The Fijian (iTaukei) Traditional Lunar Calendar

Compiled by Joseph Veramu

Source Making Fijian Farmers Healthier and Wealthier | HuffPost Impact

In traditional times, Fijian life rotated around the lunar months based on geographical and biological changes. Time was not counted in days, weeks and years as in contemporary times. Changes in the lunar month were seen in the flowering or fruiting of various crops and plants or the availability of marine foods and resources.

The Fijian (iTaukei) Traditional Lunar Calendar is of great importance because it provides empirical wisdom and knowledge to inform our current agricultural and marine practices. While many rural iTaukei still use the Calendar to regulate their farming and marine activities, there is a strong case for wider adaptation of these traditional practices in our schools, homes and workplaces given the challenges of climate change that we are facing in Fiji and globally.

With the very high incidences of deaths in Fiji caused by non-communicable diseases the lunar calendar provides valuable nutritional and practical farming information on root crops, fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants that we can grow around our home gardens. For consumers, it provides information of root crops, fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants that are available at various months of the year in our markets. It is noted that eating locally home-grown foods is far better than eating canned processed foods high in fats and toxic chemicals. Traditional Fijian food and agricultural / marine practices provide a sustainable alternative that promotes healthy lifestyles.

Research by the University of Hong Kong and the Fiji Fisheries Department, for example, shows that over the last 30 years, Fiji's kawakawa (grouper) fish has been drastically reduced by 70 percent. Following the traditional iTaukei calendar of accessing (and nurturing) agricultural and marine resources will ensure that our harvests are done sustainably and takes account of our future generations.

Fijians (iTaukei) lived by a lunar calendar which normally reached its apex in February with the yam harvest. The yam was considered a chiefly root crop that was an important part of ceremonial food presentations. Yams that were cultivated (in addition to those varieties that grew wildly in the forests) were the only root crops that could be kept in their natural state and used for a year or longer. Other vegetables, fruits and root crops were perishable unless they were processed to be preserved for weeks or months for consumption at a later date.

In traditional times, the iTaukei word yabaki referred to the annual yam harvest. Its contemporary use denotes a year.

The first harvests of food crops isevu were presented to chiefs or priests. In contemporary times the isevu has been presented to the Church.

Version 1: Source: Na Vanua o Viti (25/6/2017) https://www.facebook.com/NaVanuaOViti/posts/636327459900206

One version of the Fijian calendar notes that it was based on planting and fishing seasons that was divided into 11 months. This version notes that the Fijian calendar year began in June/July known as Vula i Werewere for clearing the land for planting. July/August is the Vula i Cukicuki when patches of ground were tilled for yam beds. September is the Vula i Vavakada, when young yam plants were tied to reeds to enable the vines to grow upwards. October to January were named after marine resources. October is the Vula i Balolo Lailai, when there is a small rise of the balolo, a sea worm found in reefs. November is the Vula i Balolo Levu when there is a spawning of the sea worm. December is the Vula i Nuqa Lailai when small quantities of the rabbit fish are visible. January is the Vula i Nuqa Levu when the rabbit fish spawns. February is called the Vula i Sevu when the first harvest is usually presented to the Chiefs and the Church. Soon after the 'sevu' (presentation of the first harvest) they then built a special shelter or store house called the 'lololo' before they continued to harvest the rest of the yams from their farms. April is called the Vula i Gasau when reeds sprout afresh. May is Vula i Doi when the doi tree flowers.

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Vula i Nuqa Levu. January.

“Nuqa”, the ‘rabbit’ fish, (siganus vermiculatus), a delicacy amongst Fijians is in abundance. They move in schools in great numbers close to shore. They tend to be passive and easily caught. Fish that are caught in fish fences (ba ni ika) during this time  are ki (surmullet), deu (goatfish). Shellfish such as the kai koso, kuku, kolakola (aetheria semilunata), the chiton (tadruku) and the sea-slug (bosucu) are in plentiful supply.  Land crabs (lairo) are spawning. The edible jellyfish (drose) are floating in abundance.  “Red tide” fish poisoning is a danger at this time.  Polynesian chestnut (ivi) is gathered during this time. Mango trees are fruiting in the drier parts of Vitilevu. Dawa fruit (lychees) and wi (ambarela) are harvested. Breadfruit (uto) is in abundance. The damanu hardwood tree is flowering. Flowers used for perfumed oil or garlands such as the lagakali, bua ni Viti, and caucau are blooming.

Vula i Sevu. February: The climax of the year. The start of the yam harvest and constructing yam storage sheds (lololo) in the farmlands.  This is the important time of the presentation of first fruits of the harvest to the Chief and the Christian Church. At this time, there is abundant supply of breadfruit (uto), taro (dalo), cassava (tavioka),  Polynesian chestnut (ivi), the fruit of  the wi (ambarella), dawa (lychees) and oranges. During this month, the dakua salusalu hardwood tree is flowering.  Fish harvested in the fish fences at this time include the malevu and voro.

Vula i Kelikeli. March. The month is marked by frequent rainfall and thunder and lightning. (yaseyase). Harvesting and storage of yams continues in earnest. Some long yams are buried. Some breadfruit (uto) varieties, the Polynesian chestnut and the vutu fruit are in maturity and ready for picking. Sweet potatoes (kumala) are being planted. Sea crabs (qari), mud lobsters (mana) and the small crabs (kuka) are plentiful. Limited supply of fish in March and April.  The migratory shore-wading Golden Plover (dilio) bird will leave Fiji for Alaska/Siberia in March and April.  Reeds (gasau), (yalu) vine, and the (tokatolu) are flowering.    

Vula i Gasau. April. This is a rainy month. The reeds gasau are flowering. Long yams are being dug. Citrus (moli), including the shaddock (moli kana) and the breadfruit (uto) are in great abundance. The mako  and damanu trees are flowering. The kavika fruit is reaching the end of its season. Dilo nuts which are rich in oil are fruiting. The dilio migratory birds are now leaving Fiji for the great journey to Alaska/Siberia. Mud lobsters (mana), sea crabs (qari), and shellfish kuka are daba with their eggs that are a delicacy. Near the sea shore the tugadra fish are plentiful. While small fish like the daniva, salala, sara can be caught near the sea shore, there is usually a poor catch for those trying to get larger fish.  

Vula i Doi. May. The doi shrub (alphitonia spp.) flowers.  The uvi leka yam and the kawai reaches maturity and is ready for harvest. Sweet potato (kumala) and arrowroot (yabia) are also in abundant supply. The tarawau trees are yellow with their ripe nuts ready for harvest. The vesi leka and the yasiyasi trees are fruiting. Near the shore, schools of salala fish move.  This month is the time also for late cyclones, heavy storms and strong winds called cagi ni doi. Sailing becomes much safer after this month as it signifies the end of the cyclone season.

Vula i Werewere. June. The cool weather begins during this lunar month. It is the time to begin weeding (werewere), and planting the first yams.  Kawai yams are still plentiful, as are some of the wild yams such as bulou.  The duruka and vico starts flowering. The coconut crab (uga vule) is succulent with its rich juicy fat. Oranges and kavika are in short supply. Among fish, there is an abundant supply of gerridae (matu) and sardines (daniva). The dilo and dakua salusalu trees are fruiting.  Humpback whales can often be seen offshore sometimes with their young. At this time, the giant sea turtles cannot be seen for the next three months to August.

Vula i Cukicuki.  July.  This lunar month is marked by cold weather. By the end of the month, digging (cukicuki) and planting of yams is usually completed. The signs that yams should be planted are the flowering of moivi, drala, vasili, and vaivai ni vavalagi plants. Sweet potatoes (kumala) is usually harvested. Maize (sila) usually matures in July and August. Deciduous trees like the tavola, wi, and sinu lose their leaves in these cold months of July and August.  The kesala and kawakawa fish spawns

The octopus (kuita) is plentiful. There is usually a good catch for fisherman catching daniva, ose, and matua.

Vula i Se-ni-drala (Vula-i-kawakawa).  August.  During this month the weather is cool. It is also the end of the dalo season that began around March. The damanu, drala and kauceuti trees are flowering. The mangrove (tiri) and the vaivai ni valagi are fruiting. It is the high season for octopus (kuita) and the small sardine-like fish called the vaya and the matu. The fish kesala (kerakera) and the kawakawa are still breeding. The giant green turtle is now mating, drifting in couples at the surface of the sea (veibalati na vonu).

Vula i Vavakada. (Also called vula i kadrekadre month for sprouting of yams). September.  During this month, rods are staked to support yam vines (na vavakada).  Dalo and kawai are also planted. The following trees and plants are flowering: mango (maqo), drala, buaniviti, mokosoi, wadamu.  Rock cod (kawakawa) is still spawning. In traditional times this would also be the time for the javelin-throwing sport veitiqa, after the completion of planting. The Golden Plover dilio is returning to on its annual migration.

Vula i Balolo Lailai. October In this month we have the first appearance of edible sea annelid balolo in some parts of Fiji. Taro, kawai, via are usually planted at this time. Cagolaya a medicinal plant (for coughs and colds) are in abundance. Kavika fruit and breadfruit (uto) are ready for harvest / picking. Avocado (pea) is abundant especially from October through March. This is also the beginning of the season for watermelon that will continue through February. Flowering has begun for the daiga and mokosoi trees. The misimisi scented plant and the vesi hardwood tree are fruiting. The deciduous Polynesian almond (tavola) is putting our fresh new leaves (sovasova). More migratory birds dilio arrive in Fiji.

Vula i Balolo Levu.  November.  During this month we have the second, larger appearance of balolo at some shores. Pineapple, mango and kavika fruits are in season.  Dawa and vutu fruits are also fruiting. Misimisi a scented plant is ripe.  The sea crabs (qari) are “full” of spawn (momona), and there is an abundance of the walu fish. This is the beginning of the hurricane season. Long distance sailing becomes risky due to storms.

Vula i Nuqa Lailai.  December.  This is the period of the cyclone season that might last through March / April. There are smaller schools of rabbit fish (nuqa). The trevally fish (saqa) is spawning. Young sharks (bulubulu) are now born, swimming close to shore. Sharks have a tendency to bite during this time.  This month is also the period when land crab (lairo) especially the lairo vula are aplenty. In some areas the balolo may appear.  The walu fish and the trevally (saqa) are breeding. Some early yams like the vurai can be dug up for consumption and can also be planted. Trees that flower during this month are the flamboyant tree (sekoula), timber trees like the buabua and kuasi, both being species of podocarpiaceae and the nuqanuqa.  Breadfruit (uto) matures in addition to fruits like mango, kavika, dawa, and pineapple.