The Meke is a Fijian dance, which expresses traditional stories and legends.

Fiji is very famous for its clean and clear blue oceans that have everyone wanting to go swimming in. The ocean surroundings contain coral reefs, lagoons, and pelagic regions.



One of the major beauties of Fiji is its exotic scenery that it has, starting with the beautiful flowers and unique animals that has found there.

Fijians have many incredible ceremonies, but my favorite is the firewalking ceremony because it very risky! It is evident that people who do not have faith will end up getting burned, but there are many firewalkers, who survive this ceremony without getting hurt! Before performing this cermony, it is required to obey certain rituals. When the ritual is to be presented numerous representatives are selected from each town, the total number being usually from the direct family of the Bete. For two weeks before the event, the contestants separate themselves from all females and have no contact with them at all; also they must not eat any coconut. If the contestants do not observe the tabu it can cause the offender accountable to severe burns during the ceremony. For the ceremony a big round hole is dug into the ground some dig twelve to fifteen feet in distance and three to four feet in deepness. This pit is lined with big river stones twelve to fifteen inches in diameter and a huge log fire is built over them some six to eight hours before the ceremony. The Firewalking ceremonies began with the Beqa people, and even though this is a traditional ceremony tourist are invited to join the festivities. However, there are ceremonies that are not available to the public. The purpose of fire walking is for purification and as an examination to establish purity. Fijian firewalking is one of a kind to the island of Beqa in the Southern Islands and this is an exclusive place you will see it as an actual ritual.





Yaqona (also known as kava) is a non-alcoholic and customary beverage made from the crushed root of a pepper plant. Yaqona rituals are performed at all social and cultural events from raising money for the town to weddings. Members sit in a circle on the ground in front of the tanoa, a big hand-carved wooden bowl used for preparing the drink in. Participants drink the brown liquid from a small half coconut shell (which is called bilo) of mixed Yaqona. When they are drinking it, they have a ritual clapping which is, once before drinking and three times after drinking it, and repeating the word maca. When visiting a town in Fiji, it is customary to give Yaqona as a gift. Recently Yaqona has been recognized as anti-depressant and stress reliever. Visitors are also greeted into the village through the Yaqona ceremony. This is a great way for people to socialize with one another. Prearranged day tours to a town should consist of the Yaqona ritual.



Fiji encountered many struggles until it had reached independence on October, 10, 1970.
1643, Dutch navigator Abel Janszoon Tasman was the first European man to determine Fiji. Tasman traveled with a boat to Indonesia and came upon the islands that are now known as Fiji. It is reported that the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman migrated Fiji to try to find the Great Southern Continent. No one went back to the islands until 130 years later Captain James Cook saw the islands. In 1987, two military rebellions destroyed the democratic law, because they feared over the regime supposed as dominated by the Indian society. In 1990, the law agreed for the Melanesians to have power over Fiji, but it directed to serious Indian migration. The constitution was altered; in 1997 it was more reasonable. Liberated and calm the elections in 1999 were the outcome in a government led by an Indo-Fijian. One year later, this was overthrown in a revolution led by George Speight. Fiji's relationship of the Commonwealth of Nations was hanging due to the anti-democratic behavior connected with the 2000 rebellion. Near 2000, Democracy was restored and Laisenia Qarase was chosen as Prime Minister, who was the leader of the short-term government. The flag of Fiji is light blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper left hand corner and the Fijian guard centered on the external part of the flag. The shield portrays a yellow lion above a white pasture divided by the cross of Saint George featuring trails of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove.



Fiji is a multicultural nation of Indian and European traditions. Fiji is located between Melanesia and Polynesia.
Although Fijians cover about 50% of Fiji, and belong to the Melanesian group, but their culture is closer to the Polynesian groups. Fijians have very strong beliefs in morals and respect. Fijians are the most hospitable people on earth. If tourists respect their traditions, they will be a welcomed visitor into their towns and homes. It is very crucial and common for Fijians to have a very close relationship with their family’s village, and land. Based upon the hierarchy of leaders control towns and tribes, and when the leader passes away a relative inherit their power. Based upon the loss of their father leader sequences have been determined from older brother to young brother. When the youngest brother died, the older son of the older brother becomes the leader. In present time, this ritual still controls the Fijian society.

Fijian food is one of kind with its amazing, color, texture, and flavor. Their food mainly contains ingredients such as species, vegetables, fruits, and poultry. Also many other countries influence Fiji’s food. Fijians produce cacao, corn, coffee, coconut, ginger, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, kava, taro, beans, pineapple, tobacco, bananas, rice, and copra dyers. Many of these ingredients are in their main dish called the Lovo. The LOVO is one of their amazing main dishes that they enjoy to eat. It is similar to a barbeque, but it is cooked more. In addition, Rice, yams, and fish are typical also foods that they eat. They also fish for tuna and raise pigs, goats and cows. Do to having cultural diversity Fijian have a variety of foods consist of Melanesian, Polynesian ,Indian, European, other Pacific Islanders, and Chinese. Generally, the Fijians and the Fijian-Indian, who live there, use their hands to eat. Food is eaten on the floor while the family sits on mats.

As much as it sounds strange Fiji had to live in the Cannibal islands before Dutch navigator Abel Tasman’s discovered Fiji in 1643. Do you know what Cannibalism is? It is the practice of eating member of one’s species and usually refers to humans eating other humans. Even though Fiji has been recognized as a cannibal island, only one white person was killed and eaten in Fiji. The Reverend Thomas Baker, a Methodist follower with the London Missionary Society was killed on the authority of the ruler of the village in Namosi in the of middle Viti Levu. It appears that the chief was offended when Rev. Baker took a brush from the chief’s hair. It is still considered offensive to touch another’s head without authorization, and at that moment in time it was considered as a dare to war or a fight. The Rev. Baker’s death in 1867 was the last event of documentation of cannibalism in Fiji. WATCH OUT! WHEN YOU GO TO FIJI BE CAREFUL YOU DO NOT TOUCH ANYONES HEAD! Cannibalism at that time was practiced as a kind of sacred ceremony. Cannibalism at that time was practiced as a kind of sacred ceremony. Throughout these ceremonies an extraordinary tool was used called the iculanibokola. This tool was used by both the authorized family and the followers to feed the meat to ordinary people. All through the period of when cannibalism was practiced in Fiji, only sacred priests and chiefs used these particular forks for eating the human. As living representatives of the family gods, these people were believed to be very blessed that they couldn’t handle the food with their hands or lips. Therefore, they were fed by an assistant or when they had cannibal feats they would use the special fork. It is so amazing how such a big transformation occurred from period cannibalism to now!