern. An
understanding of Fiji’s legacy and customs, explains how these are
incorporated into the festivities of Fiji’s New Year.
Dancing is an exciting way to enter into New Year’s Day on Fiji. One of
the most well liked native dances is the Meke, which integrates the
seasea or a woman’s fan dance or the meke wesi, which is the men’s spear
dance. The dances portray the stories of wars and other important
events. The mekes have been danced for generations and are a significant
segment of the unwritten history of Fiji. The more modern style of meke
celebrates contemporary events.
Fiji’s celebration of New Year’s includes dinner and wine. Kava, called Yaqona in Fiji, is the national drink.
Fijians
celebrate New Year’s by being seated on carpeting on the floor and
eating the New Year’s feast by their hands. Food in Fiji is a
fascinating intermingling of Indian, South East Asian, and Pacific
tastes.
The people of Fiji dress traditionally for the New Year’s
celebration. The traditional national dress is the Sulu that is similar
to a skirt. Both men and women wear the Sulu, which are intricately
decorated. In the urban areas, men have Sulu adapted as part of their
suits. With this the men dresses in a shirt with a collar, tie and
jacket with the Sulu to match, finished off with sandals. This suit is
also used by the military as part of the uniform. Women wear a Tapa
sheath dress.
The music of Fiji is Polynesian in its nature, even
though Fiji is part of Melanesia. Nevertheless, Fiji is also identified
with Fijian reggae. Fijian folk music is focused on church vocals. The
dancing is melodious and slit drums and drums of other natural materials
produce the percussion. When New Year’s Day arrives in Fiji, the
contemporary Fijians play the mandolin, guitar, and ukulele plus the
age-old lali drums. As in most cultures, Fijians take time to make New
Year’s resolutions.
New Year’s celebrations keep on for weeks or
longer in some parts of Fiji. It is a frequent tradition in Fiji to beat
on the drums and spray each other with water. In the centre of Suva,
which is Fiji’s capital, the people set off fireworks and hold a yearly
street party to greet the New Year. This is one of the principal New
Year’s parties in all of the South Pacific.
Fiji is easily
accessible by air and water. The flight landing destinations are Nadi
International Airport, Fiji’s main airport and the Suva Airport.
Travelers are able to get direct flights from Los Angeles and from Hong
Kong. Visitors can
fly to Fiji from capital cities of Australia and New Zealand.
Many
travel agents in Fiji require a deposit along with the reservation.
This payment is made in advances, so it is highly recommended to book
your accommodation before travel or get a
Fiji vacation package.
