Christmas on Rotuma: The island where the festive season runs from 1 Dec to 1 Jan

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When December arrives on Rotuma, the usual quiet of the remote volcanic island in Fiji gives way to laughter, music, and reunion.

Every year on 1  December, the people of Rotuma officially begin their festive season, a full month of celebration that ends on 1 January.

There is no other place in the world where Christmas is observed across an entire month like this.

With just over 1500 people living permanently on the island (and many more scattered across Fiji and beyond), this season is when families return from across the globe, friends reconnect, and the island pulses with song, dance, and feasts.

And as December unfolds, there’s one custom everyone looks forward to most.

The festive season wouldn’t be complete without the tradition that truly brings Rotuma to life - the fara! Photo/Facebook/Mylsa Enosa

The heartbeat of Christmas: the 'fara'

At the heart of Rotuma’s holiday is a tradition called Fara: from the Rotuman word meaning “to ask".

It’s like a carol-and-dance marathon where groups of people visit from house to house, singing, playing ukuleles or guitars, drumming, and inviting their hosts to join in.

When a “fara” group arrives, the house becomes alive with music, laughter, and community.

Young people take part in the traditional Rotuman “fara", singing and dancing from house to house during the festive season. Photo/Youtube/Ian Osborn

In return, hosts offer food, drink, and a customary gesture of appreciation: sprinkling performers with perfume or talcum powder, a modern version of the old turmeric tradition.

For many Rotumans, the “fara” is more than holiday fun, it’s part of what keeps the culture alive.

As Sumasafu Kaitu tells PMN News, the season is about sharing joy with kaunohoga (family) and kaumane’aga (friends).

A Christmas feast prepared is shared between families. Photo/Youtube/Ian Osborn

Rotuma lies about 640km northwest of Fiji’s main islands, a lush volcanic gem surrounded by small islets.

Although politically part of Fiji since 1881, Rotumans are culturally and ethnically Polynesian, their language, dances, and customs reflect links with other Pacific islands.

Over the decades, many Rotumans have moved to mainland Fiji or abroad, but the Christmas season draws them home.

During this month-long celebration, families from around the world descend on the island to reconnect, often doubling the population.

The festive season is a tradition and a lifeline for identity. As Akesa Joji, who lives overseas, told PMN News, it’s a chance to remember who they are, sharing songs, and stories passed through generations.

Rotumans from around the world return home each December, turning the island into a place of reunion, storytelling, and joy. Photo/Facebook/Maniue Vilsoni

Christmas on Rotuma isn’t just about music and family, it’s a time for feasting and reconnecting with the land and sea.

The islanders gather root crops from their gardens, catch fish and seafood from the reefs, and prepare meals that blend thanksgiving and abundance. Families picnic, share food, and revel in joy together.

Beyond the community celebrations, Christmas becomes a time of renewal, a pause from daily work.

One elder explains that December is a “tools-down” period, reserved for fellowship, gratitude, and merrymaking.

For a small island where migration and modern pressures have threatened traditional ways, Christmas and the “fara” season offer a precious moment of cultural reaffirmation.

Younger generations sometimes lose touch with native language, dance, and customs, but during December, the echo of guitars, ukuleles, and laughter ensures the pulse of Rotuman heritage beats strong.

As the village elder put it: “This season is about 'hanisi', love, gratitude, roots, and the hope that the island’s songs will keep being sung, generation after generation.”

Kesmas Lelei, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Photo/britannica.com