CULTURE & LIFESTYLE...

 

To sum up 850,000 people in a few paragraphs does not do the Fiji Islands justice, which is why you need to come and experience Fiji and its people to completely understand. However, we still want to give you an idea of what amazingly optimistic and multicultural the Fijian people are.

Over half of the Fiji population is living below the poverty line; however, you would never guess it by their big Bula smiles. The favourable climate makes food pretty plentiful and Fijians’ family and community values of sharing everything make living here the ideal island life.

 

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF LOCALS...

Arts, literature, cinema, music, and dance are all around Fiji both traditional and western. Small thatched bures with satellite dish on-top is something of a sight for the first time. As Fiji’s youth becomes most urbanized in the big towns and cities, young people move for education and jobs, western influences come into play. However, the Fijian people have not lost their culture. They are still much grounded people to the traditions of their ancestors.
 

FAMILY VALUES...

Independent thinking and living is huge in Fiji. What’s mine is yours and vice versa. Whether you are Indo-Fijian or Indigenous Fijian it doesn’t matter, everyone has extremely tight community and family. Moving out of your parent's house is mostly done only once married or if you had to move due to your job. Family members stay extremely close through out the extent of a lifetime despite distances or disputes.

 

RELIGION...

Like most native people, Fijian’s traditional religion was made up of ancestor worship and polytheism. In the 1830s missionaries brought Christianity and changed the way the Indigenous Fijians dressed and worshiped. Now over half of the nation’s population are Christian, mostly Methodist and Catholic.

With the arrival of the Indian indentured labours in the 1870s and 1880s, 3 new religions were introduced: Hinduism, Islam, and Sikh. Today majority of Indo-Fijians practice Hinduism. Be sure to check out the largest Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, which is in Nadi town.
 

CLOTHING...

Anything casual goes in all the resorts and towns, however keep in mind to be respectful and not wear your lowest cut shirt or shortest shorts. Modest dress is a must do in all villages nationwide.

Most Fijian men and women wear sulus (aka sarongs), the wraparound skirts. Many Indo-Fijian women wear saris, lengths of cloth wrapped and pleated around the body.

REAL FIJI CULTURE...

Feejee Experience visits villages along the route allowing you to meet and mingle with the locals in environments unadulterated by tourism. Our village stops provide a unique experience and an unmatched insight into how ‘The Other Half’ lives in a developing country. This is the real Fiji!