PacTravel
Yap Day 2003
Yap Day is one of Micronesia’s most colorful traditional events. Every year around the March 1 weekend, villages from all over the island gather to dance, show traditional customs, compete in sports and display local agriculture and crafts.
 |
The highlight of the Yap Day events, which normally run three days, are the daily dances. Dance is Yap’s most highly developed art form. Sitting dances, kneeling dances, standing dances and stick dances are all performed. Men and women dress in colorful traditional costumes and crowds all gather to see how each village performs. Dancers start at an early age. Several generations are always represented.
- ADVERTISEMENT -
 |
Along with the dances, other events include coconut husking, traditional hand and body tattoo displays and many other events. Booths sell food crafts and produce in the vast open field across from the former SeaBee Camp.
 |
 |
 |
Although it did rain during some of this year’s events, the spirit of the Yap Day dances wasn’t dampened as visitors from Palau, Guam, Chuuk and many other islands, as well as tourists from as far as Ireland, all enjoyed the energetic displays.Yap Day was also followed in Woleai by Outer Island Day, a day of celebrating Yap’s outer atoll traditions. Dances created for Yap Day are performed only once in public. They are then performed once more in the village before they are retired.
The photos are from Yap Day 2003 (Feb 27 & 28 & March 1) taken by Pacific Magazine correspondent photojournalist Tim Rock.
Tim Rock's photos can be seen on his Web site: www.doubleblue.com.
