John Frum Day

What the day is

John Frum Day is observed on February 15 on Tanna, an island in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. It is the main yearly celebration of the John Frum movement, a religious and political movement among the island's Melanesian people, and it is marked with parades, flag raising, dancing and feasting at the movement's villages.

Participants wear clothing inspired by American military uniforms and paint the letters USA on their chests and backs. Men march with bamboo rifles tipped in red, and the flags of the United States are raised, a form of respect that has drawn many visitors and much curiosity over the years.

Origin and background

The movement began in the late 1930s, during the period when the islands, then known as the New Hebrides, were governed jointly by Britain and France and when many islanders felt pressure from missionaries and colonial authorities. It is associated with a figure called John Frum, whom followers say appeared to them, and whose name is often explained as John from America. During the Second World War, thousands of American troops were stationed in the New Hebrides and brought a wealth of equipment and goods, which deepened the movement's connection with America and its hope for a better life.

Scholars often place John Frum in a group of Pacific movements that outsiders called cargo cults, but that term is considered misleading and disrespectful by many, because it treats serious religious and political movements as a joke. The John Frum movement has been a lasting part of life on Tanna, including involvement in the island's politics after Vanuatu became independent in 1980. Followers hold to customs of their own, and the celebration reflects a genuine faith.

Anyone planning to visit should do so with respect, and with permission and local guidance, since this is a religious occasion for the community.

How to take part

• Read about the history of Vanuatu, including the period of joint British and French rule and independence in 1980.
• Look for ethnographic accounts that include the voices of people on Tanna.
• Learn about Yasur, the volcano on Tanna, one of the most accessible active volcanoes in the world.
• If you travel to Tanna, go with a local guide and ask before taking photographs.
• Reflect on how communities around the world have made meaning out of contact with other cultures.