Vanuatu costumes
Vanuatu is a diverse country made up of 83 islands, and there are various cultural differences between different islands and communities, so Vanuatu's costumes are also diverse and rich.
Traditionally, Vanuatu people use natural materials to make clothing such as bark, fishing nets, grass, palm leaves, shells and animal skins. These materials can be dyed in a variety of colors and patterns, which can then be used to make a variety of different types of clothing, including skirts, tops, headgear, and accessories.
The traditional dress of Vanuatu women usually consists of skirts and blouses, which are usually long, straight and woven from tree bark or grass, sometimes with decorations such as shells and petals. The blouse is a short blouse woven from palm leaves, usually tucked around the waist. Headdresses are also a very important part, usually woven from grass.
The traditional clothing of men is usually shorts and tops, also made of natural materials, usually woven from tree bark or grass. Headdresses are also part of men's clothing and are usually woven from grass.
Tanna Island: Traditional male clothing on Tanna Island consists of a pair of shorts and a long grass skirt, sometimes with a straw rope over the shoulders. Women wear skirts woven from grass and a straw rope wrapped around the waist.
Pentecost Island: Traditional male attire on Pentecost Island consists of a shorts and a decorated belt woven from bark and grass. Women wear skirts and blouses woven from grass.
Ambrym Island: Traditional male attire on Ambrym Island consists of a shorts and a belt woven from grass, and a hat woven from palm leaves on the head. Women wear skirts and blouses woven from grass.
Modern Vanuatu people wear more Western-style clothing, but traditional dress is still used on special occasions or celebrations to show respect and value cultural traditions.
Differences in clothing
The differences between men and women in Vanuatu traditional clothing are very obvious, here are some examples:
Fabrics: The fabrics of traditional clothing for men and women are different. Men usually use skirts, belts, ties, and headdresses made of natural materials such as bark, straw rope, and leaves, while women use skirts and tops made of woven and straw.
Style: The style of traditional clothing for men and women also varies. The traditional dress for men is usually a pair of grass skirts or straw pants, usually with a straw tie, headdress, and straw shoes. Women's traditional clothing usually consists of a long skirt, blouse, and straw headdress.
Colors and patterns: The colors and patterns of traditional clothing for men and women also differ. Men's traditional clothing is usually natural tones, while women's traditional clothing uses richer colors and patterns, such as flowers, animals, and geometric patterns.
Overall, the differences in traditional clothing of Vanuatu men and women reflect the diversity of local cultures and environments and still have an important place in modern Vanuatu society.
In Vanuatu's traditional society, there are strict hierarchies and class divisions. Traditionally, society was divided into four classes: chiefs and nobles, freemen, slaves and foreigners. Different classes of people enjoy different status and power in society, and dress and dress differently.
Chieftains and aristocratic classes often wore ornate costumes and used valuable jewelry and ornaments to display their power and wealth. Their clothing is usually made from local textiles and natural materials such as bark fibers and palm leaves. They may also have used ivory, shells, keels, and other valuable materials to decorate their garments.
Freemen usually wore more modest clothing, made from local textiles and natural materials such as grass skirts and straw hats. They may wear dyed clothes and belts to distinguish their status in society.
The slave class usually wore the most modest garments, made of the simplest materials, such as grass skirts and woven-straw shoes. They do not have any property or wealth and are completely subject to their masters.
Foreigners usually wear their own traditional clothing, but may also wear local textiles and clothing. They often enjoy a low status and power in society and may be discriminated against and excluded.
In Vanuatu society, the differences between the different classes are mainly manifested in the quality, style, and decoration of clothing. In general, people of higher social status wear more elaborate and better quality clothing, while people of lower social status wear more modest and simple clothing.
In Vanuatu society, the highest social status belongs to chiefs and senior chiefs. They usually wear gorgeous clothing made of high-quality materials such as coconut fiber, bark, and natural dyes. These garments were often decorated with various jewelry and shells to highlight their status and wealth. In addition, the clothing of chiefs and high-ranking chiefs often has some unique patterns and symbols to show their status and status.
The middle class usually wears simpler clothing, but also uses some decorations such as shells, feathers, and tree bark. In this class, some people may also choose the style and color of clothing according to their occupation or social status.
Those at the bottom of society usually wear modest clothing, made of simple materials such as grass, bark and leaves. Their costumes usually don't have much decoration, just some basic patterns and colors.
Overall, Vanuatu's clothing reflects the class and status of society and highlights the identity and status of each person.
Chief clothing material
The garments of Vanuatu chiefs are usually made with high-quality materials to show their status and power. Here are some materials that may be used in Vanuatu chieftain's clothing:
Coral: In Vanuatu culture, corals are considered a very valuable asset and are used to make coral bead strings, headdresses, etc., and may also be used to decorate the clothing of chiefs.
Feathers: Feathers are a common decorative material used to make headdresses, collars, robes, and more.
Plant fibers: In Vanuatu's traditional clothing, the use of plant fibers such as coconut fiber, banana fiber, etc. is very common.
Shells: Shells were also considered wealth and treasures in Vanuatu culture and may have been used to decorate the garments of chiefs.
Textiles: Modern textiles may also have been used to make the garments of Vanuatu chiefs, such as silk, satin, etc.
Chiefs: Chiefs in Vanuatu usually wear a robe with various decorations such as feathers, corals, shells, etc., and wear ornate feather headdresses. The chief's costumes were usually more ornate and rich than others to show their status and power.
Ordinary people: Ordinary people in Vanuatu usually wear relatively simple clothes, such as long skirts and short clothes made from plant fibers, or Western-style clothes made from textiles.
Dancers: Vanuatu's traditional dances are very famous, and dancers usually wear ornate costumes decorated with feathers and coral to add to the visual effects of the performance.
Teenagers: Teenagers in Vanuatu usually wear clothes that resemble the average person, but may also wear traditional clothing on certain occasions.
It should be noted that with the development of modernization, more and more Vanuatu people began to wear Western-style clothing, and the use of traditional clothing gradually decreased, but in some specific occasions, traditional clothing is still widely used, such as traditional festivals.
The process of making Vanuatu chieftain garments is very tedious and requires multiple steps.
First, the right materials need to be selected, usually bark fibres and plant fibres, which are very common in Vanuatu itself.
Next, these materials need to be processed into thread and cloth, a process that requires the use of traditional hand tools and techniques such as rolling pins, stones and grinding wheels.
After making the cloth, it needs to be cut and sewn according to the chief's figure and preferences. Generally speaking, the style of Vanuatu chieftain clothing is very simple, without excessive decoration, but it needs to be very particular about its production.
After finishing sewing, the garment also needs to be dyed. Vanuatu is abundant in natural dyes, including vegetable and animal dyes, which can be made into a variety of colors and patterns.
Finally, the garment needs to be decorated and accessorized. Chieftaincy clothing in Vanuatu is often decorated with materials such as shells, bones, and animal leather, as well as a variety of jewelry.
The whole production process is very tedious and requires multiple steps, but Vanuatu people pay great attention to the quality and detail of their garments, believing that by making and wearing traditional garments, they can better pass on and protect their cultural heritage.
Myths and legends
Creation Mythology: In Vanuatu's traditional mythology, humans were created by two gods. One deity named Tangaloa created the sky and sea, while another created the earth and all living things.
Iri Legend: Imo is a deity on an island in Vanuatu who is said to control the weather. When he gets angry, he causes a storm; When he is happy, it brings warm sunshine.
Naru Mythology: Naru is a legendary figure in Vanuatu who is revered as a deity. According to legend, he was a warlock with powerful magical powers that could transform and manipulate the elements of nature. He is also known as the "father of all things" because he is considered the creator of all living and natural elements.
Ivory Tower Legend: According to legend, on a small island in Vanuatu, there was a huge ivory tower. Legend has it that only brave warriors can climb to the top of the tower and obtain the wealth and treasure inside.
Sun Goddess Mythology: Legend has it that the sun goddess Lweilawah is one of Vanuatu's main deities, she is a beautiful and intelligent goddess who represents light and warmth. She rises every day from the east to bring light and warmth to the earth, and returns to the west in the evening.
Moon Mythology: The moon myth in Vanuatu is called Nakomaha, and legend has it that the moon was a beautiful young girl who fled into the sky while chased by chasers and eventually turned into a bright moon.
Poseidon Mythology: Legend has it that Tangaroa, the god of the sea, is Vanuatu, and he is believed to be the origin of all life. When his fury hits Vanuatu, storms and tsunamis will devastate the entire island.
Wind God Mythology: The wind god of Vanuatu is called Mataso, and he is believed to be the master of all winds. When he is in charge of the gentle breeze, the breath of life and calm will spread to all the islands.
Legend of the Divine Tree: In some traditional myths of Vanuatu, there is a tree known as the "Divine Tree," which is said to cure disease, bring good luck, and prosperity. This tree is very important in Vanuatu culture and is considered a sacred presence.
Bibliography:
Overview of Vanuatu Culture (2009, edited by Hu Chunhua)
Society and Culture of the Vanuatu Islands (2001, edited by Xing Chunxing and Huang Shanshan)
Vanuatu-Pamputa Society Ethnography (2010, edited by Xu Ke)
Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Identity of Vanuatu (2013, by Jiang Jinzhen)
"Localization and Globalization of Vanuatu Culture" (2015, edited by Zhang Xiaojing and Li Jiaxin)
History, Politics and Culture of Vanuatu (2018, by Wang Shimeng)
Overview of Vanuatu (2008, by Qin Xiaowen)
Culture and Traditional Arts in Vanuatu (2016, edited by Sun Zhongquan)