The Festivals and Holidays of Fiji

Posted on Apr 21, 2015 | 0 comments

Welcome back to our #FijiHappy series. I am headed to Fiji soon and I get to bring you along for the whole ride! This means I am going to be giving you every piece of information on Fiji possible so you can easily plan your next trip there.

There is a mixed population in the Republic of Fiji consisting mainly of Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Therefor this nation celebrates a beautiful mix of holidays appreciating it’s multicultural population. In addition they have some really incredible festivals on Fiji – these people know how to have a good time! So let’s get this list started!

January 1 – New Year’s Day, perhaps one of the largest (and sometimes longest as it can last between a week to a month) celebrations. During this time you will hear lots of drums beating, see fireworks, find an annual street party in the nation’s capital of Suva and people showering others with water. This is one of the largest celebrations in the South Pacific.

February/March – Holi, the Hindu “Festival of Colors”. This is a more social Hindu Holiday where Hindus of all casts and classes participate in spraying colored powders and water, having parties and visiting with relatives and friends. It is based on the Hindu calendar so the date changes each year.

March/April

Ram Naumi. This is the Hindu celebration of the birth of Lord Rama and falls according to the Hindu calendar. It is not a public holiday but it is well celebrated there.

Easter is a major Christian festival on Fiji. Everything shuts down from Thursday until Tuesday, this is a public holiday.

Palm Sunday – it is actually celebrated as Children’s Sunday on Fiji. You know I love this idea! Children dress is white, lead the sermons, are given a good meal and gifts. This year, the kids who were not affected raised money and donated to the kids who were affected by Tropical Cyclone Pam. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

May

Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day – Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna was Fiji’s first modern statesman. He is thought to be the father of modern day Fiji so he is celebrated with parties. The festivities last for an entire week, with many different towns and cities celebrating in their own way. The event concludes with a presidential speech relating to Fijian unity, and the statue of Ratu Sir Lala Sakuna gets polished by locals.

National Youth Day May 4th– This is a public holiday celebrating all of the youth on Fiji, encouraging them along. Children are the future and I love how Fiji honors them.

June

15 – Queen’s Birthday. Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated on this day as she is the traditional queen of Fiji.

World Music Festival – Fiji is the heart of the Pacific Music Culture. Each year in June, the World Music Festival fils the city of Suva with bands from both local and from all over the world to entertain. Reggae is popular as it is traditional Fiji music.

In the first half of the year, based upon the Islamic and Lunar calendars the Fijian Muslims celebrate Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday. There are parties and celebrations everywhere.

August

Bula Festival – Celebrated in Nadi, this is a fantastic celebration of the island’s heritage. Traditional music and dance shows are put up and the streets are lively with marching bands and pageants. Super fun.

Hibiscus Festival – Each year the streets of Suva are filled with floats featuring traditional dances and cultural shows. The best part is the famed Hibiscus Ball, attended by many.

September

Sugar Festival – Sugar is Fiji’s largest export, most islanders are involved with sugar on some level so this is one of the most popular, busiest festivals for locals. It is celebrated in Lautoka, Fiji’s second largest city and filled with parades, cultural shows and parties.

Friendly North Festival – The Festival of the Friendly North is an annual event in Labasa which began 40 years ago. It is a 7 day long beauty pageant of sorts with parades and parties and a crowned queen (with 2 runners up) at the end!

Coral Coast Festival – Celebrated in Sigatoka, this is a fun festival with cultural shows, music and other entertainment appreciating the natural beauty of this island.

October

10 – Fiji Day! This is the day Fiji joined the United Kingdom in 1874 and then in 1970, on this day, Fiji gained their independence. The week before this day is call Fiji Week. There are loads of religious and cultural celebrations.

Diwali – this is the “Festival of Lights”. This festival is to honor Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. You will see fantastic light shows, traditional firecracker displays, and plenty of night-time fun. This is a great time for people of all cultures to come and celebrate life together.

December

25 – Christmas is widely celebrated by this country as a whole.

26 – Boxing Day is a celebration the day after Christmas.

Sounds amazing, right? An island nation so filled with culture and love of life, I simply cannot wait to go!

A huge Thank You to The Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Koro Sun Resort and Matangi Private Island Resortfor sponsoring us to learn, explore and share EVERYTHING Fiji!

We will be releasing a new FijiHappy post every 3^rd Tuesday so be sure to check back for more on planning a trip to Fiji!

If you have some great tips or things I HAVE to check out when traveling to Fiji, drop me a line or leave me a comment! I would love to read about your Fiji advice and adventures!

Malibu Mama Loves Xx

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