Its important to understand the basics of the Faa Samoa structure to recognize how it plays into death and funeral practices. Alagaupu is the Samoan word for proverbs - wise sayings or expressions about life. Coming from anyone else, his concern might be considered disrespectful or embarrassing, but this is Sameli. He was always interested in what was going on in our lives and was extraordinarily proud of our achievements. Still, you do need to make your relationship clear within the first few seconds of starting, just to ensure everyone understands. This link will open in a new window. 40 Thank You Dad Messages Every Dad Will Appreciate. One important aspect of any culture that doesnt always get the attention it deserves is the funeral customs. Its kind of like if you stub your big toe, your brain will feel it lol. In Faa Samoa, the dead are never treated as though theyre gone. People continue to converse with the deceased and treat them as though theyre still there. samoan funeral speech. Tired or not, hed help me with all my projects. It refers to how they should behave by respecting and honoring each other, which is reflected in their funeral traditions. He was like a father, an uncle, and a big brother all rolled into one. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Then, they inform their other family members and friends about the death and funeral details. Nice of you to share your familys treasures.. Samoans have a lot of the same roots as other island cultures of the South Pacific so they have many aspects in common. Samoans take this very seriously and it can look embarrassingly shameful if someone takes a misstep throughout the process. In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. Some common gifts include corn beef boxes, chicken boxes, and fine mats. It is a farewell to a loved one who's gone home to rest with Ieova, our Lord. The select circle of orators and chiefs gather together to share speeches, recite genealogies, consume a popular plant called kava and finish the process by celebrating with a feast prepared by the new members family. Riley, I am literally in the middle if writing a blog post that will answer your questions about how any alagaupu is interpeted (for lessons) and used in a lauga. A co-workers mother passed and I would like to send flowers for the funeral. If she didnt understand something, shed work at it until she did. Gifts include money and fine hand-woven mats (usually for display only and then rolled and stored). what qualifications did a kamikaze pilot need? Much of the funeral process begins in the week before the funeral. O le lauga lenei: O le so'o ma fa'atasiga o nu'u se lua. Even as a baby, she showed an exceptional amount of determination. Literally: Friends every day but siblings on bad days. In this guide, well find out. Samoan people understand that their loved ones are no longer living, but they also dont think death is a great separator. My question is what lesson is this used to teach and what are the intended implications of this proverb? You are so beautiful, and so amazing. One important custom in the Samoan culture is the But every time we spoke or saw each other though, we picked up where we left off, and it felt like wed never been apart. This link will open in a new window. This high development traces back to the days before the arrival of the missionaries,when all communication was transmitted orally. A collection of useful phrases in Samoan, a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Western Samoa and American Samoa Jump to phrases. My mother raised me that mourning Lasts a year. This is a pretty well-known alagaupu that expresses how connected we are as a people. Hi, Im Samoan and most of this is wrong. As a child, one of the places I felt the safest was in the arms of my father. But, regardless of our misdeeds, she would always find it in her heart to forgive us. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Copyright 2023 Funeralwise, LLC. For a Samoan to be chosen as a respected tulafale, he or she participates in a special ceremony called a saofai, whichhappens only when the family discusses and comes to a consensus. Tributes -- Sometime tributes are interchangeable with eulogies. Another kind of celebration? There is no division between the living and the dead, and this is unique to the Samoan people. 35 Thank You Mom Messages That Every Mom Will Love. The importance of mats harkens back to when they served as the currency of the Samoan people. As for the loud music and drinking, I guess you could say its a form of celebration. When she saw how angry I was, she began to cry. I hope you dont mind me mentioning you in that post. It is therefore the young people who will carry on the task of . She would turn her mind to an obstacle and work on it until shed overcome it. This is a very straightforward, self-explanatory expression. Number 11 can be more easily summarised as seeing is believing. I dont think so. Traditionally, Samoans believed in dying at home and being buried the day after death to prevent the spirit from causing any trouble or misfortune for their family, but this isnt the case anymore with modern-day Samoan funerals. And this expression is spreading. The thing that made me fall in love with Stephen was his sense of humor. LinkedIn. In fact, I know he would have preferred to spend his weekend resting and relaxing. alii; orators (tulafale). Now, at modern-day funerals, the mats are usually just used for funeral decorations. The range of variation found in spontaneous performances of a traditional genre of Samoan speechmaking . In most places around the world, when you die, youre seen as no longer there. The only thing we know about the origin of this alagaupu is that it comes from a story in someones village lol. Losing my sister is so heartbreaking. The family is the most significant socio-political element of Samoan society. Its open to the entire community. dies in Samoa. We, her children, were her pride and joy; she regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life. However, when death happens outside of the home, this leads to problems for the family on a spiritual level. We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. Janet was an exemplary student. Now, it is common to delay funerals for overseas loved ones. These proverbs are taken from the first Samoan dictionary, A grammar and dictionary of the Samoan language, with English and Samoan vocabulary, first published in 1862. Shed always be knitting or sewing or making something that we needed. They have been shared by those who wrote them to help people like yourself. The idea of a good and bad death is a common belief throughout the world. Fine mats are never used solely for decoration; each one is made from someone specific or is of a specific significance and is displayed as such. She had such an infectious zest for life that she could always find the humor or a silver lining of any situation, regardless of the gravity. He presided over family dinners with a quiet dignity that spoke of a patriarch who took that responsibility seriously. form. The top two religions in Samoa according to the 2011 census are the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa with 31.8% and Roman Catholic with 19.4%. Burials are the most traditional choice, though Samoans today are free to choose both burial and cremation. The Fate of the Human Soul after Death., The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Seiuli, Byron Malaela Sotiata. However, the ancient myths also co-exist with Christianity, and this blending of rituals can be seen in funeral customs. When addressing a gathering of people, it is custom for the speaker to acknowledge all the other matai in the room, to greet each of them not just by title name, but with an acknowledgement of their village and recitation of how their village's titles fit together. Literally: We dont farewell a moon-lit night. It's used to describe someone who has no fixed abode. New Zealand-born Samoan playwright, David Mamea's Goodbye My Feleni, first staged on ANZAC Day three years ago, was a landmark in this process of recovery and recognition. My mother was the heart of our home, the center of our universe, and the greatest example of unconditional love we couldve hoped to have. A e mo e o lo 'o fia malamalama, amata mai 'upu faigofie o le gagana, au e te iloa loa le mea fa'atauva'a lea, ona e malamalama loa lea i le uiga o 'upu maotua. As a small island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand, these customs are based on local beliefs, community ties, and influence from the rest of the world. That doesnt mean that raising us was easy, nor always enjoyable. Now, family members often remain in the homeland, and migrant members send them money. Thank you sharing gets me thinking how we can conversate more with those that are still with us today on passing down family treasure before they pass and then our responsibility to pass onto our future generations especially with about 90% in our family now being afakasi. It was our last big party before mom died. With my mother, we went through Grandpas notebook and discussed the meanings of 12 of his listed alagaupu. Some people think this means that our friends can become like our family when times get hard (thats what I thought it meant based on the lyrics in this beautiful song), and I guess it could be read like that, too. It requires some forethought and planning. Id like to start by offering Johns family my sincerest condolences. Coconut oil is made from copra, which we get from drying coconut meat (in their shells) out in the sun. Johns work ethic influenced me greatly. Turner's observations describe It can refer to anything from longing to see a loved one to celebrating the success of a family or village endeavour. E leai se mea e sili atu i lo lou aiga, http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_58_1949/Volume_58,_No._4/Proverbial_expressions_of_the_Samoans,_by_E._Schultz,_p_139-184/p1, http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_59_1950/Volume_59,_No._1/Proverbial_expressions_of_the_Samoans,_by_E._Schultz,_p_35-62/p1, http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_59_1950/Volume_59,_No._2/Proverbial_expressions_of_the_Samoans,_by_E._Schultz,_p_112-134/p1, http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_59_1950/Volume_59,_No._3/Proverbial_expressions_of_the_Samoans,_by_E._Schultz,_p_207-231/p1, http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_60_1951/Volume_60,_No._1/Proverbial_expressions_of_the_Samoans,_by_E._Schultz,_p_1-21/p1, 15+ Samoan names for your lover (from old Samoan love songs), 7 Reasons you should watch Return to Paradise, Secrets of the Samoan-style pineapple custard pie, Why you shouldnt become a Samoan matai (and also why you should). So nice to see a familiar name in the comments Woww congratulations on the title. Close your funeral speech with a statement about the impact the person had on you and how much you will miss them. The church funeral services are mostly western style with emphasis on music and prayer. Upolu and Savai'i, the other main island, account for 99 per cent of Samoa's 201,000 population. Im not going to stand up here and tell you that it was all sunshine and roses between David and myself growing up. We have a few more like that in this list. But I will treasure the years I had with her in my heart for the rest of my life. Would love to see your own interpretations and any other alagaupu you might want to share in the comments. Guests give the grieving family monetary gifts or hand-woven mats in a ceremonial exchange of gifts called faalavelave. Agafili Shem Leo, and . Samoa, which shares the Samoan archipelago with American Samoa, consists of nine islands west of longitude 171 W Upolu, Savai'i, Manono, and Apolima, all of which are inhabited, and the uninhabited islands of Fanuatapu, Namu'a, Nu'utele, Nu'ulua, and Nu'usafee. My siblings and I gave her a lot of gray hairs along the way. People give the family ceremonial gifts known as faalavelave. For Samoans, life and death are about much more than a single person. The proverbs were collected and authored by Rev George Pratt, an English missionary from the London Missionary Society who lived in Samoa for 40 years, mostly in Matautu on the central north coast of Savai'i Island. In 2015 there were 169,000 speakers of Samoan in Samoa, and there were 49,600 Samoan speakers in American Samoa. Because open caskets are common at the funeral, this is still the most common choice in Samoa today. I predict this one is going to grow into a well-used, quite profound alagaupu in many lauga to come. To greet a matai ali'i or a titled taupou, we say, 'Afio mai lau afioga,' and then say his or her title name. Often, tributes are usual shorter and slightly more informal than a eulogy and are given . Accept. Hehe. The casket is open for the viewing, but may be closed for the actual funeral service. Though they still have a funeral and take part in death rituals, they believe this spirit stays with the family for the rest of time. Families would have to reorganise their day or week in order to rally family members for enough resources to meet their faalavelave obligations. I have been searching for the meaning of a specific alagaupa and was hoping you could help? Samoans believe in following Faa Samoa, meaning The Samoan Way. Loss is hard. Nofo = to sit. forms. I know that some of us have heard of these alagupu and mugagana but unable to understand and apply them to several scenarios.. but it is an honour to research on their meanings, not only it will help others, but it will contribute more in my own cultural understanding of such.. 1. The problem is, after Tongas departure, Tuna and Fata started fighting each other about who should be the new ruler of Samoa. As a small island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand, these customs are based on local beliefs, community ties, and influence from the rest of the world. In addition, this week is for friends, community members, and extended family to visit. For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. ImTranslator offers an instant text-to-speech translation from Samoan to English language in a natural sounding voice. Hahaha @ kuai kuai ae aua e ke popole, e ke fiu e ai . A Lavalava is what you wear around the house, to the market casually, or while youre cleaning. Talk with your funeral director or event planner to see what rituals they can adapt for a live stream. The main ritual was the end of life ritual. Sadness is the first and strongest of the emotions. My father was a quiet man. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me. A good funeral speech starts with an introduction. Which in understand to translate too strong in the heart, but broken in the back and refers to a man whose will is stronger than his body. 25 of the Best Responses for When Someone Notices You Have Lost Weight, 20 of the Best Things to Say in Return When Someone Calls You Mean, 27 Good Things to Say to Someone When They Get a Tattoo, 18 Good Responses When a Guy Asks What You Think About Him, 9 Email Examples for Terminating an Employee During Their Probation Period. Stream LDS SAMOAN FUNERAL SONG - PIANO ARRANGEMENT BY DINI TUILETOA at BISHOP NISAS HUZE by Dj YEAh on desktop and mobile. I remember wishing we could stay out there with everyone forever. Literally: Look out for something for Sameli. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. The mourning period lasts around two weeks. With the passing of a loved one comes the responsibility of making arrangements for their funeral. Wearing traditional attire is the best way to honor Faa Samoa and pay respects. Aha, that 400+ alagaupu book is starting to flow, nicely done. Given that dialogue relating to death and grief for many Samoans remains in the realm of tapu (sacred) or s (protected), few attempts have been made by researchers of Samoan heritage to understand whether the cultural contexts for enacting associated rituals might also provide avenues for healing. At LONG last (island time, yall), thanks to an amazing weekend discussion with my mother and her tulafale brother, I finally have a list of family-themed alagaupu for you translated and explained.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'anavasamoana_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-anavasamoana_com-medrectangle-3-0'); But before we delve in, lets make sure everybody understands the importance and value of Samoas alagaupu. And he showed them how to be the resilient adults they have become. A funeral is an emotional occasion and delivering a speech, unprepared, in front of the congregation is a recipe for disaster = one that will not soon be forgiven. Your own understanding of these alagaupu might be completely different from ours, and just as correct. We are not attorneys and are not providing you with legal The chief and other local leaders begin by performing a ceremony with the family prior to the official service. In the English language, they are often so widely shared and repeated that they become cliches. In return, families return gifts to the visitors. Whos responsibility is it to have this be done? Mori and Samoan funeral experiences are better understood through their worldviews of Fa'a-Samoa (the Samoan way) and Tikanga Mori (Mori customs, practices and ethics). The thing is with death the Samoans didn't fear death as much as we do. We seemed to have a knack for pushing each others buttons, sometimes with some amusing consequences, sometimes not. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. With the passing of a loved one comes the responsibility of making arrangements for their funeral. He always made me laugh, even when all I wanted to do was cry. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? without even knowing the Sameli story. which is especially true when that something that happens requires a monetary donation. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Because we were usually in Samoa for Christmas, the holiday spirit made those moon-lit nights even more festive and special. Literally: Savea has a leg on either side of the day. Thank you! Facebook. These have evolved from ancient traditions, and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. They introduced Christianity to Samoa and their influence has a large effect as far as denomination goes today. As in, your family is never going to be the same again after this. 40 Best Examples for a Thank You Note to Teacher. The funeral service is typically at a church and involves a lot of praying and singing. how did dog the bounty hunter's son die; the mexican war began when quizlet; is iaotp legitimate Something drew us to each other though. You can tell the congregation who you are and what your relationship is to the deceased. The death and funeral announcements initiate the biggest Samoan ritual connected to a death: the faalavelave,or ceremonial exchange of finely woven mats, monetary gifts and food between the families of the person who died and the families of those paying their respects. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. He brought the hose and sprinkler indoors and turned it on. The doors to Samoa's Parliament House were intentionally locked on Monday morning when Fiame Naomi Mata'afa went to be sworn in as the first female prime minister. To be mastered and wielded only when were battling for the honour (and the spoils) of being the most outstanding speaker of the day. He made the written word come alive in class. It requires some forethought and planning. Its necessary that you give the congregation an insight into the persons life as it related to your own. Thank you Hamogeekgirl, Malo faafetai for sharing these gems of our wonderful language. Usage of any form or other service on our website is Anava Samoana is Copyright 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. We could never quite figure out what it was, but its lasted a lifetime. He shaped me into the man I am today. CherryK here n still living in Samoa! Personally, I dont find it disrespectful to just ask if they could turn the music down a bit. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. It took us a while to grasp it because, as children, we didnt get it. The meanings Ive given these alagaupu here are based on how my uncle and his matai peers use these expressions in their own lauga, but language is pliable. Before the advancement of mortuary science there, the deceased was buried the day after death. Malaga = a group of visitors or travelers. Your email address will not be published. While some cultures resemble our own, others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together. Basic Etiquette. This extensive process marks the formality of the situation with the acceptance of a new titleholder as well as a possible tulafale into the family and village. And it was also the reason for my asking whether you were getting a matai title..hahaha, But as far as being Sameli, only you can answer that question..LOL.. Nah! She seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction. Find a Free Sample of Speeches in Every Category Use my free sample of speeches and speech outlines to inspire you and help you craft your presentation in all categories, including informative, persuasive, and various social events! I was going to look at twelve of those proverbs, consult with the Samoan cultural experts in my life then share with you what I had learned. Samantha and I met quite by accident. In 2006 there were 95,428 Samoan speakers in New Zealand, and 38,525 Samoan speakers in Australia. Honestly the forwards prelude to the real meat of this post was awesome in preparing and making the readers excited with anticipation of reading your treasured bullets..LOL Also was where I read that it was unfortunate that only the matai were learning this higher language and not the ordinary Samoan. Siaosi Leleimalefaga will help me through this.. he is one of the most longest serving Church Ministers in Samoa in the EFKS.. was also a School Principal at Leulumoega Fou College!! Hed have given anyone the shirt off his back. Ua malumaunu le fogatia, au ua atoa ali'i seu ma o . Ms. Mata'afa's party . Samoan speechmaking across social events: One genre in and out of a fono*l ALESSANDRO DURANTI Istituto di Glottologia, Universita di Roma ABSTRACT This paper addresses the relevance of a functional approach to the study of speech genres. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. , Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral.
Publix Produce Manager,
Can, Could, Be Able To Reading Comprehension,
Jemeker Thompson Cheese,
Articles S