Dangerous Rites: Vine Bungee Jumping | National Geographic

Summary

Every year on the island of Pentecost in the South Pacific, young men, including boys as young as five, participate in the perilous ritual of land diving. This ancient practice, dating back over 15 centuries, is a test of faith and courage, where divers leap from towers with only vines to break their fall. The ritual is linked to the animist belief system, symbolizing offerings to the gods for a fruitful yam harvest. The community views the jumps as both a spiritual sacrifice and a mark of bravery, with divers like Chief Willie Orain Bebe exemplifying strength and faith in this dangerous yet sacred tradition.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pentecost, a tiny South Pacific island, is home to a ritual known as land diving, which is considered one of the most dangerous tests of faith in the world.
• 😀 Every year, village elders organize land diving ceremonies to ensure the favor of the gods, involving young men and boys who risk their lives by diving from tall towers.
• 😀 Land diving is an ancient practice that predates bungee jumping and is believed to be a sacrifice for the survival and prosperity of the community.
• 😀 The ritual involves divers leaping from a tower, with only fragile vines tied around their ankles to save them from crashing to the ground.
• 😀 Chief Willie Orien Bebe presides over his village's land diving ceremony, guiding the participants in their faith and the importance of overcoming fear.
• 😀 Land diving has been practiced for over 15 centuries, though its exact origin remains unclear. It is connected to the animistic beliefs of the island's inhabitants.
• 😀 The community believes in a world of spirits that demands offerings, and the land diving ritual was originally performed after the yam harvest to thank the gods for a good crop.
• 😀 The village of Wall-E is one of several on the island that holds land diving rituals every year, typically in April and May.
• 😀 The construction of the diving towers is supervised by Chief Willie, who took over from his late father, continuing the tradition.
• 😀 During the land diving event, the height of the dive is directly linked to the blessing for the community's yam crop, with higher dives seen as offering greater blessings.
• 😀 Land diving is a physically demanding performance, and divers like Willie demonstrate exceptional strength, bravery, and faith as they leap from the towering heights to prove their courage.

Q & A

What is land diving, and where is it practiced?

Land diving is a ritual practiced on the South Pacific island of Pentecost, where young men and boys risk their lives by jumping from towers with only fragile vines to stop their fall. It is considered a test of faith and is performed as part of an ancient religious practice.

What is the purpose of the land diving ritual?

The purpose of land diving is to secure the favor of the gods, ensuring the survival and prosperity of the community. Originally, it was performed after the yam harvest to thank the gods and to ensure a good crop in the future.

How is land diving related to the local religion?

Land diving is tied to the animist beliefs of the people on Pentecost Island. Animism holds that spirits inhabit the world and demand offerings, and the ritual is seen as a sacrifice to the gods to ensure a successful yam harvest and overall community prosperity.

What role does Chief Willie Orien Bebe play in the land diving ceremony?

Chief Willie Orien Bebe oversees the land diving ceremony in his village. He supervises the construction of the tower and leads the community during the ritual. He also participates in the dive, demonstrating strength and faith.

What is the significance of the height of the jump in land diving?

The height of the jump is believed to correlate with the blessing received from the gods. The higher the jump, the greater the blessing, ensuring a good yam crop and prosperity for the community.

How do the divers prepare for the jump?

Divers prepare for the jump by climbing the tower and overcoming their fear, which is said to be removed through faith in their culture and the ritual. The strength of their belief is essential to successfully performing the dive.

What are the risks involved in land diving?

Land diving is highly dangerous. The divers risk serious injury or death, as the only thing stopping their fall is a set of fragile vines. Past incidents have resulted in broken bones, such as fractured hips and collarbones, due to the vines snapping.

What happens if a vine breaks during the jump?

If a vine breaks during the jump, the diver risks injury, such as fractured bones. While some divers have been lucky and survived, the risk of injury is ever-present, and in the past, broken vines have caused serious harm.

What does the term 'land dive champion' refer to?

A 'land dive champion' refers to someone, like Willie Warren, who is particularly skilled at land diving. These individuals are admired for their bravery and strength in performing jumps from the highest towers, ensuring a good harvest and the community's prosperity.

Why do the divers jump so far out from the tower?

Divers jump as far out as they can from the tower to avoid impaling themselves on the rough logs that make up the tower. The distance of the jump is crucial for the diver's safety and success in the ritual.