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Festivals of Fiji
Fijians
are a soft-spoken people (raising one’s voice for any
reason is considered extremely rude in Fiji) and the culture
is considered by many to be rather sober. The annual festivals,
however, are a time to unwind and cut loose, so to be speak.
Because of the large Christian, Hindu and Muslim populations
in Fiji, there are many religious festivals of a diverse nature.
In addition to the religious holidays celebrated such as Christmas,
Diwali, and the Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday, there are
also many secular festivals and fund-raising carnivals held
annually.
Christmas:
Christmas
in Fiji is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and is complemented
with visits from Santa Claus. Christmas Eve is often spent
in church and is accompanied with much carol singing. Huge
communal parties are held in many of the villages over the
holiday and picnics and parties on the beach are abundant.
Children receive gifts of toys and books from Santa, and it
is a festive time in the Christian communities.
Diwali:
Diwali,
the Hindu Festival of Lights, is celebrated
by many of the Indo-Fijian communities in October or November
of each year (November 12th for 2004). It is celebrated with
ornate candle decorations and many small oil lamps (diyas)
and sweet tasting foods. It is the festive Hindu celebration
of good (Lord Rama) over evil and in India, it is a celebration
of the Hindu culture itself. Diwali is a public holiday in
Fiji and is a time of much merriment.
Ratu Sir
Lala Sukuna Day – Monday 31st May
May 31st
is celebrated as Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day in Fiji to honour
the former high chief and scholar who was considered Fiji’s
greatest statesman. Lala Sukuna was a decorated war hero in
the first World War (no small feat considering Britain did
not allow native Fijians to fight in the war), and even won
France’s highest military honour. Cultural shows and
games mark this public holiday for proud Fijians.
**At the end of April, 2004 Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara passed
away. Rama Mara, former President and Prime Minister of Fiji
for many years, was the great-nephew and protégé
f Ratu Sukuna.
City Festivals
of Fiji
There
are three main city festivals held annually in Fiji. The
Bula Festival is celebrated in Nadi each July, the
Hibiscus Festival is held in Suva in November
and the Sugar Festival is held in Lautoka.
These festivals include parades with marching bands and beauty
pageants, and are a joyous time for the citizens of the cities
to celebrate the unique identities of their cities. Nadi is
known for it’s horseracing, Lautoka is known as the
sugar city for all the sugar it produces and Suva is the capital
of Fiji.
Other
festivals celebrated in Fiji:
Chinese New Year, Holi, Eid, The Prophet Mohammed’s
Birthday, Easter, National Youth Day
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