Every year during the yam harvest in April, May, and June, an age-old tradition takes place in Vanuatu. The tradition that takes place is known as land diving. This tradition is believed to have been the roots and inspirations for the modern day sport of bungee jumping. The origins, purpose, and actions carried out during the land dive are both fascinating and astonishing.
It is said that land diving began when a young woman climbed up a tree in order to get away from her violent husband. The husband watched as she climbed up the tree and he began to climb up the tree after her. The woman saw her husband climbing the tree behind her and, to prevent him from reaching her, the woman jumped off the tree. When the husband saw her do this, he quickly jumped off the tree himself. What the husband did not know was that they woman had tied a vine around her angle which stopped her from hitting the ground. This is the story of the beginning of the land dive.
The land diving that takes place during the yam harvest serves two purposes. The first purpose is to show the women that the men can not be tricked. The other purpose is to ensure a good yam crop for the following year. The tradition begins as the yam harvest begins to ripen. At this time, the villagers being to build tall towers out of wood around single trees. The towers are finished by the time the harvest fully ripens and the men select the days that they will jump from the towers.
The vine that the man is to use to tie around his ankle is chosen very carefully. The right vine needs to have just the right amount of stretch to it. Too long of a vine or a vine with too much stretch will cause the man to collide violently with the ground. A vine that is too short will cause the man to be pulled back into tower. Having the proper length of vine is extremely important to the success of the land dive.
On the day of their scheduled jump, the men climb the tall towers and leap off. The younger boys jump from lower platforms than the older men do. Some of the platforms can be as much as 35 meters from the ground. As they near the ground, the men will tuck their heads in so that their shoulders with impact the ground first. They do this so that the soil will be made fertile for the following years crops. While the jumping is going on, the rest of the villagers dance and stomp on the earth to increase the fertility of the land even more.
Land diving is an exciting and interesting tradition that is carried out in Vanuatu. It is very important to the villagers and is fully of historical significance and importance. It will undoubtedly be continued and carried out each year during the yam harvest.
