Samoa is an island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. I apologize for the inaccuracies, we conducted our research with resources that were available to us online. Tired or not, hed help me with all my projects. Faafetai tele lava! You are not Sameli, unless you are worry that the server might give you a smaller portion than what others are getting..or run out before your turn..hahaha. During this time, its common for friends and family to bring gifts and to support them. Especially when the moon is so bright it could be daytime. Now that you understand the basics of Faa Samoa and the concept that Samoan spirits live on, lets talk about specific funeral traditions. Something drew us to each other though. A good death, in Samoan tradition, is a death that happens at home. Lol. But, regardless of our misdeeds, she would always find it in her heart to forgive us. This link will open in a new window. Thank you so much for the extensive info. form. Malaga = a group of visitors or travelers. I knew there and then that I would never be able to stay away from her, and that my life would not be complete without her in it. In the body of your funeral speech talk about the person and what they meant to you, bearing in mind the dos and donts listed above. I couldnt have asked for a better father for my children. For example, the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (from the LMS tradition) ministers to half of the population there. 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. You are so beautiful, and so amazing. 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. As a child, one of the places I felt the safest was in the arms of my father. Accept. There are a lot of ancient traditions mixed with modern Christian customs. without even knowing the Sameli story. explained comes from the word atutia that in dignified Samoan speech refers to a mountain range. Muumuu are Hawaiian dresses, Samoans dont wear them. However, in modern-day Samoa, this isnt always possible. God Bless you and God Bless Samoa!! He was the mediator in our disputes as siblings and always took the high road, refusing to take sides. Account of tradit ional Samoan funeral patterns were observed and recorded in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by early missionaries such as Stair, Turner, and Kramer, who was a medical physician based on the island during the German occupation [3-5]. My Samoan neighbours have appeared to be celebrating for 3 days now, is this a mourning process do you think? This link will open in a new window. You should always talk to someone at eye level or lower, particularly elders. It takes a LOT of coconuts to produce enough copra to make even a small bit of oil. Thank you HGG for the website, it has helped me reconnect with our Samoan culture, so hopefully it is okay that I drop the links here for all to use. But this devastation is also cleansing. He presided over family dinners with a quiet dignity that spoke of a patriarch who took that responsibility seriously. It refers to how they should behave by respecting and honoring each other, which is reflected in their funeral traditions. Please take a look at a variety of free speech samples below by category. Required fields are marked *. For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. O le lauga lenei: O le so'o ma fa'atasiga o nu'u se lua. My father had an incredibly dry sense of humor. Its that mutual love and respect that makes me know Jennifer was the best friend I could ever have had. When she was about ten years old, she got into my makeup drawer and went completely overboard. 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. 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. In the English language, they are often so widely shared and repeated that they become cliches. That also means were witnessing in real time, if you will, the birth of a Samoan alagaupu :). hahahachoooohoooo!! We laughed and cried together so many times. Eulogies -- This is the most common funeral speech. Literally: Only to look (at you) can satisfy my soul. Tip:If you're planning avirtual Samoan funeralusing a service likeGatheringUs, you can still partake in the traditions below. Death is simply Gods will, and its a normal, welcome part of life. Therefore, they celebrate. Its a lifestyle and a way of life rather than a singular belief. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Whos responsibility is it to have this be done? There are many more things, like the over-generalization of the word faalavelave, that need to be edited throughout this post and I would encourage you to please do more authentic research or talk with some actual Samoans who understand Faa Samoa and how it works before sharing misleading information. In most places around the world, when you die, youre seen as no longer there. 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? . Guests give the grieving family monetary gifts or hand-woven mats in a ceremonial exchange of gifts called faalavelave. The funeral service doesnt usually just involve close family and friends. Okay, just looking at your alagaupu properly.. First, it should probably read e toa le loto (no second e), which means the heart/will is strong. 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. This is how people pay respect. Literally: When it is felt toward the sea, it is felt toward the land. Facebook. And this expression is spreading. Literally: Friends every day but siblings on bad days. Principles of the Samoan Culture Fa'a Samoa, the Samoan culture is based on the principles of love (alofa), mutual respect (faaaloalo); reciprocity (feosia'i), sharing (fetufaa'i), and mutual support (felagolagoma'i). Why? 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. Hi, Im Samoan and most of this is wrong. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. In 2015 there were 169,000 speakers of Samoan in Samoa, and there were 49,600 Samoan speakers in American Samoa. 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. 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. I walked into her office in error and there she was: the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Funerals are flooded with gifts for the family. Thank you for sharing our cultural knowledge. But our Funeral roses are some of the most common flowers to give and receive when a loved one dies. She took her role as a mother seriously and did an amazing job of raising them to be the adults they are today. I need to find an alagaupu about procrastination *sigh* lol.. Buy Sympathy FlowersShop Funeral StationeryBrowse Memorial Items. Anytime shed open those beautiful big brown eyes of hers, silently reminding me that she was my flesh and blood, I couldnt stay angry with her. Literally: Nothing is more important than your family. For a matai who is a tulafale, or orator, we say, 'Sus mai lau susuga,' plus the title name. EMAIL: WECARE@SEVENPONDS.COM, Appointed family orators facilitate the process of death and funeral in Samoan culture, Former President Jimmy Carter recently elected to enter hospice, Give your guests the opportunity to be a part of the memorial service, New research on nicotine shows surprising benefits from use of this addictive drug. Otherwise, ones spirit may cause problems for the family. Just before the part, mom pulled me into the bedroom, and we were talking. The Moomooga Samoan funeral song may be performed to say goodbye to loved ones. She seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction. Cake values integrity and transparency. deliveroo design studio; who is brad marion molly's game If you are standing and the person you wish to speak to is sitting, you are expected to bring . Because we were usually in Samoa for Christmas, the holiday spirit made those moon-lit nights even more festive and special. When she saw how angry I was, she began to cry. Much of the funeral process begins in the week before the funeral. .LOL. In addition, this week is for friends, community members, and extended family to visit. My uncle says that ao taulia, in this case, is referring to a dark time that is also momentous so its not just about sadness, but a profound kind of ground-shifting pain. I was furious at the time. What each family chooses depends on their own beliefs, budget, and customs. You had a special man in your midst, and Im cant imagine the depth of loss you must feel. Sure, it isnt handwritten or painstakingly obtained through any hard work and experience or handed down through generational lines but it is extremely detailed with origins and even cultural insights. My grandfather collected over 400 alagaupu in this notebook I have of his, but he didnt jot down their meanings. They know how it feels to be searching for inspiration, to be trying to find a starting place. Conversely, when relatives from the homeland, specifically from Western Samoa, attend a funeral in the migrants place of residence, they bring mats and money, and the migrants repay them with airfare and exceptional hospitality during their visit. Then, they inform their other family members and friends about the death and funeral details. It is therefore the young people who will carry on the task of . (The six Samoan islands east of the meridian are part of American Samoa.) Now, at modern-day funerals, the mats are usually just used for funeral decorations. Unfortunately, we must have used an unreliable source. Even if you put us on either side of a big room full of people, Jennifer and I would always find our way back to each other immediately. 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). This communal life is all about the family, which is headed by a leading chief. We learned from him that, regardless of the task, it was not worth doing if you didnt want to do it properly. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. Im proud to have called this incredibly special man my brother. I was initially overjoyed at the discovery but then disheartened that it was only an excerpt as this is the most comprehensive publication I have seen to date on the subject of alagupu and muagagana but I found the other excerpts on the site. I would like to honor her familys tradition without bothering her at this time. Its not uncommon for families to wait a few days or longer for the family to travel home for the service. Losing my sister is so heartbreaking. 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. Your soul has moved on, and your family mourns this loss. There is usually at least one church in each village and most of the ministers are native Samoans. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. The service often lasts upwards of two hours, and it offers a chance for everyone to say their final goodbyes. Savea was their older brother, who loved them both and did his best to mediate between them. Whether it was scoring a home run in a Little League baseball game or getting a bursary for a university, he delighted in our successes. Literally: Clouds (that are spent) are retreating. We cannot give you customized advice on your situation or needs, which would require the service Ill never forget the look on my mothers face and the mischievous grin on Davids. As children, we would spend hours with each other without talking that much. Gotta love how different some languages are. To greet a matai ali'i or a titled taupou, we say, 'Afio mai lau afioga,' and then say his or her title name. In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. John taught me so much more than English. Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and As it has been common since men have started breathing . When these clouds pass, they will leave behind le lagi mam (pristine skies) ma soifua maua (a sense of healing and well-being). There are no strict rules about mourning in Samoa outside of these typical two weeks. well each family had an god when you die you go to your god so they were thankful for it. And he showed them how to be the resilient adults they have become. 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. 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. 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. Before the advancement of mortuary science there, the deceased was buried the day after death. Due to an increase in poverty and migration among Western Samoans, total reciprocity of gifts is no longer strictly followed. Upolu and Savai'i, the other main island, account for 99 per cent of Samoa's 201,000 population. by Jenny Goldade | Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, For Families. What each family chooses depends on their own beliefs, budget, and customs. 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. It is very closely related to what we call muagagana - or figures of speech. As a husband, Stephen was supportive of everything I did. It might make more sense to you. christian laettner first wife; leaf home water solutions vs culligan; conventions in las vegas 2022. sona jobarteh husband; houston crime rate by race 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. Gifts include money and fine hand-woven mats (usually for display only and then rolled and stored). When you sit down to decide what youre going to say in your eulogy speech, there are a few factors you need to take into consideration. Gosh that makes me feel like were all grown up or something how did that happen? John was my high school English teacher, so you might wonder why I refer to him as John and not as Mr. Robinson; it was at his insistence, as soon as I graduated. 35 Thank You Mom Messages That Every Mom Will Love. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. My father was a quiet man. subject to our Terms of Use. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. He let me cry on his shoulder when I went through my first break-up. He was like a father, an uncle, and a big brother all rolled into one. 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. He brought the hose and sprinkler indoors and turned it on. The term for a mausoleum is loa, which comes from the word va'aloa, . Id like to start by offering Johns family my sincerest condolences. We just understood each other. Get Anava Samoana news and updates straight to your inbox. Thinking about what to say. Literally: Look out for something for Sameli. Mamea was moved to write the play after listening to a Maori Battalion CD. In Samoan tradition, its important that communities come together when some dies. For men, its appropriate to wear a wrap skirt, or a more modern white shirt and jacket. One of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants. Samantha and I met quite by accident. A funeral speech is difficult to deliver if youre feeling over-emotional. He was the only one who understood my hurt and confusion when our parents divorced. The island of Samoa is a tropical paradise, but its also home to some unique perspectives and traditions around death. Lol. 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