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Land diving

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A traditional land diving ceremony on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, showing participants jumping from tall towers using vines as part of a cultural ritual.

Land diving

Land diving is a special tradition from Pentecost Island in Vanuatu. It is a way for men to show bravery and skill. They jump from tall wooden towers that are about 20 to 30 meters high. To stay safe, they wrap two tree vines around their ankles before jumping.

People from other places love to visit and watch this tradition. It happens during the time of the yam harvest, usually in April, May, or June. The men believe that a good jump helps bring a good harvest and keeps everyone healthy and strong.

Land diving also helps the community. Visitors pay to watch, and this money helps the village. Today, land diving happens more often to welcome tourists. It is a fun and exciting way for people to learn about the culture of Vanuatu.

Images

A traditional land diving ceremony on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, where participants prepare for a safe landing during a cultural event.
A village chief prepares for a traditional land diving ceremony, a cultural practice involving a leap from a tall structure.
A young boy prepares for a traditional land diving ceremony on Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, 1992.

Related articles

Vanuatu
Tower

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Land diving, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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