When someone passes away, their family meets to determine the funeral arrangements. You are so beautiful, and so amazing. Muumuu are Hawaiian dresses, Samoans dont wear them. Lol thank you, though, for pointing out that book / link again. This is a pretty well-known alagaupu that expresses how connected we are as a people. While its hard to believe, nobody really dies in Samoa. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. 48. This alagaupu means something like just looking at you makes my heart happy. 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. And this expression is spreading. 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. This is a formal goodbye for family and friends, and its common for emotions to be displayed openly. means The Samoan Way, and it refers to the longstanding belief that Samoans should follow their community and ancient traditions. 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 Literally: We dont farewell a moon-lit night. How Do Samoans Bury and Mourn Their Dead? Just wondering if this is a celebration or mourning so I can react.. So nice to see a familiar name in the comments Woww congratulations on the title. Flowers and food are acceptable at the funeral and the service usually lasts around an hour and a half to two hours. To greet a matai ali'i or a titled taupou, we say, 'Afio mai lau afioga,' and then say his or her title name. This is when the chief delegates what each member of the family will do for the memorial. 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. Nice of you to share your familys treasures.. Siaosi Leleimalefaga will help me through this.. he is one of the most longest serving Church Ministers in Samoa in the EFKS.. was also a School Principal at Leulumoega Fou College!! You are a natural writer/communicator, probably like your grandfather. 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. A good death, in Samoan tradition, is a death that happens at home. This Samoan expression literally means 'like grass by the roadside'. Samantha was an amazing woman. These wish for peace in the afterlife and bring peace to families. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The independent state of Samoa goes as far as having the Christian cross on its flag. In return, families return gifts to the visitors. Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries. As far as I know, this prime minister still refuses to give up. Only by dying at home and being buried the day after death with the spirit avoid misfortune. 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. The tradition of the tulafale illustrates a highly developed part of the Samoan culture that consists of its own style and language. Alofa aku. He encouraged them to keep going. It feels like half of me has vanished in an instant, and Im not sure Ill ever feel whole again. deliveroo design studio; who is brad marion molly's game Instagram. So, Sameli is a funny guy. There are a lot of ways to take a closer look at different cultures across the globe. Your own understanding of these alagaupu might be completely different from ours, and just as correct. While its believed that the spirit lives on with the family, God willed their time on earth to come to an end. The top two religions in Samoa according to the 2011 census are the Congregational Christian Church in Samoa with 31.8% and Roman Catholic with 19.4%. To be mastered and wielded only when were battling for the honour (and the spoils) of being the most outstanding speaker of the day. 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. Otherwise, one's spirit may cause problems for the family. The thing that made me fall in love with Stephen was his sense of humor. Shed open those beautiful big brown eyes and remind me that she was my flesh and blood. Knowing how to offer condolences is an important part of Samoan custom. He was a caring brother whod do anything to protect me. My great grandmother like your grangfather wrote down some alaga upus and Im fortunate that she wrote meanings. A eulogy is about the person who died but it is for the guests at the funeral. Please feel free to email me at samantha@frazerconsultants.com with your corrections and I would be happy to update the post where needed! "Sweetie, I always thought of you as the ideal woman. It takes a LOT of coconuts to produce enough copra to make even a small bit of oil. Is there a english translated version of the tusi faalupega? Required fields are marked *. 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. Even as a baby, she showed an exceptional amount of determination. Therefore, they celebrate. My father had an incredibly dry sense of humor. He always made me laugh, even when all I wanted to do was cry. I dont know where to begin to tell you about the enormous gaping hole that Samanthas passing has left in my life. 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 End Of Life ritual is a ritual to guide them whist there on there journey of the dead. Usage of any form or other service on our website is In writing your speech, its important to demonstrate the personal relationship you shared with the deceased. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. God Bless you and God Bless Samoa!! 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. He let me cry on his shoulder when I went through my first break-up. 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. 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. 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. Much of the funeral process begins in the week before the funeral. Ill work on sharing more of them with you in upcoming posts but yes, I may have to save my most favourites for myself and the lauga that I will put together someday lol. Thank you for taking the time to put your work into this. Ua malumaunu le fogatia, au ua atoa ali'i seu ma o . Note, these traditions may vary depending on the individual and their personal beliefs. by Jenny Goldade | Feb 24, 2017 | Cultural Spotlight, For Families. This expression is used a lot when a matai wants to excuse himself (and whoever he came with) from a gathering. This link will open in a new window. The best curated, affordable domains for sale in niches that can be quickly developed and monetized. 40 Thank You Dad Messages Every Dad Will Appreciate. I told you about my grandfathers api (notebook) full of alagaupu, 3. I had to ask her out several times before she agreed. February 2015. Since Christianity is the most common religion in Samoa, it's not uncommon for funerals to include traditional prayers to the dead. Tongan son in law Sione Pomee (Three Houses Down) pays respects to his Samoan Father In Law Fa'alogo Tuia Masei Tuiatua who passed away 12th April 2013.Alway. funeral song is often performed by a local musician. This warrants final words of respect. The term for a mausoleum is loa, which comes from the word va'aloa, . 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. Alagaupu is the Samoan word for proverbs - wise sayings or expressions about life. Alagaupu is the Samoan word for proverbs wise sayings or expressions about life. Thank you so much for your feedback! Samoa consists of four inhabited and a number of smaller, uninhabited islands. Its a lifestyle and a way of life rather than a singular belief. Anava Samoana is Copyright 2022 by Manaui Media Limited. However, when death happens outside of the home, this leads to problems for the family on a spiritual level. Tired or not, hed help me with all my projects. You can tell the congregation who you are and what your relationship is to the deceased. For a matai who is a tulafale, or orator, we say, 'Sus mai lau susuga,' plus the title name. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. 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. And what instances in speech would this be used? She seemed to radiate some kind of magnetic attraction. I hope you dont mind me mentioning you in that post. Your email address will not be published. Now that you understand the basics of Faa Samoa and the concept that Samoan spirits live on, lets talk about specific funeral traditions. They are divided into 2 categories, chiefs i.e. My question is what lesson is this used to teach and what are the intended implications of this proverb? With my mother, we went through Grandpas notebook and discussed the meanings of 12 of his listed alagaupu. Here are some examples of a funeral speech that celebrates the deceaseds life but at the same time expresses the grief of the speaker. During the funeral, the chief and family members might say a few words. True to form, David came up with a plan to make the job easier. We are not attorneys and are not providing you with legal 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 family is the most significant socio-political element of Samoan society. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. David was a loyal and kind person whod never let you down. At family gatherings, while theyre serving food first to the elders and high ranking matai, hes known for yelling out to the kitchen, Vaai se mea a Sameli!. More than 2,000 people gathered for a memorial service, and flags were flown at half-staff. 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. If she didnt understand something, shed work at it until she did. He did not march to the beat of societys drum.

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