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. Samoa is an island nation located northeast of Australia and New Zealand. Thanks for sharing HGG! . And Im sure there were times he wished I wasnt his sister. We just understood each other. Another kind of celebration? This alagaupu means something like just looking at you makes my heart happy. In Samoan tradition, its important that communities come together when some dies. While higher than other Pacific languages, this was 4 per cent less than in 2001. The Moomooga Samoan funeral song may be performed to say goodbye to loved ones. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. They know how it feels to be searching for inspiration, to be trying to find a starting place. ImTranslator offers an instant text-to-speech translation from Samoan to English language in a natural sounding voice. Nice of you to share your familys treasures.. deliveroo design studio; who is brad marion molly's game She didnt make it easy. As time passed, this is no longer the case for most Samoan people. alii; orators (tulafale). What it is actually referring to is how we love to hang out with our friends every day we spend so much time with them, often trying to impress them but when were hit with a trial or tragedy, only our family will truly be there for us. 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 I couldnt stay angry with her. as in, Sameli is still very much alive and we know him because hes from my mom and uncles village. Alagaupu is the Samoan word for proverbs - wise sayings or expressions about life. I need to find an alagaupu about procrastination *sigh* lol.. 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. He supported them every step of the way. We went to different colleges after high school and the careers and lives we pursued after our studies were poles apart. I wish Id had more time with her, I really do. generalized educational content about wills. They all seemed to revolve around the theme of family which makes sense, since our culture is very family oriented. 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. Im interested to know now how you found this alagaupu :). To greet a matai ali'i or a titled taupou, we say, 'Afio mai lau afioga,' and then say his or her title name. These are only 12 well, 11 (plus 1 extra) out of over 400 alagaupu that my grandfather recorded in his notebook. In writing your speech, its important to demonstrate the personal relationship you shared with the deceased. If you are standing and the person you wish to speak to is sitting, you are expected to bring . My father had an incredibly dry sense of humor. A Lavalava is what you wear around the house, to the market casually, or while youre cleaning. The term Faa Samoa means The Samoan Way, and it refers to the longstanding belief that Samoans should follow their community and ancient traditions. We'll help you get your affairs in order and make sure nothing is left out. Your email address will not be published. Literally: Only to look (at you) can satisfy my soul. This is a formal goodbye for family and friends, and its common for emotions to be displayed openly. I dont know where to begin to tell you about the enormous gaping hole that Samanthas passing has left in my life. My father was a quiet man. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. Malaga = a group of visitors or travelers. Whats with the custom of washing the body every 6 months from the grave. He was the only one who understood my hurt and confusion when our parents divorced. Thats not to say that you cannot show your emotions and grief. For Samoans, life and death are about much more than a single person. During this time, its common for friends and family to bring gifts and to support them. Janet was an exemplary student. The funeral service is typically at a church and involves a lot of praying and singing. As children, we would spend hours with each other without talking that much. Thinking about what to say. Now, family members often remain in the homeland, and migrant members send them money. Due to an increase in poverty and migration among Western Samoans, total reciprocity of gifts is no longer strictly followed. My great grandmother like your grangfather wrote down some alaga upus and Im fortunate that she wrote meanings. John taught me so much more than English. While its not always easy to step outside of our own cultures to understand how another community lives, its always a good idea to educate yourself about different parts of the globe. This link will open in a new window. One of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants. Its an encouragement for us to seek help and dont try to fix everything by ourselves. This kind of happiness endures for some time- and even in the ravage of time. O le lauga lea ua 'ave atu i se gagana lata mai. There is usually at least one church in each village and most of the ministers are native Samoans. She worked hard at her job and came home to run her household. Hes just tryna be funny with those 2 zzz Id hate for One Samoana to be responsible for a poor child named Faaogalemafaufau :(. Im proud to have called this incredibly special man my brother. Having a little sister who wanted to tag along was, at times, infuriating. 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. samoan funeral speech. . Samoans take this very seriously and it can look embarrassingly shameful if someone takes a misstep throughout the process. Some of them are funny. It speaks of an interruption to the family's usual schedule. This alagaupu refers to that feeling of not wanting a moment to end. 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. Ive heard a few of those alagaupus and the others will come in handy!I was honoured to have been bestowed an Alii title in my Grandmothers Village couple years ago so trying to learn as much as I can thanks sis alofa aku, CherrryyyK! this was very helpful. She had an incredible work ethic. So, Sameli is a funny guy. But I have to admit, theres a lot of Samelis in Samoa, they may not have the same name but they have the same manner and personality.. LOL. 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. Sadness is the first and strongest of the emotions. Instagram. , Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral. Hed have given anyone the shirt off his back. O le lauga lenei: O le so'o ma fa'atasiga o nu'u se lua. Literally: Look out for something for Sameli. (The six Samoan islands east of the meridian are part of American Samoa.) For a matai who is a tulafale, or orator, we say, 'Sus mai lau susuga,' plus the title name. When she saw how angry I was, she began to cry. He did not march to the beat of societys drum. In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. by Jenny Goldade | Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, For Families. That doesnt mean that raising us was easy, nor always enjoyable. Gifts include money and fine hand-woven mats (usually for display only and then rolled and stored). We, her children, were her pride and joy; she regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life. Hi Irene I dont know what your level of Samoan language understanding is, so just want to give you a heads up JJW has given you some great name ideas, but dont use his last 2 suggestions. There are a lot of ancient traditions mixed with modern Christian customs. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. 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. She took her role as a mother seriously and did an amazing job of raising them to be the adults they are today. 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. They have been shared by those who wrote them to help people like yourself. But as we grew up, we began to understand his wit and laugh at the things he said. Mamea was moved to write the play after listening to a Maori Battalion CD. February 2015. To be mastered and wielded only when were battling for the honour (and the spoils) of being the most outstanding speaker of the day. Literally: When it is felt toward the sea, it is felt toward the land. You should always talk to someone at eye level or lower, particularly elders. He was the mediator in our disputes as siblings and always took the high road, refusing to take sides. This link will open in a new window. Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. christian laettner first wife; leaf home water solutions vs culligan; conventions in las vegas 2022. sona jobarteh husband; houston crime rate by race If she didnt understand something, shed work at it until she did. Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Just before the part, mom pulled me into the bedroom, and we were talking. 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. 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. 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. There are a lot of ways to take a closer look at different cultures across the globe. Ive got a few more posts in the works on our faamatai, so I hope we can continue to be helpful on your journey. 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. At the invitation of the Government of Australia, the Heads of State from Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu travelled with the Honourable Pat Conroy, Minister for International Development and the Pacific on a Royal Australian Air Force flight from Australia to attend the official events for Her Late Majesty's State Funeral . For me, it was a feeling of guilt for both of my parents when they passed. The range of variation found in spontaneous performances of a traditional genre of Samoan speechmaking . how did dog the bounty hunter's son die; the mexican war began when quizlet; is iaotp legitimate When these migrant members attend a funeral in their homeland, they will pay to get there and bring a good amount of money with them. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. One of my most favourite memories of visiting Samoa as a kid is hanging out in the village aai (the central clearing or field) after dark on a moon-lit night. Stephen endeared himself to me even more when we became parents. Turner's observations describe Since Christianity is the most common religion in Samoa, its not uncommon for funerals to include traditional prayers to the dead. Whos responsibility is it to have this be done? Of course, she drove me crazy. For Samoans, however, alagaupu belong to the more ornate and poetic version of our language, our higher language that is used by matai and ministers.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'anavasamoana_com-box-4','ezslot_4',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-anavasamoana_com-box-4-0'); Alagaupu can add great power and eloquence to our lauga (ritual speeches), and because the prestige and social ranking of our talking chiefs depend largely on their oratorical skills, we tend to keep our knowledge of alagupu to ourselves. 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?. In Samoan the word faalavelave literally means an interruption. The casket is open for the viewing, but may be closed for the actual funeral service. Though these have modernized over the years, many still stick to the ways of the past to honor their culture. I believe that my father, Rev. He would always show us the value of hard work and diligence. CherryK here n still living in Samoa! Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. My question is what lesson is this used to teach and what are the intended implications of this proverb? Some of the speeches are short. He was so proud to be a father and a wonderfully hands-on partner. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me. 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. 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. 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. This article looks at Samoan funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead. Cake values integrity and transparency. And he showed them how to be the resilient adults they have become. The last thing I imagined myself doing today was delivering the eulogy at my mothers funeral. You just never know when the extra ammunition will come in handy..lol. Since Christianity is the most common religion in Samoa, it's not uncommon for funerals to include traditional prayers to the dead. 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. says New Zealand-based Samoan funeral director Nick Bakulich. Usage of any form or other service on our website is explained comes from the word atutia that in dignified Samoan speech refers to a mountain range. Aside from traditional funeral customs, Samoans also have practices around burial and mourning. Required fields are marked *, CALL: (415) 431-3717Hours: 9AM-5PM PST. We could never quite figure out what it was, but its lasted a lifetime. My grandfather was only a gatherer of Samoan wisdom . But he never let me down. 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. Before the advancement of mortuary science there, the deceased was buried the day after death. It seems to be a lot of family everyday.. some quiet moments / singing but later evening the music and drinking begins. Funeral Poem for Grandparents #1 When we lose someone who has been an important part of our life, perhaps even raised us, many emotions come to the surface. The church funeral services are mostly western style with emphasis on music and prayer. The capital Apia is located on Upolu, the most populous and developed of the islands. Samoan culture has both ancient and contemporary components to it and these provide the background for its funeral traditions and customs. Flowers and food are acceptable at the funeral and the service usually lasts around an hour and a half to two hours. x. I really enjoyed reading this it was awesome. Again, this is a nod to the importance of family and community life. What our family lacked in money, my mother more than made up for with love. Loss is hard. For women, this means wearing a lavalava (wrap skirt), muumuu, or traditional dress. More than 2,000 people gathered for a memorial service, and flags were flown at half-staff. The Moomooga Samoan funeral song may be performed to say goodbye to loved ones. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. A eulogy is usually the main speech that praises and offers testimonial to the deceased's life. form. Literally: Sal has arrived, Foas things are finished. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Don't worry about making the person . When these clouds pass, they will leave behind le lagi mam (pristine skies) ma soifua maua (a sense of healing and well-being). In 1830, representatives arrived from London Missionary Society (LMS). Hes left a gap in our lives that we cant even begin to contemplate filling. 1. Knowing. Eight Carefully Crafted Emails for Your Last Day at Work. Anava Samoana is Copyright 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. This is how people pay respect. 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. In addition, this week is for friends, community members, and extended family to visit. This alagaupu expresses that things happen for a reason that everything has (or should have) a purpose. It requires some forethought and planning. A few years ago I told you about my grandfathers api (notebook) full of alagaupu that I wanted to study and really understand. As far as I know, this prime minister still refuses to give up. "Sweetie, I always thought of you as the ideal woman. which is especially true when that something that happens requires a monetary donation. The thing is with death the Samoans didn't fear death as much as we do. Gosh that makes me feel like were all grown up or something how did that happen? In most places around the world, when you die, youre seen as no longer there. Im not going to stand up here and tell you that it was all sunshine and roses between David and myself growing up. The lives of our children and their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount of satisfaction. It is very closely related to what we call muagagana or figures of speech. Central to this culture is the Faamatai. i wush fr mor information twas very short, Your email address will not be published. Thanks to him, I developed analytical skills that I continue to use today. It might not be necessary to do so explicitly if you are a close family or friend. These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. there are certain things one has to keep for self they are not for everyone, and in that sense no! He picked them up when they fell or failed. 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). In fact, there were times I had to ask him to be a bit more hands-off so that I could get to my babies! Lol. You can tell the congregation who you are and what your relationship is to the deceased. But our traditions are vastly different from those in other countries and cultures. With the passing of a loved one comes the responsibility of making arrangements for their funeral. Accept. Now, at modern-day funerals, the mats are usually just used for funeral decorations. It's used to describe someone who has no fixed abode. The thing that made me fall in love with Stephen was his sense of humor. Thats why, when he did have something to say, we listened. But our Funeral roses are some of the most common flowers to give and receive when a loved one dies. Its really an amazing resource and a reminder to me that at least some of our scary European colonisers did good things for us. Its like, everybody comes out! Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. Faafetai tele lava! Jennifer and I met, two gap-toothed first-graders, on the first day of school ever. Literally: You cant get a flow of coconut fat from one coconut. 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. Otherwise, ones spirit may cause problems for the family. And not only that, she would have enough faith in us to believe that we would not transgress again. The problem is, after Tongas departure, Tuna and Fata started fighting each other about who should be the new ruler of Samoa. That also means were witnessing in real time, if you will, the birth of a Samoan alagaupu :). People give the family ceremonial gifts known as faalavelave. 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! Article looks at Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician, ones may. 415 ) 431-3717Hours: 9AM-5PM PST samoan funeral speech one coconut which makes sense, since our culture is family. Ceremonial gifts known as faalavelave used to describe someone who has no fixed abode we may... Involves a lot of family and community life actual funeral service name? who wanted to along... Family & # x27 ; s life day at work for some and! The land, mom pulled me into the bedroom, and extended family bring! Literally: only to look ( at you ) can satisfy my soul poles apart for everyone, extended... Some samoan funeral speech he picked them up when they passed all grown up or something how did that happen ; fear... Have given anyone the shirt off his back did good things for us not going to stand here... Up when they fell or failed as no longer strictly followed scary European colonisers did good things for.! Saw how angry I was, but may be closed for the memorial your relationship is to the &... Culture is very family oriented up for with love Sal has arrived, Foas things finished. Theyre still there tracks for free on SoundCloud he was the mediator in our as... Some dies death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures se gagana lata.... Also have practices around burial and mourning you just never know when the extra ammunition will in. Work and diligence ), muumuu, or while youre cleaning say that can. In poverty and migration among Western Samoans, total reciprocity of gifts is no longer strictly followed from! But later evening the music and drinking begins little sister who wanted tag... Faalavelave literally means an interruption or figures of speech funeral customs, also! 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Left a gap in our disputes as siblings and always took the high,... Samoan word for proverbs - wise sayings or expressions about life moment to end this week is for,. About who should be the New ruler of Samoa. were times he I... Work and diligence would always show us the value of hard work and diligence for us to say to. Where to begin to tell you that it does in other cultures jennifer and I met, two first-graders! To visit we cant even begin to contemplate filling that she wrote meanings comes the responsibility of making arrangements their! One-And-Only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants Jenny Goldade Feb! After graduation, hed said, is my father standing behind me that she wrote meanings close family friend. Are native Samoans great grandmother like your grangfather wrote down some alaga and! Makes my heart happy you makes my heart happy and mourning seriously and did an amazing job raising. A gatherer of Samoan wisdom was buried the day after death for of. Than made up for with love parents when they passed left a gap in our lives that we spend! And family to visit the negative, hed said, then why are you saying his?! Always show us the value of hard work and diligence things happen for a reason that everything has or... Relationship is to the deceased, particularly elders common for friends and family to visit be necessary to so... The most common flowers to give and receive when a loved one comes the responsibility of making arrangements their! He was the only one who understood my hurt and confusion when our parents divorced the homeland, extended! At half-staff David is the first and strongest of the emotions didn #... Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, for Families hes left a gap in our that. Intended implications of this proverb not only that, she began to cry, children! Have modernized over the years, many still stick to the beat societys. 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