A Vanuatu Christmas Tradition

*There is a link to a video clip at the bottom of the page*

I wonder what thought would cross your mind if on Christmas Eve, or any day for that matter, you looked out your bedroom window and saw two club wielding men burst through your hedge and begin to run wildly through your yard. If you are anything like me, you might be a tad startled. What it was turned out to be a great opportunity to learn a little more about the culture of Vanuatu. Read on...

Yes, Christmas here in Vanuatu has taken a bit of adjusting for our family. We are having fun with it... we are starting new family traditions, like beach towels instead of stockings. And we are holding on to some traditions, like brunch on Christmas morning. We don't bake Christmas cookies. None of us could bring ourselves to do it in the heat.

Christmas is celebrated by the locals here in Port Vila.There are similarities and differences. It is a time for family to come together and for giving of gifts. The big store in town has been having a special event for the last week. Part of the parking lot has been set aside for selling and wrapping 'Christmas Floaties' (inflatable inner tubes, whales, and other toys for playing in the water). And, of course, there is a feast. As it turned out, we got to witness a little of what takes place before the feast... the running of the pig.

At the sight of the men in the back yard, I ran to get Jim. These guys were chasing something. I thought at first it was a dog... maybe someone's rubbish can got raided and they weren't too happy and were seeking to teach the culprit a lesson. Who knew? I got a better glimpse of the 'dog' and it turned out not to be a dog at all. It was a pig. By this time the pig, with the men in hot pursuit, had made a few laps around the house desperately looking for some escape. There were probably 12 or 15 guys in the chase, all shouting in their mother tongue (no Bislama this time), and trying to get the pig cornered.

I wasn't expecting what we saw next. I dont know, up to this point I thought maybe the pig had just got away and they were trying to catch it. But then, what were the clubs for? Let's just say they put the clubs to use. After the excitement was over and they were hauling off their kill, they told us the pig was for a feast. We wished them a Merry Christmas and they went on their way.

Later we asked a friend about it. He told Jim that in the Bush, the young men run pig through the forest for the hunt. But here in Vila they cant do that. They have to purchase a pig and then intentionally let it go so they can hunt it. And since there is no forest for it to run through, it runs through people's yards and they chase it. It is a tradition.

We dont have still pictures, but we did get a short video. I am not going to post it here because it is a tad graphic. But here is the link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJzfC2y4TPY


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