Samoan festivals are of many types. Fa’afiafiaga: Joyous celebrations of songs and dances After intermission, Le Fetu Ao Samoan Language Center for youth in Honolulu and Penina o le Vasa (a nonprofit women’s Samoan dance group from Anchorage, Alaska) entertained, then it was time for the participating high school groups to shine. A communal way of living, wherein all activities are performed in groups, Houses without boundaries or walls, and families staying together, Having a chief who looks after the village, Sharing responsibilities equally although food and money is distributed as per honor rankings and needs of each family. 7 ... Western Samoa is one of the areas of Polynesia that has seen a rebirth of the tradition of tattooing. As such, the whole dating process is much more like ancient “courting” pra… Samoa Culture, Customs & Traditions. Distinctive patterns are used within Samoan traditional dress. Once a part of traditional Samoan culture, the tatau is undergoing a strong revival in contemporary Samoa. Earlier cultures had beliefs that opposed the Christian religion although recent times have shown more followers of the same religion. These mats hold ancestral values and are never for sale. Samoa People – History, Culture & Traditions: Babynamescube.com Posted on April 14, 2020 , By Linda Pace The world knows little about the early years of Samoan settlement and history. Second Monday in October Lotu a Tamaiti Day after White Sunday, no school for children. However, Samoans maintained the tradition. https://www.americanaiga.com/.../3/28/traditions-i-brought-home-from-samoa Some of the aspects of Samoan culture are: Samoan people show great importance to religion and believe a God founded Samoa. Samoan national independence celebrations last for the first three workdays of June. Traditionally, a tatau was a symbol of one’s status and social rank as well as a rite of passage from adolescence to adulthood. Traditional and contemporary songs are taught and performed by Members in our Music Band and Ukulele Club. The clothing used for Samoan men and women are called by several different names. Dances include the synchronized Sasa routine, the graceful Siva dance and the knife-fire dances. Samoans believe in following Fa’a Samoa, meaning The Samoan Way. It’s traditionally a sign of respect to the groom’s family that the bride wears one of her in-laws’ dresses to the ceremony. The Teuila Festival is certainly one of the most inspiring events on the calendar. Independence Day, however, is celebrated on 1 June and this day continues to be recognised by the Samoan community in New Zealand. Now, more than 13,000 people of Samoan ancestry live in the Bay Area — and churches provide a means to preserve their island heritage. The word for dance in Samoan is siva. Faaleava was born in Samoa, but moved to New Zealand, and then to … The Samoan dancers performing an ancient dance. Woodcarving is another aspect of Samoan crafts, the most famous being the kava bowls. They have an ancient social structure.Some of the aspects of Samoan culture are: 1. There are festivals in Samoathat are traditional and cultural and again, Samoan people celebrate many of the Christian festivals as well being a Christian country. Celebrations include speeches and fautasi races. It is an above the ground stone… The Independent State of Samoa celebrates the Samoan Independence Day on June 1 every year. Currently, Samoan rituals focus on Christianity, where almost 100% of Samoans are Christian. I was especially excited to learn about the Samoan fire dance! “That’s how the culture survives outside of Samoa,” said Tai Faaleava. Faith, family, and music 2. The popular Samoan clothing are called Puletasi, and Lava Lava. Local performers often gather together to put on a Fiafia night once or twice a week at most resorts. The sasa is a group dance performed sitting to a drum rhythm. The matai is a revered position in the Samoan culture. These Samoans in Porirua, near Wellington, dressed up for the occasion in 1990. The most interesting fact about the wedding in region of Samoa is its cuisine. This high development traces back to the days before the arrival of the missionaries, when all communication was transmitted orally. Their form of entertainment includes singing songs, dancing and enjoying great delicacies. They have an ancient social structure. Weddings are paid for by both sides: Both families share the burden of the costs of the wedding, but … It refers to how they should behave by respecting and honoring each other, which is reflected in their funeral traditions. Traditional Samoan dance is arguably the one area of Samoan culture that has not been touched by Western Civilization. Introduction: Some of the unique traditions practiced in Samoa and in other Pacific island countries, such as Tongo or the Soloman islands, include special tattooing rituals, fire dances, and ' ava ceremonies. Samoa has multi ethnic groups and depicts social pressure to participate in rituals and ceremonies. A unique identity to the Samoan culture and traditions, is that everything is thought about in terms of the families rather than individuality, whether it’s earning money, sharing food or even houses. The dress can be from the groom’s mother or sister, depending on what size fits. Other sporting activities include scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and sea kayaking. ©2020 Schumacher Cargo Logistics. Many festivals are related to these religious observations. For this performance, the chief of the village utilized the sides of a large tin can as a drum that led the beat for our dancing. The Hence, this aspect deals with the customs, rules, and traditions of Samoan families. Samoan people are very traditional and respect elders in the family. The groom generally wears a lavalava (wrap-around … Celebration of Samoa’s Independence Day. The day commemorates the date in 1962 when it achieved independence from New Zealand. Samoa Traditions and Culture. Other than Samoa, it is also observed in other countries of the world, … A new place is beckoning. Traditional Samoan entertainment. The information above will get you going and we will make your international move a pleasant experience, too. The Samoan community has the tradition of dance as a way to express passion and appreciation for the Samoan culture and heritage. The concept of fa‘asamoa is essential to Samoan identity, and consists of a number of values and traditions: 1. aiga (family) 2. tautala Samoa (Samoan language) 3. gafa (genealogies) 4. matai (chiefly system) 5. lotu (church) 6. fa‘alavelave (ceremonial and other family obligations). The wearing of lavalavas … Matais perform the ritual duties of a Samoan family, and in the modern administrative system, are the only ones allowed to run for parliamentary office. Samoan mats are famous for the intricately woven leaves and is tremendously time consuming. Food and cuisine is extremely important in the Samoan culture. Designs have symbolic meaning where natural objects take the focus of the print. Social standing is extremely important in Samoan communities, so although couples might make their own love matches, it has to be with someone of equal social standing so that their families will consent to the match. Samoan traditions and customs are passed down through poems, stories, and genealogies from Elder to Elder and from Elder to family. There are also Fiafia shows you can attend in the city of Apia. “Siapo” is bark cloth art. Samoa - Samoa - Cultural life: Although some Samoan values and customs have changed markedly since European contact, particularly in Apia, Samoans have strived to preserve the fa‘a Samoa (“Samoan way of life”); thus, many traditions and outward features of rural life have remained virtually unchanged. Other common Samoan traditions are symbolic tattoos, dancing, singing, playing music, big celebrations, and being religious. A Samoan becomes the Matai of a village through the process of the Matai System , which is a complex and sophisticated hierarchical system used in Samoan society. The fa‘asamoa practised in Samoa may differ from that in N… These sports immensely popular and are a part of the Samoan way of life. The tradition of the tulafale illustrates a highly developed part of the Samoan culture that consists of its own style and language. Some of the unique traditions practiced in Samoa and in other Pacific island countries, such as Tongo or the Soloman islands, include special tattooing rituals, fire dances, and 'ava ceremonies. If you're in Samoa to unwind and take it easy, you probably won't have to leave your accommodation to discover the joy of Samoan song and dance. Tattooing is a form of art among many Samoan people. This showcases the overview of the Samoan culture and traditions which you will experience as you begin your new life. Fire dances are a common feature of fiafia nights, which are celebration nights when traditional Samoan dances and songs are performed. As with all cultures Samoa has their own traditional style of dress. You can also go deep sea fishing if the weather is right. But I hope that this is useful to you, and makes your Samoan life a little bit easier. But what do you know about Samoan culture and traditions? This approval is absolutely essential, and once granted, gifts will be passed between the families to demonstrate their unity, respect and equality. The wearing of lavalavas and weaving are important parts of their culture as well. It is often seen as a rite of passage for men and a mark of spiritual maturity. On 1 January 1962 Western Samoa became independent of New Zealand. Most Samoan villages have a church and a meetinghouse, which doubles as a cultural … I'm dancing during the SIT performance for the Amaile Village... look at me go! Rugby is the most popular sport in Samoa. Oral tradition holds that the Samoan archipelago was created by the god Tagaloa at the beginning of history. Women tend to dance with gentle hand and foot movements to the rhythm of the music. The traditional Samoan dance is the siva. Mentors and volunteers teach traditional Samoan and Polynesian/Pacific Island (Hawaiian, Tahitian, Tongan, Fijian) dancing. Samoans have a lot of the same roots as other island cultures of the South Pacific so they have many aspects in common. First Monday in August Labour Day: Second Sunday in October White Sunday: Children lead services in church, wear white clothes and have the place of honor in various circumstances. Traditional Samoan Wedding Dress. After the ceremony, the bride is free to change into her own choice of gown for the reception, but many opt for a tradition Samoan floral gown that shows respect to her own heritage. Samoa hosts a great range of events throughout the year ranging from international sporting and adventure events, the iconic Teuila Festival celebration and Miss Samoa competition through to musical events. We provide warehousing, packing, crating, trucking and loading services out of our own warehouses here in the USA - Los Angeles, Houston, Savannah, Miami, New York, and New Jersey. Toll Free: 800-599-0190Phone: 562-408-6677Fax: 562-408-6636, Schumacher Cargo Logisticsis a proud supporter of. All Rights Reserved. Through the Arts- singing, dancing, siapo and ‘elei making, Film Festival. Truly it’s fun and never an obligation on anybody. Almost any festivity or celebration is centered around the food. Celebration foods: Whole fish, chicken or pigs are cooked in … A fire dance during fiafia night at the Traditions Resort. A unique identity to the Samoan culture and traditions, is that everything is thought about in terms of the families rather than individuality, whether it’s earning money, sharing food or even houses.Samoan people are very traditional and respect elders in the family. Other sports include cricket and volleyball. Samoans, like all peoples of … n Samoa it is a tradition from centuries that the bride first performs a traditional Samoan dance. 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