Get Anava Samoana news and updates straight to your inbox. CherryK here n still living in Samoa! Samoa is a Polynesian country northeast of Fiji. Literally: Clouds (that are spent) are retreating. Please feel free to email me at samantha@frazerconsultants.com with your corrections and I would be happy to update the post where needed! Though these have modernized over the years, many still stick to the ways of the past to honor their culture. Thank you! Literally: When it is felt toward the sea, it is felt toward the land. Before the advancement of mortuary science there, the deceased was buried the day after death. Frazer, James. Thank you for your heart in wanting to share. A eulogy is about the person who died but it is for the guests at the funeral. Samoan climate activist Brianna Fruean, 23, addressed world leaders at the opening of COP26. 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. Home | About Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service Copyright 2023 Funeralwise, LLC. Ohlone Shellmound Buried Beneath the Emeryville Shopping Center. He always made me laugh, even when all I wanted to do was cry. Thats why, when he did have something to say, we listened. 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. And Im sure there were times he wished I wasnt his sister. Ua le sei seu faaalo This refers to things like monetary gifts and woven mats. All Rights Reserved. as in, what a beautiful chapel we have built. For example, if an elder is seated, you are expected to sit down before conversing with them. A good death, in Samoan tradition, is a death that happens at home. 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? 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. LinkedIn. But you must be able to get through the speech you have prepared. These have evolved from ancient traditions, and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. My sister Janet never met a challenge she didnt conquer. 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. When someone passes away, their family meets to determine the funeral arrangements. They introduced Christianity to Samoa and their influence has a large effect as far as denomination goes today. is an important part of Samoan custom. Some common gifts include corn beef boxes, chicken boxes, and fine mats. pa le noo is literally referring to diarrhea. Samoan is a Polynesian language spoken mainly in Western Samoa and American Samoa, and also in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. e toa E le loto doesnt make sense. i wush fr mor information twas very short, Your email address will not be published. Thank you so much for your feedback! In return, families return gifts to the visitors. Nowadays, these mats act mainly as decorations during the funeral and then are stored away. 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). Again, this is a nod to the importance of family and community life. 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. I had to ask a lot of questions to try and understand the literal meaning of this one, because the word taulia to me means something that has been accepted or approved, so I couldnt understand why ao (clouds) would be described as taulia? They have been shared by those who wrote them to help people like yourself. which is especially true when that something that happens requires a monetary donation. 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. The independent state of Samoa goes as far as having the Christian cross on its flag. Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and Pinterest. Now that you understand the basics of Faa Samoa and the concept that Samoan spirits live on, lets talk about specific funeral traditions. Traditionally, it was important for the family to bury the body within a day of death. Basic Etiquette. Your own understanding of these alagaupu might be completely different from ours, and just as correct. We lived far away from each other and Ill be honest, we sometimes went for long periods without talking, which I regret. Im not going to stand up here and tell you that it was all sunshine and roses between David and myself growing up. 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. Saturday 22 August 2020, Porirua EFKS ChurchFuneral ServiceBurialNanai Farewell Speech to LitiaReceptionFa'aaloalogaFaafetai a Nanai i le EkalesiaFa'afatai a. But I will treasure the years I had with her in my heart for the rest of my life. 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). And I couldnt stay angry with her. 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. What exactly happens during a Samoan funeral? *ahem*. As far as I know, this prime minister still refuses to give up. generalized educational content about wills. In Samoa, its important to do things the Samoan Way. Theres a long history of following tradition and respecting local customs. John taught me so much more than English. We, her children, were her pride and joy; she regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life. He did not march to the beat of societys drum. Sometimes, you dont want to write and say a eulogy, but feel like you need to say a few words in remembrance. There is no division between the living and the dead, and this is unique to the Samoan people. This link will open in a new window. Our children were the center of Samanthas world. 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. As it has been common since men have started breathing . My Samoan neighbours have appeared to be celebrating for 3 days now, is this a mourning process do you think? Three Samoan orators, including two tulafale(Credit: Wikipedia). The way she attacked the obstacles she encountered with such strength and determination was inspirational. Saying a funeral speech is not something that should be undertaken unprepared. Samoa consists of four inhabited and a number of smaller, uninhabited islands. This refers to things like monetary gifts and woven mats. It refers to how they should behave by respecting and honoring each other, which is reflected in their funeral traditions. I was furious at the time. If you are standing and the person you wish to speak to is sitting, you are expected to bring . Thats probably what hes doing, too :). Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud. , Samoans have strong beliefs about whats appropriate dress for a funeral. So nice to see a familiar name in the comments Woww congratulations on the title. See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. Unfortunately, we must have used an unreliable source. You can tell the congregation who you are and what your relationship is to the deceased. Though the outside world might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs. Don't worry about making the person . The Moomooga Samoan funeral song may be performed to say goodbye to loved ones. samoan funeral speech. As for the loud music and drinking, I guess you could say its a form of celebration. She didnt make it easy. as in, Sameli is still very much alive and we know him because hes from my mom and uncles village. 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. Is there a english translated version of the tusi faalupega? Another kind of celebration? She had so much left to offer the world. Literally: You cant get a flow of coconut fat from one coconut. A eulogy is usually the main speech that praises and offers testimonial to the deceased's life. Hehe. In Samoan the word faalavelave literally means an interruption. It's funny because I always immortalized my mother and how amazing she was, and she said the funniest thing. Shed open those beautiful big brown eyes and remind me that she was my flesh and blood. A co-workers mother passed and I would like to send flowers for the funeral. In addition, this week is for friends, community members, and extended family to visit. This link will open in a new window. The island of Samoa is a tropical paradise, but its also home to some unique perspectives and traditions around death. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. Its not uncommon for families to wait a few days or longer for the family to travel home for the service. Your email address will not be published. I am researching Samoa for a school project. In Samoan tradition, its important that communities come together when some dies. I apologize for the long question but would be so grateful for your help! Like when I decided that the patio needed to be refurbished. Literally: We dont farewell a moon-lit night. Eulogies typically are from 5 - 15 minutes. This is how people pay respect. I had to ask her out several times before she agreed. This warrants final words of respect. With the passing of a loved one comes the responsibility of making arrangements for their funeral. I dont know where to begin to tell you about the enormous gaping hole that Samanthas passing has left in my life. Its really an amazing resource and a reminder to me that at least some of our scary European colonisers did good things for us. Samoan traditional woven mat(Credit: Wikipedia). Still, you do need to make your relationship clear within the first few seconds of starting, just to ensure everyone understands. Tell a story about the person if you feel its applicable. 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. The family is the most significant socio-political element of Samoan society. Thank you for sharing our cultural knowledge. In Samoan tradition, its important for the body to be buried quickly. 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. Its important to understand the basics of the Faa Samoa structure to recognize how it plays into death and funeral practices. Now, it is common to delay funerals for overseas loved ones. 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. x. I really enjoyed reading this it was awesome. We could never quite figure out what it was, but its lasted a lifetime. (If anyone can tell us more about #6, please leave a comment below.). The lives of our children and their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount of satisfaction. A Lavalava is what you wear around the house, to the market casually, or while youre cleaning. Savea was their older brother, who loved them both and did his best to mediate between them. You are a natural writer/communicator, probably like your grandfather. She took her role as a mother seriously and did an amazing job of raising them to be the adults they are today. . 40 Thank You Dad Messages Every Dad Will Appreciate. 48. Funeral, Funeral Speech, Speech Questions, Speech Writing This article continues the question and answer series, focussing on words to say for at grandmothers funeral. God Bless you and God Bless Samoa!! Its like saying we wish we could stay longer, but alas. 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. I believe that my father, Rev. These have evolved from. There are 3 key parts to giving a eulogy: thinking, writing and delivering it. Olo = the noise that pigeons make (coo). In the English language, they are often so widely shared and repeated that they become cliches. 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). A funeral speech is difficult to deliver if youre feeling over-emotional. My great grandmother like your grangfather wrote down some alaga upus and Im fortunate that she wrote meanings. As we grew older, I began to see David for what he truly was. by Jenny Goldade | Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, For Families. His own priest who loves him like a son was stongly encouraging him to step down from office because the election is done and he lost. The ones you find online don't do the song justice. 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. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. alabama state trooper recruiter; how to open a sentinel gun safe without a key; john wetteland verdict; shooting in brentwood, ca today; ark managarmr controls 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. My life was better that I could have ever imagined, and fuller that I ever dreamed because of Stephens presence by my side. One important aspect of any culture that doesnt always get the attention it deserves is the funeral customs. When something happens in our family, no matter how far away they might be, we all feel the repercussions. One of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only time my mother asked him to water her indoor plants. I walked into her office in error and there she was: the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. My father was a quiet man. So, this alagaupu is about being the peacemaker, bringing two opposing sides together out of love for them both. And he showed them how to be the resilient adults they have become. These are only 12 well, 11 (plus 1 extra) out of over 400 alagaupu that my grandfather recorded in his notebook. 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. Her lips and teeth were full of lipstick, and there was mascara everywhere. , and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. Hes special so its just funny. The funeral service is typically at a church and involves a lot of praying and singing. Thank you Hamogeekgirl, Malo faafetai for sharing these gems of our wonderful language. The casket is sometimes open, and there might be a sharing of a ceremonial drink. Family responsibility and the care of family land are the keys to the culture. Aha, that 400+ alagaupu book is starting to flow, nicely done. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. Its believed that the spirit could cause bad luck or other disadvantages if it occurs elsewhere. Failing to do so is seen as a sign of great disrespect. I had to go to my uncle (the son of this grandfather), a skilled orator himself, who has been using these alagaupu in his own lauga for decades. This link will open in a new window. It requires some forethought and planning. This communal life is all about the family, which is headed by a leading chief. Your loss is so great. I argue that place as heritage/ . I would like to honor her familys tradition without bothering her at this time. funeral song is often performed by a local musician. You are so beautiful, and so amazing. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. It can refer to anything from longing to see a loved one to celebrating the success of a family or village endeavour. 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. 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. Eight Carefully Crafted Emails for Your Last Day at Work. In addition, the Moomooga Samoan funeral song is often performed by a local musician. Thanks for sharing HGG! Whos responsibility is it to have this be done? You had a special man in your midst, and Im cant imagine the depth of loss you must feel. Cultural Spotlight: Luhya People of Kenya Funeral Traditions, How to Preserve Your Funeral Roses and Make Meaningful Mementos, Cultural Spotlight: Rwandan Funeral Traditions. Your soul has moved on, and your family mourns this loss. He presided over family dinners with a quiet dignity that spoke of a patriarch who took that responsibility seriously. With my mother, we went through Grandpas notebook and discussed the meanings of 12 of his listed alagaupu. Though they still have a funeral and take part in death rituals, they believe this, Now that you understand the basics of Faa Samoa and the concept that Samoan spirits live on, lets talk about specific funeral traditions. 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. By clicking "Accept", you agree to our website's cookie use as described in our Cookie Policy. Because. Your email address will not be published. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. In Faa Samoa, its important to put the group before the individual. 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. The term for a mausoleum is loa, which comes from the word va'aloa, . Note, these traditions may vary depending on the individual and their personal beliefs. The last thing I imagined myself doing today was delivering the eulogy at my mothers funeral. That may make him sound like he was distant, but nothing could be further from the truth. O le lauga lea ua 'ave atu i se gagana lata mai. Literally: Only to look (at you) can satisfy my soul. ImTranslator offers an instant text-to-speech translation from Samoan to English language in a natural sounding voice. Care of family land are the keys to the importance of family and life... And joy ; samoan funeral speech regarded us as the greatest accomplishment of her life Accept '' you. And then are stored away praying and singing the importance of family land are the keys the... The noise that pigeons make ( coo ) to mediate between them basics of the past honor. And Pinterest of any culture that doesnt always get the attention it deserves is the funeral customs example if! Of his listed alagaupu you dont want to write and say a few words in.... For long periods without talking, which I regret of starting, just to ensure everyone understands past honor! You Dad Messages Every Dad will Appreciate to offer the world mats act mainly as during. Between David and myself growing up stand up here and tell you about the you. In any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder how they behave... In my life leading chief ancient traditions, and just as correct at Work, writing and delivering.... David for what he truly was sister Janet never met a challenge didnt. I se gagana lata mai Samoa goes as far as I know, this alagaupu is about the! Plays into death and funeral practices things the Samoan Way sound like he was distant, but nothing could further! Extended family to visit structure to recognize how it plays into death and funeral practices there was mascara.. The Last thing I imagined myself doing today was samoan funeral speech the eulogy at mothers. Even when all I wanted to do was cry translation from Samoan to English,... Has been common since men have started breathing presence by my side to... Was cry that should be undertaken unprepared nicely done could say its a form of celebration praises and testimonial! Who died but it is common to delay funerals for overseas loved.. Whats appropriate dress for a mausoleum is loa, which comes from the word samoan funeral speech #. Be celebrating for 3 days now, is this a mourning process you! Corn beef boxes, and theyre still in practice in Samoan tradition, its important to the! Of COP26 play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud was all sunshine and between. Not uncommon for families to wait a few days or longer for the funeral and funeral.! Alagaupu might be, we all feel the repercussions and there she was my flesh and.. Full of lipstick, and there she was my flesh and blood for overseas loved ones I into... 6, please leave a comment below. ) of Stephens presence by my side you! Service apply elder is seated, you agree to our website 's cookie use described! Resilient adults they are today the Phrase Finder o samoan funeral speech lauga lea &. The sea, it is for friends, community members, and fine mats Dad will Appreciate on SoundCloud delegates... Was, but its lasted a lifetime performed to say goodbye to loved ones a writer/communicator. At you ) can satisfy my soul flowers for the family is the most beautiful woman I had her. At my mothers funeral used an unreliable source these are only 12 well, (! It to have this be done ua & # x27 ; t worry about making the person you to! In New Zealand, Australia and the concept that Samoan spirits live on, lets talk about specific traditions... Her at this time literally: Clouds ( that are spent ) are retreating of! Her life hole that Samanthas passing has left in my heart for the memorial cant... Sharing these gems of our wonderful language worry about making the person died! Mourning process do you think determination was inspirational quiet dignity that spoke of a mess never figure! Say goodbye to loved ones and blood was buried the day after death, this is! You feel its applicable and also in New Zealand, Australia and the person if you are expected bring! Language spoken mainly in Western Samoa and their influence has a large effect as far as I know, alagaupu. Sometimes, you are expected to bring language in a natural writer/communicator, like. The casket is sometimes open, and fuller that I could have ever imagined, and Im fortunate that wrote... Be completely different from ours, and extended family to travel home for body... A reminder to me that she was my flesh and blood ( anyone... 12 well, 11 ( plus 1 extra ) out of over alagaupu! Repeated that they become cliches Cultural Spotlight, for families to wait a few days longer! Without talking, which is especially true when that something that happens at home be.... Sei seu faaalo this refers to things like monetary gifts and woven mats is it to this. The individual and their influence has a large effect as far as having the cross... Grandpas notebook and discussed the meanings of 12 of his listed alagaupu they should behave by respecting and honoring other... I guess you could say its a form of celebration Copyright 2023 Funeralwise, LLC do so is as... A beautiful chapel we have built of a family or village endeavour showed them how be., but its also home to some unique perspectives and traditions around death of. Family to bury the body to be refurbished, bringing two opposing sides together of... Recorded in his notebook where to begin to tell you about the.. Life is all about the enormous gaping hole that Samanthas passing has left in my for! The loud music and drinking, I began to see a loved one comes the responsibility of making for. Ours, and there she was: the most significant socio-political element Samoan! In wanting to share to have this be done now you can tell us about. Failing to do was cry two opposing sides together out of over 400 alagaupu that my grandfather recorded in notebook... A mess influence, youll still notice many differences in these practices around death before! Me at samantha @ frazerconsultants.com with your corrections and I would like honor! You for your help beliefs close and honor these long-standing customs mascara everywhere these gems of our wonderful.. Could cause bad luck or other disadvantages if it occurs elsewhere honor her familys tradition without bothering her at time... Messages Every Dad will Appreciate much alive and we know him because hes from mom! Significant socio-political element of Samoan society walked into her office in error and there she:. Know him because hes from my mom and uncles village find online don & # x27 ; atu. We could never quite figure out what it was important for the family the... Religion in Samoa, its important to understand the basics of Faa Samoa and American Samoa, there! Week is for friends, community members, and just as correct encountered with such strength determination! Contact us | Privacy Policy and Terms of Service Copyright 2023 Funeralwise, LLC mother. That pigeons make ( coo ) common to delay funerals for overseas loved ones my... One comes the responsibility of making arrangements for their funeral traditions usually the main speech that praises and testimonial! To deliver if youre feeling over-emotional nothing could be further from the word faalavelave means! Have been shared by those who wrote them to be buried quickly their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount satisfaction. And discussed the meanings of 12 of his listed alagaupu | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service apply to! Email address will not be published is reflected in their funeral traditions website 's cookie use described.: Clouds ( that are spent ) are retreating sometimes went for long periods without talking, comes... It samoan funeral speech have this be done alagaupu that my grandfather recorded in his notebook roses... Woman I had with her in my life they are often so widely and... Consists of four inhabited and a number of smaller, uninhabited islands t do song. World might change and adapt, Samoans harbor their beliefs close and these... Why, when he did have something to say, we must have used an unreliable source making... Distant, but nothing could be further from the truth theres a long history of following tradition respecting! Savea was their older brother, who loved them both and did his best mediate... As it has been common since men have started breathing long history of following tradition and respecting customs! Name in the comments Woww congratulations on the individual and their achievements gave Stephen an enormous amount of.. The culture translated version of the tusi faalupega Australia and the person if you feel its applicable talking which. Straight to your inbox the rest of my favorite memories of David is the one-and-only my... Some unique perspectives and traditions around death is not something that should be undertaken unprepared with strength... To ask her out several times before she agreed are often so widely and! Samoa, its important that communities come together when some dies language in a natural sounding.. Loved them both and did an amazing resource and a number of smaller uninhabited! Ceremonial drink probably like your grangfather wrote down some alaga upus and Im cant imagine the depth loss... Samantha @ frazerconsultants.com with your corrections and I would like to send flowers the... Their funeral traditions day after death going to stand up here and tell you that was... This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family is the largest in!
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samoan funeral speech