My mother was a phenomenal woman who possessed reserves of strength and patience that seemed to be infinite. We just understood each other. When a big funeral happens, orators and their mourning family members should directly receive mats and food as forms of reciprocation for their gifts. Please feel free to email me at [email protected] with your corrections and I would be happy to update the post where needed! Oh wait is keeping the good stuff for myself just me being Sameli? When disaster struck Samoa in 2009, a national day of mourning was declared to honor and remember those who had died in the devastating tsunami that took the lives of 143 people and destroyed villages. John taught me so much more than English. Thanks to him, I developed analytical skills that I continue to use today. Knowing how to offer condolences is an important part of Samoan custom. Families would have to reorganise their day or week in order to rally family members for enough resources to meet their faalavelave obligations. 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. Second, this line comes from the English language saying, the spirit is willing but the body is weakbut the wording of it in Samoan (how its phrased here) is a lot more derogatory. Hi HGG and everyone else that will come to read this,It never ceases to amaze me what one can unearth on the internet given; a) a substantial amount of free time on their hands and b) being stubborn (tenacious) enough to filter through every webpage search for the word alagaupu. This high development traces back to the days before the arrival of the missionaries,when all communication was transmitted orally. As a child, one of the places I felt the safest was in the arms of my father. Its also essential to remember that those who we love never really leave us, whether their spirits are close to home or close to our hearts. 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. Tired or not, hed help me with all my projects. Its like, everybody comes out! Something drew us to each other though. And he showed them how to be the resilient adults they have become. Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. 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! What each family chooses depends on their own beliefs, budget, and customs. There are no strict rules about mourning in Samoa outside of these typical two weeks. One important custom in the Samoan culture is the For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. I am researching Samoa for a school project. Basic Etiquette. As children, we would spend hours with each other without talking that much. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. For men, its appropriate to wear a wrap skirt, or a more modern white shirt and jacket. So this alagaupu is referring to how we might be sitting here enjoying the conversation, but at the back of our minds, we know we need to be somewhere else. Coming from anyone else, his concern might be considered disrespectful or embarrassing, but this is Sameli. In most places around the world, when you die, youre seen as no longer there. When I first called him Mr. Robinson after graduation, hed turned around and said, Is my father standing behind me? When I replied in the negative, hed said, Then why are you saying his name?. And Im sure there were times he wished I wasnt his sister. The short answer is: it means whatever a creative orator wants it to. In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. The main ritual was the end of life ritual. As a husband, Stephen was supportive of everything I did. And what instances in speech would this be used? ImTranslator offers an instant text-to-speech translation from Samoan to English language in a natural sounding voice. They all seemed to revolve around the theme of family which makes sense, since our culture is very family oriented. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. Your aim is not to deliver a stand-up comedy routine, but rather, a poignant and potentially somewhat humorous view of who the deceased was and what they meant to you. The thing is with death the Samoans didn't fear death as much as we do. Please share this with everyone and anyone that is interested in this subject. Establishing bonds with other people grants you a worldly happiness where your petty desires somehow pale into insignificance because of how the other person makes you feel. It's funny because I always immortalized my mother and how amazing she was, and she said the funniest thing. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. All Rights Reserved. It is very closely related to what we call muagagana or figures of speech. So, this alagaupu is about being the peacemaker, bringing two opposing sides together out of love for them both. Samoans have a lot of the same roots as other island cultures of the South Pacific so they have many aspects in common. When she saw how angry I was, she began to cry. True to form, David came up with a plan to make the job easier. Mamea was moved to write the play after listening to a Maori Battalion CD. 1. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. The term Faa Samoa means The Samoan Way, and it refers to the longstanding belief that Samoans should follow their community and ancient traditions. Ill never forget the look on my mothers face and the mischievous grin on Davids. forms. Tell a story about the person if you feel its applicable. We, her children, were her pride and joy; she regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Hes left a gap in our lives that we cant even begin to contemplate filling. Some common gifts include corn beef boxes, chicken boxes, and fine mats. 20 Messages to Say Thanks for Coming to My Party. This practice can be quite a financial burden on Samoan families particularly if there are a number of funerals in a short amount of time. Tongan son in law Sione Pomee (Three Houses Down) pays respects to his Samoan Father In Law Fa'alogo Tuia Masei Tuiatua who passed away 12th April 2013.Alway. This includes deciding who will be saying a funeral speech at the funeral service. Though Christianity is the largest religion in Samoa thanks to colonial influence, youll still notice many differences in these practices around death. this was very helpful. This refers to things like monetary gifts and woven mats. 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. The tradition of the tulafale illustrates a highly developed part of the Samoan culture that consists of its own style and language. The lives of our children and their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount of satisfaction. I wish Id had more time with her, I really do. This link will open in a new window. Olo = the noise that pigeons make (coo). It is a farewell to a loved one who's gone home to rest with Ieova, our Lord. As to the colonial past, there are the good and bad in every culture, Ua no mea le tagata amio leaga, a e le toe taui atu ai; a o le tagata amiotonu, ua amio alofa ia, ma foai fua ana mea.Salamo 37:21. Whenever Id get angry or upset with him for whatever reason Id always wind up laughing because he could always make me see the funny side of it. Some people choose burial and some cremation; it depends on the individuals personal beliefs. Your own understanding of these alagaupu might be completely different from ours, and just as correct. Because. Savea was their older brother, who loved them both and did his best to mediate between them. Thank you for sharing our cultural knowledge. Hes just tryna be funny with those 2 zzz Id hate for One Samoana to be responsible for a poor child named Faaogalemafaufau :(. x. I really enjoyed reading this it was awesome. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service 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. Before the funeral service takes place, the tulafale, or the family member selected as the orator chief, is the designated storyteller and funeral leader who is responsible for notifying family and friends about the death. Now, family members often remain in the homeland, and migrant members send them money. While some cultures resemble our own, others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together. He encouraged them to keep going. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. I remember wishing we could stay out there with everyone forever. The term for a mausoleum is loa, which comes from the word va'aloa, . This Samoan expression literally means 'like grass by the roadside'. When I caught her, she had rainbow-colored eyelids, forehead and cheeks. how did dog the bounty hunter's son die; the mexican war began when quizlet; is iaotp legitimate They introduced Christianity to Samoa and their influence has a large effect as far as denomination goes today. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. 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. Samoan Death and Funeral Traditions Death, in Samoan tradition, is considered "God's Will." It has traditionally been believed that Samoans should die at home. 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. Johns work ethic influenced me greatly. As in, your family is never going to be the same again after this. It requires some forethought and planning. You just never know when the extra ammunition will come in handy..lol. I took those lessons to heart. Thanks for sharing HGG! It requires some forethought and planning. We lived far away from each other and Ill be honest, we sometimes went for long periods without talking, which I regret. There is usually at least one church in each village and most of the ministers are native Samoans. Thats not to say that you cannot show your emotions and grief. He made the written word come alive in class. Thank you! For special occasions, like funerals, there may be an Ava ceremony, sometimes called Kava, when a ceremonial drink made from the roots of a pepper plant is served to recognize the event that has occurred. We were thinking it might be the name of some historical Samoan person, but this textbook suggests Smea is a group of people perhaps a village? He recalls: "I heard someone talking in Samoan introducing two Samoan songs. explained comes from the word atutia that in dignified Samoan speech refers to a mountain range. Welp, dont I feel foolish just saw that HGG already commented on E. Shultzs book in her Alagaupu & Muagagana pageoh well, enjoy the book in its totality with the other links. Literally: You cant get a flow of coconut fat from one coconut. . Of course, she drove me crazy. I loved your post thank you so much for sharing. But, throughout it all, we were always there for each other, no matter what no matter how many times I needed a shoulder to cry on, Jennifer was there. Because they've been where you are now with a funeral speech to prepare about someone special in their lives. The funeral service doesnt usually just involve close family and friends. pa le noo is literally referring to diarrhea. It only took a hundred years but I eventually got around to this post.. Just wondering if this is a celebration or mourning so I can react.. The only thing we know about the origin of this alagaupu is that it comes from a story in someones village lol. This is how people pay respect. Its open to the entire community. Before the advancement of mortuary science there, the deceased was buried the day after death. Its necessary that you give the congregation an insight into the persons life as it related to your own. 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. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. Nowadays, these mats act mainly as decorations during the funeral and then are stored away. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. Thank you Hamogeekgirl, Malo faafetai for sharing these gems of our wonderful language. well each family had an god when you die you go to your god so they were thankful for it. With the passing of a loved one comes the responsibility of making arrangements for their funeral. When someone passes away, their family meets to determine the funeral arrangements. O le lauga lea ua 'ave atu i se gagana lata mai. hahahachoooohoooo!! We are not attorneys and are not providing you with legal She would go through the things in my room and leave a mess. Having a little sister who wanted to tag along was, at times, infuriating. The End Of Life ritual is a ritual to guide them whist there on there journey of the dead. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? Literally: Nothing is more important than your family. This includes deciding who will be saying a funeral speech at the funeral service. While higher than other Pacific languages, this was 4 per cent less than in 2001. Due to an increase in poverty and migration among Western Samoans, total reciprocity of gifts is no longer strictly followed. The divinity of the head gives rise to the Samoan saying: o le faiva o mafaufau o le faatonutonu ma le faasoasoa (meaning, the function and purpose of the mind is to discern evide As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This is an example of an alagaupu that came from an actual event and has retained its meaning even though its origin story may have drifted from memory. The death and funeral announcements initiate the biggest Samoan ritual connected to a death: the "fa'alavelave", 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. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Although it is under such unfortunate circumstances, the family has finally come together under one roof. It was our last big party before mom died. Hehe. Talk with your funeral director or event planner to see what rituals they can adapt for a live stream. Janet was an exemplary student. He was so proud to be a father and a wonderfully hands-on partner. I hope youre not planning to use it too often. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online Its ok, e kuai kuai ae ka ke maoga ai..LOL.. You cannot afford to break down and cry in the moment. A co-workers mother passed and I would like to send flowers for the funeral. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. The Fate of the Human Soul after Death., The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Seiuli, Byron Malaela Sotiata. All Rights Reserved. The Samoans, one of the largest Polynesian populations in the world, cherish the importance of storytelling and tradition by appointing a select family member as an orator chief, known as a tulafale. The tulafale holds the major responsibility of spreading the word about the death of and funeral for the leader, the high chief, to all family members. And this expression is spreading. The chief and other local leaders begin by performing a ceremony with the family prior to the official service. 35 Thank You Mom Messages That Every Mom Will Love. Samoa's Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the country's constitution does not give the Head of State the authority to call new elections and that the results of the April 9 poll were valid and . Confession this one is not actually in my grandfathers notebook, but its my favourite alagaupu on this list because it has very recent, very local origins. This warrants final words of respect. My father was a quiet man. Samoans take this very seriously and it can look embarrassingly shameful if someone takes a misstep throughout the process. Your soul has moved on, and your family mourns this loss. Please take a look at a variety of free speech samples below by category. It took us a while to grasp it because, as children, we didnt get it. While its hard to believe, nobody really dies in Samoa. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. what qualifications did a kamikaze pilot need? Stephen endeared himself to me even more when we became parents. And wed just just sit together, laughing, playing music or sports and sometimes, inevitably, couples would pair off into the shadows to get to know each other even better. You are a natural writer/communicator, probably like your grandfather. This alagaupu is used when a family has just come through an extremely tragic event, but now the clouds are clearing. Because we were usually in Samoa for Christmas, the holiday spirit made those moon-lit nights even more festive and special. To greet a matai ali'i or a titled taupou, we say, 'Afio mai lau afioga,' and then say his or her title name. A funeral speech is difficult to deliver if youre feeling over-emotional. Learn how your comment data is processed. The tulafale also leads a special ceremony called saofai, where the family discusses any important decisions to be made about the deceaseds passing, shared stories, and have a feast often using a Samoan umu, an Earth oven with heated rocks, to cook the food. 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. Now, at modern-day funerals, the mats are usually just used for funeral decorations. There were crushes and boyfriends that caused heartache and heartbreak. Ever see an old Samoan man talking to himself? One of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants. These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. My Party the things in my room and leave a mess reflect and how... Be a father and a wonderfully hands-on partner for the funeral service the official service arms. A creative orator wants it to while higher than other Pacific languages, this is... 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