The relationship with the parents of one's cross cousins is relaxed, while keeping in mind that respect must be shown Momo and Nei because they are older.Among family and friend gatherings this etiquette is more loosely followed and dialect and social etiquette can vary from place to place. Failure to do so may result in severe burns. These help to meet physical needs whereas Tabua and Yaqona are items of respect and hold a spiritual significance.Megan Lee in her paper "Life in a Fijian Village", in Chapter 2, Social Structure and Organization of Naivuvuni Village, writes:Yaqona is a cousin of the pepper plant. “Traditional Fiji Wedding” – Steph and Joe – Balenabelo.
Traditionally however, a marriage would be arranged by the man's parents and senior members of his Mataqali and would have been based on the relationship that would be created between two clans. It was rarely about the individuals themselves.If all protocol is followed, the Tevutevu is performed. The resulting cloth is dried in the sun.The term "Yaca" is used to refer to one's "namesake" when a child in memory of a relative who has passed on. These include:Masi is made from the bark of the mulberry tree. The leaves are boiled, pounded with a heavy wooden mallet and then dried and rolled into bundles.
However, there are some people's birthdays that have special significance. This is where our Love was forged. The colours are normally an earthy beige and black or brown with dyes used from the mangrove tree, though now, some modern materials are used such as coloured yarn to make frilled edges.
While they are still part of a larger clan this symbolises that they are now a separate and independent familyYaqona is consumed seated on a rectangular Pandanus mat. On her wedding day, a Japanese bride celebrating a traditional Shinto ceremony wears white from head to toe, including makeup, kimono, and a hood called a "tsunokakushi." Masi can also be smoked over a sugarcane fire to produce the tan-coloured masi kuvui. "Marriage was not just a union of two individuals, it was also the 'marriage' of the two groups, who thereby became socially and economically related to one another".Megan Lee writes in her paper "Life in a Fijian Village":The woman and man were used as tools to foster the social relations between the two groups. Fijian tradition and ceremony is a living way of life that has remained intact for millennia, evolving as the Fijiannation has modernised over time, with various external influences from Pacific neighbours, and European and Asian society. There is Liga ni Magiti, which is category one and is indicated by the number 8 (Walu), which then has two subcategories; first 3, which is Turaga overall, containing the Ratu and the Adi (Fijian Royalty). If she is older than the child's own mother, then she is referred to as Nana levu or big mother. Various heads of the family will administer and lead the family unit within the village community.
It involves both sides of the family, in which they present the couple with mats and other household practical items so they are able to begin their new home.
Deep in the heart of a culture and tradition that many say is lost!
The Lau group is also renowned for its crafts and particularly for the art of making fine Masi. Pre-Wedding Traditons -The traditional church ceremony is called vakamau -i butubutu is placed before the altar, and they stand on this for the remainder of the marriage ceremony -Bride & groom's clothes are hung/placed on the i butubutu after the ceremony is over The father's side will bring mats that the child sits on during the feast and celebration, and then afterwards the mother's side takes them away and distributes them among themselves.
Traditionally, each person (usually in order of their social standing in their families) places a mat on the floor to symbolise where the couple will sleep. This rope is laid out toward the chief, while next to the chief will be his spokesman and other senior men.