Traditions: Village Festivals
The Fijian People live an easy going life, and each village throws occassional festivals. If you are invited to a village or its festival, wear modest clothes and take off your hat, as wearing a hat is an insult to the chief. When entering a home, leave your shoes outside the door. Also, keep in mind that is is insulting to touch someone's head. When visiting a village, it is customary to bring kava, which will be presented to the head of the village. It will then be poured into powder & mixed with water and served. This is a common Fijian drink, and if you are invited to drink it, enjoy the ritual and drink it. Drinking kava is a sign of welcoming, or being welcomed. At the festival, get ready to be asked multiple personal questions such as where you are from and if you're married. The Fijian people do this to get to know you better, not to make you feel awkward or uncomfortable.
Kava, a traditional Fijian drink, is made from the roots of the pepper plant, Piper methysticum. It can be found at many different Fijian traditional ceremonies. It is made by mixing the dry powder root with water. Kava si highly valued for its medicinal purposes as well. It can be used as a sedative, and as a muscle relaxation. Often Fijian singers drink this after songs to help relax their sore vocal chords. It does not contain alcohol, however it can cause mild sleepiness, relaxation fo msucles, feelings of happiness, numbness of the mouth & throat, and a possible temporary loss of appetite.
Cultural ceremonies: the lovo & the meke
The Lovo is a huge feast, cooked in the earth. It is similar to a barbeque, but with more smoke and is used to cook large amounts of food at the same time. You simply dig a hole 60 cm wide and 72 cm wide, and then put in the stones and the wood. Villages will often have these where everyone comes and feasts and socializes together. The food will take around 2 hours to cook. The Meke, is a traditional song & dance to tell of legends, love stories, history, and spirit of the islands. It could be a active dance like a spear dance or a gentle and graceful dance. It is divided into two groups: the orchestra (Vakatrara) who sit and play the instruments on the ground & sing/chant for the group, and the the dancers (Matana). The dancers wear strings of flowers (Salusalu), the men wear full warrior costumes, and the women wear traditonal clothes with coconut scented oils.