Fiji's Traditional Calendar

The traditional Fijian calendar was based on the repeating cycle of natural occurrences observed in the plant and animal world. Knowledge of the environment and its ever changing nature is the basis of this traditional Fijian calendar. It regulated the main farming activities, what sources of food are to be harvested or to be caught at different times of the year. This calendar is still widely used by all Fijian people that depend on the use of resources provided by land and sea. The ancient knowledge of the calendar is passed on verbally from the elders to the young.

Vula i nuqalevu
Abundance of Nuqa (rabbit fish) and edible sea snails
Land crabs spawn
mango, dawa (fiji lytchee), breadfruit tree bear fruit
Damanu tree flowers
January is associated with the abundance of spinefoot and rabbit fish (nuqa), shellfish and bivalves (kaikoso) and trochus (vivili). This month is also when land crabs (lairo) spawn in the sea andbreadfruit trees bear fruit.

Vula i sevu (caka nai sevu ni yabaki)
First crop of the year are witnessed, dalo, uvi, taviaka
Wi, orange, ivi tree bear fruit
Crop nurseries are built
February is when the yam gardens mature and the offering ofthe first produce (sevu) are made to the chiefs, landowners and the church to give thanksfor the crop.

Vula i kelikeli
Uvi is dug up for consumption
Crab mature
Yaka, gasau, tokatolu plants flower and fruit
  In March, crabs (qari) mature and bear eggs. In the gardens, the harvesting of yam continues.

Vula i Gasau
Breadfruit are plenty
Tugadra fish abound
KAdamu, Mako trees flower
April is when reeds (gasau) blossom and flower. This is when breadfruits ripen. In the sea, the bigeye scad (tugadra) is plentiful.

Vula i Doi
Uvi leka( yam variety )matur
plent Salala (mackerel)
Yasiyasi, Vesileka flower and fruit
In May, yam harvesting is continued and storage houses (lololo) are packed while at sea, there is a lotof chub mackerel (salala).

Vula I Verevere
Uvi (yam) is planted
Daniva (sardine), Matu (gerridae) fish abound
Dilo, dakua trees flower and bear fruit

 June is when the clearing of the new yam gardens begin. In the sea, silver biddy (matu) and goldspot herring (daniva) are plentiful.

Vula i Cukicuki
Octopus season begins
Kerakera fish spwn its young
Moivi, vaivai ni vavalagi, drala trees beginto flower

 July is remembered for the abundance of octopus (kuita) and rock cod (kerakera) and the completion of work on the yam garden.

Vula i Senidrala
Octopus become plentiful
Vaya (sardine) abound
Drala, damanu, Vavai ni vavalagi, kauceuti trees flower

 August is known for the abundance of octopus and the fishing of little priest (vaya).

Vula i Vavakada
Yam plants are wound around a supporting pole
Kawakawa (cod) spawn
kaunigai, mango trees flower and bear fruit
Vaitiqa (spear throwing ) game - after yearly planting is completed

 In September, yams begin to sprout and supporting sticks are put in place to support the young plant. Rock cod (kawakawa) spawns during this time while mango trees flower.

Vula i Balolo lailai
Breadfruit matures
Damabi, mokosoi trees flower
Vesi tree bears fruit

 October, breadfruit matures and sea-worm (Eunice viridis, balolo) is collected.

Vula i Balolo Levu
Crabs are filled with spawn
Walu fish abound
kavika, pineapples ripen

Tomanu, Moivi trees flowerIn
November is marked by the continued collection of balolo, the maturing of crabs and the abundance of spanish mackerel (walu). On land, a lot of local fruits mature.
 

Vula i Nuqalailai
Abundance of small Nuqa fish
Saqa (trevally) fish spawn
Sekoula, Kuasi, Buabua flower
In December the cycle rounds off, with the spinefoot, rabbit fish (nuqa) and trevally (saqa) spawning.