We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Literally: Friends every day but siblings on bad days. 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. Thank you Hamogeekgirl, Malo faafetai for sharing these gems of our wonderful language. Since Christianity is the most common religion in Samoa, its not uncommon for funerals to include traditional prayers to the dead. National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Johns work ethic influenced me greatly. My grandfather collected over 400 alagaupu in this notebook I have of his, but he didnt jot down their meanings. He may not have known it, but John fulfilled an important role in my life. All Rights Reserved, What to Say to Someone Who has Lost a Pet, Traditional wraps, white shirt & tie for men / Muumuu for women, Open for visitation, closed for the funeral. without even knowing the Sameli story. I am tired and fed up of listening to the noise, but do not want to disrespect a mourning family. Because they've been where you are now with a funeral speech to prepare about someone special in their lives. Read on for the full explanation of these . One important aspect of any culture that doesnt always get the attention it deserves is the funeral customs. Otherwise, ones spirit may cause problems for the family. The mourning period lasts around two weeks. Thanks for sharing HGG! The chief and other local leaders begin by performing a ceremony with the family prior to the official service. She didnt make it easy. There were crushes and boyfriends that caused heartache and heartbreak. 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. The lives of our children and their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount of satisfaction. Something drew us to each other though. These two frameworks are centred on familial and communal relationships during the funeral process ( Lilomaiava-Doktor, 2016 ; Rangiwai, 2018a ). Hes just tryna be funny with those 2 zzz Id hate for One Samoana to be responsible for a poor child named Faaogalemafaufau :(. Aside from traditional funeral customs, Samoans also have practices around burial and mourning. It might not be necessary to do so explicitly if you are a close family or friend. Another kind of celebration? In fact, right now, thats the place I wish I was more than anything else. 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. 40 Thank You Dad Messages Every Dad Will Appreciate. 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. Just before the part, mom pulled me into the bedroom, and we were talking. 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. Flowers and food are acceptable at the funeral and the service usually lasts around an hour and a half to two hours. Now, family members often remain in the homeland, and migrant members send them money. If you are standing and the person you wish to speak to is sitting, you are expected to bring . 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. Samantha was an amazing woman. But he never let me down. Ill never forget the look on my mothers face and the mischievous grin on Davids. Mr Bakulich, who has worked as a funeral director for 20 years, spoke out in support of comments made by Samoa's Head of State during a New Zealand visit this week. For information about opting out, click here. 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. The Fate of the Human Soul after Death., The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Seiuli, Byron Malaela Sotiata. Required fields are marked *. Women are divided into two categories . Your email address will not be published. Anava Samoana is Copyright 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. Stream LDS SAMOAN FUNERAL SONG - PIANO ARRANGEMENT BY DINI TUILETOA at BISHOP NISAS HUZE by Dj YEAh on desktop and mobile. John taught me so much more than English. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Pinterest. Hes special so its just funny. We learned from him that, regardless of the task, it was not worth doing if you didnt want to do it properly. It seems to be a lot of family everyday.. some quiet moments / singing but later evening the music and drinking begins. Otherwise, one's spirit may cause problems for the family. This refers to things like monetary gifts and woven mats. Note, these traditions may vary depending on the individual and their personal beliefs. A eulogy is about the person who died but it is for the guests at the funeral. It's funny because I always immortalized my mother and how amazing she was, and she said the funniest thing. Women are divided into two categories . With my mother, we went through Grandpas notebook and discussed the meanings of 12 of his listed alagaupu. Samoans have a lot of the same roots as other island cultures of the South Pacific so they have many aspects in common. 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. I loved your post thank you so much for sharing. For me, it was a feeling of guilt for both of my parents when they passed. For the Samoan people, their funeral traditions have long been a mystery to the rest of the world. Shed open those beautiful big brown eyes and remind me that she was my flesh and blood. She seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction. Mamea was moved to write the play after listening to a Maori Battalion CD. Muumuu are Hawaiian dresses, Samoans dont wear them. So, we have a very important legend about how the brothers Tuna and Fata won us freedom from Tonga when they chased the King of Tonga (and his armies) out of Samoa, hundreds of years ago. However, when death happens outside of the home, this leads to problems for the family on a spiritual level. His passion for teaching English was contagious. 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. We went to different colleges after high school and the careers and lives we pursued after our studies were poles apart. 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 literal translation is so awkward haha. Even the wives of matai are given a special status and are greeted like their husbands. this was very helpful. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Although it is under such unfortunate circumstances, the family has finally come together under one roof. *ahem*. Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries. We are not attorneys and are not providing you with legal Typically a Samoan funeral can take up to 2 weeks. hahahachoooohoooo!! After all, he made sure he taught us a wide vocabulary, Welcome Aboard Emails for New Members and What to Reply. While higher than other Pacific languages, this was 4 per cent less than in 2001. Your soul has moved on, and your family mourns this loss. This link will open in a new window. You can tell the congregation who you are and what your relationship is to the deceased. I have been searching for the meaning of a specific alagaupa and was hoping you could help? Still, death is a natural part of life and not something to be feared. This includes deciding who will be saying a funeral speech at the funeral service. You should always talk to someone at eye level or lower, particularly elders. I fell in love with the language on a different level thanks to him. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. Im proud to have called this incredibly special man my brother. Frazer, James. He presided over family dinners with a quiet dignity that spoke of a patriarch who took that responsibility seriously. It might make more sense to you. 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. And I couldnt stay angry with her. 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. There were times I wished he wasnt my brother. Literally: You cant get a flow of coconut fat from one coconut. My question is what lesson is this used to teach and what are the intended implications of this proverb? i wush fr mor information twas very short, Your email address will not be published. This link will open in a new window. 48. Like when I decided that the patio needed to be refurbished. In fact, I know he would have preferred to spend his weekend resting and relaxing. Irene,How about simple names such as:Tautualelei, Tautuamatavela, Faaogalelei, Faaogasao, Faaogamaletonuor Tautuafiamatai and Faaogalemafaufau..LOL. The thing is with death the Samoans didn't fear death as much as we do. The Samoans value the mats so much that the most important ones bear honorable names. samoan funeral speech. On the one year anniversary the family is gifted sheets, blankets, bedding as a symbol of laying them to rest. This article looks at Samoan funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead. 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. The independent state of Samoa goes as far as having the Christian cross on its flag. I apologize for the long question but would be so grateful for your help! 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. Shed always be knitting or sewing or making something that we needed. All Rights Reserved. The Moomooga Samoan funeral song may be performed to say goodbye to loved ones. Alagaupu is the Samoan word for proverbs - wise sayings or expressions about life. It takes a LOT of coconuts to produce enough copra to make even a small bit of oil. Other parts of the series are about ancient Egyptian funeral traditions and Indian funeral traditions, among others. He did not march to the beat of societys drum. You just never know when the extra ammunition will come in handy..lol. 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. 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. 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. Wearing traditional attire is the best way to honor Faa Samoa and pay respects. Its an encouragement for us to seek help and dont try to fix everything by ourselves. 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 is how people pay respect. It is very closely related to what we call muagagana or figures of speech. 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. there are certain things one has to keep for self they are not for everyone, and in that sense no! The tradition of the tulafale illustrates a highly developed part of the Samoan culture that consists of its own style and language. Janet was an exemplary student. In return, families return gifts to the visitors. Saturday 22 August 2020, Porirua EFKS ChurchFuneral ServiceBurialNanai Farewell Speech to LitiaReceptionFa'aaloalogaFaafetai a Nanai i le EkalesiaFa'afatai a. Ever see an old Samoan man talking to himself? He supported them every step of the way. 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. Its necessary that you give the congregation an insight into the persons life as it related to your own. In the first of a series of first-person accounts from the Glasgow summit, she describes what it felt . I wish Id had more time with her, I really do. 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. He always made me laugh, even when all I wanted to do was cry. 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! It is a farewell to a loved one who's gone home to rest with Ieova, our Lord. Much of the funeral process begins in the week before the funeral. Speak from the heart and say how you feel about the person Describe the person's qualities Talk about their career, jobs, hobbies and passions Talk about their relationships with family, friends and colleagues Mention things that you inherited or learned from them Perhaps mention some people who will be at the funeral He was like a father, an uncle, and a big brother all rolled into one. 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. Traditionally, it was important for the family to bury the body within a day of death. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online Family and village structure Matai are titleholders. When someone passes away, their family meets to determine the funeral arrangements. You are so beautiful, and so amazing. He recalls: "I heard someone talking in Samoan introducing two Samoan songs. 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. The idea of a good and bad death is a common belief throughout the world. These are only 12 well, 11 (plus 1 extra) out of over 400 alagaupu that my grandfather recorded in his notebook. Literally: Savea has a leg on either side of the day. Another awkward translation lol, and another alagaupu to do with an actual person. Close your funeral speech with a statement about the impact the person had on you and how much you will miss them. We survived high school together. We have a few more like that in this list. Failing to do so is seen as a sign of great disrespect. Get Anava Samoana news and updates straight to your inbox. The way she attacked the obstacles she encountered with such strength and determination was inspirational. And even with the little me time she had, she never used it for herself. Much alofas, sista x. Hi,Tryn think of a name for our baby boy something starts with Tautua?or Faaoga? This is how people pay respect. A eulogy is usually the main speech that praises and offers testimonial to the deceased's life. While some cultures resemble our own, others make us reflect and consider how our differences bring us together. Appropriate dress for funerals is a lavalava (or skirtlike wrap), white shirt, tie, jacket and leather sandals for men, and a pulu tasi (or muumuu) for women. Home | About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service Copyright 2023 Funeralwise, LLC. They are divided into 2 categories, chiefs i.e. Death doesnt happen the way that it does in other cultures. Best innovative translation and text-to-speech technologies implemented in ImTranslator translate text from the Samoan language and convert the translation to the English voice. Central to this culture is the Faamatai. 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. Three Samoan orators, including two tulafale(Credit: Wikipedia). Thinking about what to say. She would go through the things in my room and leave a mess. We could never quite figure out what it was, but its lasted a lifetime. It requires some forethought and planning. It can refer to anything from longing to see a loved one to celebrating the success of a family or village endeavour. 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 like saying we wish we could stay longer, but alas. Every culture has its own collection of proverbs or maxims. These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. is an important part of Samoan custom. Upolu and Savai'i, the other main island, account for 99 per cent of Samoa's 201,000 population. Due to an increase in poverty and migration among Western Samoans, total reciprocity of gifts is no longer strictly followed. The island of Samoa is a tropical paradise, but its also home to some unique perspectives and traditions around death. 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. In the Samoan indigenous context this theological reference is reinforced in ancient Samoan funeral ritual taunts where man What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? One of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants. Gifts include money and fine hand-woven mats (usually for display only and then rolled and stored). Because open caskets are common at the funeral, this is still the most common choice in Samoa today. I believe that my father, Rev. Unlike in other cultures, black isnt always worn at funerals in Samoa. 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 These have evolved from. Lol. Ua se moo le sosolo This phrase literally means 'he is a lizard crawling' however it is actually used to describe a disobedient person. Its a lifestyle and a way of life rather than a singular belief. You had a special man in your midst, and Im cant imagine the depth of loss you must feel. Therefore, they celebrate. its not often Samoans like to share personal stuff about their families. The End Of Life ritual is a ritual to guide them whist there on there journey of the dead. This alagaupu refers to that feeling of not wanting a moment to end. christian laettner first wife; leaf home water solutions vs culligan; conventions in las vegas 2022. sona jobarteh husband; houston crime rate by race We lived far away from each other and Ill be honest, we sometimes went for long periods without talking, which I regret. That meant that she had very little time to herself. In the English language, they are often so widely shared and repeated that they become cliches. Hes left a gap in our lives that we cant even begin to contemplate filling. This alagaupu is all about missing out on something important because youve come too late, and as you can imagine, its a perfect expression for telling someone off. Because we were usually in Samoa for Christmas, the holiday spirit made those moon-lit nights even more festive and special. To be mastered and wielded only when were battling for the honour (and the spoils) of being the most outstanding speaker of the day. During this time, its common for friends and family to bring gifts and to support them. She had an incredible work ethic. Not only do they bring those who are grieving Sign up for our newsletter and get tips, trends, news, and more sent directly to your inbox! Knowing how to offer condolences is an important part of Samoan custom. 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. Copyright 2023 Funeralwise, LLC. In Samoan tradition, its important for the body to be buried quickly. There are no words I can use to express my gratitude, which I know would disappoint John. In this guide, well find out. This is the code that provides for the systems of chiefs that lead Samoan families. Still, you do need to make your relationship clear within the first few seconds of starting, just to ensure everyone understands. He was so proud to be a father and a wonderfully hands-on partner. Usage of any form or other service on our website is I hope you dont mind me mentioning you in that post. Agafili Shem Leo, and . Hehe. 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. Even as a baby, she showed an exceptional amount of determination. It is therefore the young people who will carry on the task of . The overwhelming religion in Samoa is Christianity. 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. While its not always clear what to wear to a funeral, Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral. .LOL. 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. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. But our Funeral roses are some of the most common flowers to give and receive when a loved one dies. So nice to see a familiar name in the comments Woww congratulations on the title. The importance of mats harkens back to when they served as the currency of the Samoan people. Some of the speeches are short. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. Thats probably what hes doing, too :). Many users would be better served consulting an attorney than using a do-it-yourself online You are a natural writer/communicator, probably like your grandfather. In this guide, well find out. Ill be honest, we sometimes went for long periods without talking, which I regret. 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. Its that mutual love and respect that makes me know Jennifer was the best friend I could ever have had. 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. I remember wishing we could stay out there with everyone forever.

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