Sick Moon

"Sick moon" is the term in Bislama for the time a woman has her period or menstruates. A woman's period is regarded as a sickness by much of the local population, even today.

Traditionally on Aneityum, locals built special houses to shelter women going through their periods. Women would gather together, cook for themselves and sleep in the house until their period ended. Today women are still not allowed to cook for others or handle food during their sick moon. If you observe the man of the household cooking, this is often the reason why. Some women still leave their home during their "sick moon" and go sleep with relatives.

One of the oldest villagers on Aneityum is in his mid-nineties now. He credits his longevity to roasting all of his food traditionally over a fire and never allowing his wife to handle his food.