Nafanua, the war goddess, dwelt in Falealupo, Savai'i. Mocking words applied to a boaster. 45. The feathers of certain birds, e.g., the tavae or tropic bird, are attached to the fish-hook to serve as artificial bait. 3. Sinasegi, the daughter of the Tuiaana Fa'apilipili and his wife Sinalaua, went fishing one night on the reef of Falelima. We need a bigger gun." Choose your words wisely, allowing the person to grieve in their own time. These words echo those feelings: To those who are grieving, the words "moving on" can seem hurtful if you are not careful, implying that it's time to stop grieving and "let go" of their loved one. Thus also did Vaomua. Aumai le u matatasi e fana a'i le lupe ua i le filifili. He then fits it in place and with his wooden mallet (tafao) hammers it down, his assistant holding it. This is in the language that the matais or chief of the people would use because he is discussing matter of extreme importance. Fetu'una'i muniao. The alamea is a spiny sea star. There is a lou (harvesting pole) for every crop. Saying "hello" is as simple as ml in an informal setting. 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. The whole village led by the tautai takes part in the drive. A tame pigeon having strayed or escaped from its master and failed to find its usual resting place, will sit on the pola of the first house it finds. Gifts include money and fine hand-woven mats (usually for display only and then rolled and stored). Shall I become your working girdle? While the fisherman swings the rod, the others must assist him by paddling hard. Here are some rules, or Proverbs, in which someone in the Samoan culture has to follow to be accepted and take part in their culture. Ua sa'a i le tai le upega o Pili. The dying of the pair of birds. In return, families return gifts to the visitors. Upu taofiofi: warning, exhortation, appeasement. Upu fa'aaloalo or vivi'i referring to the speech of a high chief or a tulafale who brooks no contradiction. "Who is old and doesn't believe it, will trip into his grave without seeing it." A fala se'ese'e is an old dirty mat used to sit on during work. The latter was just returning from fishing. When fishing for anae (mullet) the fishermen post themselves around the big net. We Let the crab take counsel with its leg. All have assembled in the Bay of Laua. Watch. 102. Death, in Samoan tradition, is considered Gods Will. It has traditionally been believed that Samoans should die at home. See you later. Ua liua le tua ma le alo. English - Chinese - Latin - French - German - Spanish - Portuguese - Japanese - Indian - View All Countries / Origins. In the Samoan villages the papalagi house built of weather boards - 172 is the exception, whilst in Tonga it has become the rule. Thus says a travelling party when entering a house, after having previously called at some other villages. 2. (Abridged. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Upu faifai referring to lack of energy and perseverance. The torch is tilted over while the flying fish die. 69. 155. Each had born him a son. The modern firearm has put an end to the old Samoan sport. He tries to find out if the other person is good natured, liberal, hospitable and how he can turn things to his advantage. Upu fa'amafanafana: comforting, consolatory expressions. This is the order given by the leader when the hunt is to be terminated. Two tia (cleared spaces in the bush for pigeon catching) on opposite hills may be so close together that one can be seen from the other, but because of the intervening valley the way between them may be a long one. The bow and the stern are partly decked in. In vain rejoices the drill plate when the drill point is broken. A gau le poutu, e le tali poulalo. One of the hunters tries to catch all the pigeons without considering those who have caught few or none. Prayers From Prison. ). Civilization, however, has spared many of the original usages. E sau le fuata ma lona lou. E a sipa le lama, 'ae fano malolo. ", "Life is not separate from death. When the saying is applied to girls (o le i'a vai tama'ita'i), it is used as a faianaga (jest). Before the work begins, the mesh-sticks (afa) are measured and made equal, so that all the meshes may be of the same size. 91. To drill holes that do not meet. Ann of Palliat Med. A fisherman who has lost his hooks may approach another canoe, take hold of a fish line and remove the fish-hook. Ia o gatasi le futia ma le umele. 4. The galo is a full grown fish, which in its earlier stages is called fugausi and laea. 147. I'LL BE STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU NOTHING WILL EVER COME BETWEEN US Chris Brown. Matalaoa suspected him of having illicit intercourse with her brothers wife, so she watched him and found her suspicions confirmed. Catch the bird, but watch the breakers. O le upega le talifa. O le faiva 'ese lo Pepe. Samoan Sign Language is used by at least some of the deaf population.Apia is the capital and the largest city of Samoa. Upu fa'amaulalo used as an excuse by a person who has so little food, tapa, etc., that it is not worth while making distribution. The Tuifiti (King of Fiji) had two wives, one a Fijian, the other a Samoan. The coconut tree doesnt sway on its own, but is swayed by the wind. Every shark must be paid for. Same meaning as No. Granting the request. Both ropes must be of equal strength, lest one of them tear when a bonito bites. A hunter who catches many pigeons rejoices in his shelter. 161. At this very moment a fish (malauli) happened to jump out of the water and, with one swoop of the net, Pepe caught both pigeon and fish. Ia tupu i se fusi. However, the orators use them so frequently and they shed so much light on the past history and the present opinions of the people, that their importance cannot be overrated. Governmental power is like a fresh water fish. When the hook is badly bound, the fish will not take it. Those who do not want it, despise something that is desired by the majority. A decision made at night may be changed in the morning. 11, 12, 96). The following morning the fisher embarks in his canoe, unties the hooks, and fastens the line of one to his right leg and the other to his left leg. The purlins are well joined. During his lifetime a person frequently changes his abode, but when he is about to die he remembers his birth-place and his family and returns there to await the end. As this is closed on all sides, his companions know nothing about it. 94. Se'i muamua ona ala uta. E sao mai i Amouta ai tali le Amotai, fai foi o lea, a o le toe aso i Moamoa. 63. It only looks that way. 191. As it feeds mostly on the blossoms of the coconut tree, a cluster of bloom is its usual dinner table. i wush fr mor information twas very short, Your email address will not be published. Ua tagi a pu mate. A pigeon caught in the sight of all. It is used for the pit in the ground in which the Samoans cook their food with hot stones. It means the palolo was gone by the time the people reached the reef. Turn the house around; the ropes will protect it. Sili le foe. Compare also Nos. For the community hunt a tia (cleared space in the bush for hunting) was prepared and shelters or hiding places erected for the individual hunters. The mountains of Savai'i are like a sleeping fish. Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III led the Mau on a march down the Beach Road of Apia to meet other members of the movement who had just returned from deportation to Auckland. Ua fa'ai'u laufala. Proverbs offering support include: Some cultures view death as a very part of life on a larger continuum. 40. Folau a alamea. 5. So'o le fau ma le fau. Your email address will not be published. Also, upu faifai. The chiefs Lefaoseu of Atua and 'Ulumu of Tufutafoe were going to have a competition in pigeon snaring. 189. In the Samoan language, proverbs are known as alagaupu. 180. When a tauta (landman, oppos. 156. When a big funeral happens, orators and their mourning family members should directly receive mats and food as forms of reciprocation for their gifts. It looks as if it were all made with one and the same mesh-stick. When a crab is caught it is pierced with its own leg. In time, remembering a loved one may bring more comfort than pain. 144. Both are well protected by the law of the land. In Tutuila the sea birds that rest exhausted on the cliffs are caught with nets without the aid of decoy birds. Ua se le atu i ama. The tautai may not refuse him. 151. Upu fa'amaulalo by which is meant: The matter on which I am now going to speak does not really concern me - 147 and I am overstepping my rights in taking the word. Samoan A decision made at night may be changed in the morning. 85. Gather the breadfruit from the farthest branches first. The work begins with loosening the rounded ends of the house from the fatuga (timbers to which the purlins are fastened). Upu fa'aalualu: Ta te gase a uluga. 117. ", "The whole world is a dream, and death the interpreter. A couple of white pearl shell fish-hooks. O lenei lava le ufiufi manu gase. The old implements have now been replaced by steel tools. In order to settle a dispute, it is necessary to be clear about its causes. 137. The saying is used of a family or a village where perfect peace reigns. 11, 12, 23. While the fisher is waiting for a bite, his boat must move on slowly. Samoan Browse All: Samoan Proverbs Readers Who Like This Proverb Also Like: Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa used when one is pursued by misfortune. A bird that has just been caught jumps about and struggles to escape. Upu fiafia referring to events that bring joy and contentment. I don't know the views of that person. 114. At torch fishing an aitu appeared on either hand. These proverbs may help: Another way to honor a lost loved one is by making a donation to a cause they supported. The bonitos swim about thoughtlessly, but the seagulls are on the alert. By manu vale is meant any bird other than a pigeon. Ua mua'i ta i'a Fagaiofu. Upu fa'amaulao having the same meaning as Nos. He who falls off a high coconut tree will sustain some hurt; to fall off a small tree (niu muli) is not dangerous. Fa'aoti (from oti, to die) is a figure of speech for fa'auma (completely, so that nothing is left). This gift is known as tu'u malie or payment for the shark. Ua talaga a pa sina. Samoan and English are official languages. As the fish take to flight by jumping out of the net, they are caught in small hand nets (alagamea). ", "He who comes for the inheritance is often made to pay for the funeral. Upu vivi'i to commend the energy and perseverance with which a person strives towards his goal. The cure of the alamea. 108. The city is located on the central north coast of Upolu, Samoas second largest island. In order for a Samoan to be accept and respected and therefore find themselves, they must follow the rules of their people. Ia moe le ufu, to'a le paipai. The canoe used for bonito fishing (va'aalo) is small. Man, also, strives after material advantages. (2) At a reconciliation the opponents should openly confess the cause of their dissatisfaction, so that permanent peace may be concluded. Ua logo 'ese'ese fa'amea vilivili. The bundle of mats has fallen into disarray. 26. The wider meaning of the saying is: To stand up for a friend or relative, to help him bear his misfortune, to forgive and cover up his mistakes. The saying means: To countermine another's evil designs. A bunch of bananas also served as bait for the manuali'i. 3. (Kraemer's contention that the moamoa is not eaten in incorrect.). The heron is compared to an egoistical person who refuses to share his belongings with his fellowmen. O le fogatia ua malu maunu. The neck of land is now called Tiapepe. Finding no blossoms it will set on the leaves. According to Pratt the word means a nimble warrior. I have never heard it used in this sense. The lower end rests in a - 151 stand, to which it is tied by means of a rope (umele). In Aleipata, too, Pili showed the people how to fish with nets, but the expedition was unsuccessful. Se'i muamua se fa'asao a manu vao. See No. Then they will gather into a flock to travel to another part of the forest whence they will scatter once more. In the bush villages and sometimes also in those near the seashore, the inner bark of the fausoga tree is twisted into a cord used to make fish and lobster nets and for other purposes. This Samoan quote is used when a beloved chief dies. 78): E le'i mitimiti papata. From Fagaiofu the lo travel to Falelatai and then along the coast to Manono. This is why he is known as the Shark of Foa. Every culture has its own set of rules in which everyone is to follow so that there is order and peace in the community. For the chase it offers only feathered game. The faila is a piece of forked wood fastened to the front part of the outrigger of a canoe. Neither is it unusual amongst the Samoans that in a common undertaking one partner tries to overreach the other. Like the swift that never rests. The introduction of Christian ideas has given it a wider meaning: Men are living together on earth, but whether they will ever meet depends on the will of God who may send sickness, storms or other obstacles. Expression of regret meaning: The undertaking failed because some error was committed in its execution. You have to be a gentleman everywhere but on the field. It flies where it will and the others follow. This proverb is also used to describe the troublesome condition explained in No. This is the code that provides for the systems of chiefs that lead Samoan families. Fa'alupe tupola. With people it is different. The club fight took place on the three malae in Falafa. First friends, then broken heads. Laua is the name of a bay in Falelima as well as the name of one of Falelima's five divisions. Having foolishly got into trouble he is asking for help. Used when refering to a small but influential village or family. Of the five kinds of boats mentioned by Kraemer, three are still in general use: (1) The small outrigger canoe (paopao); (2) the large outrigger canoe (soatau); (3) the bonito canoe (va'aalo). 123. Check out these Samoan quotes and proverbs (also known as alagaupu) below to gain some insight into Samoan beliefs and ways of thinking. Because of its small size the igaga was not invited to the meeting. 3, 11, 12). 103. When a village is making a new net, the nearby villages are not allowed to fish for some time before its completion. 6. Let the Fijian method of fishing remain a secret. Negligence, too, may be the cause of an uneven plait; the woman then usually tries to rectify her mistake in the second half. Samoans follow a code of living and culture called the Faa Samoa which means the Samoan Way. It provides for the way Samoans behavior should be and how they relate to each other. E sua le 'ava, 'ae to le 'ata. O le vaivai o le fee. 142. Because open caskets are common at the funeral, this is still the most common choice in Samoa today. Traditionally, it was important for the family to bury the body within a day of death. The burial would take place the day after the family member passes to ensure a good death. The plaiting of mats is exclusively the women's business. In the existing Samoan literature the proverbial expressions have suffered woeful and undeserved neglect. 113. The church funeral services are mostly western style with emphasis on music and prayer. Central to this culture is the Faamatai. ", "Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names. 162. Temeteme is the spindle of the drill with the drill plate. "All The matulau share the gatalas grief without reason. E lele le toloa ae maau i le auvai The toloa bird Upu faifai applied to a community (family, village, district) composed of many but unimportant individuals. Ua va i lupe maua le aso neithis is a happy day, indeed. The work is progressing fast. Lavalima refers to the Samoan sinnet and signifies the progress made in plaiting it; it also refers to the work of the carpenter who winds the string around the rafters as a substitute for nails. Upu vivi'i: Words of praise referring to the speech of one high chief or orator and the reply made by another. - 152 The front entrance was used by those who came with a request. Like a bird caught in its nest. Having foolishly got into trouble he is asking for help. At the termination of the war the birds held a fono and drank kava. 17. The inhabitants of the old village Papa (near Satupaitea, Savai'i) once noticed a big school of fish out in the sea. 9. 126. Put the gouge aside. The importance of mats harkens back to when they served as the currency of the Samoan people. Mr. Neffgen, Govt. Upu faifai. Traditionally, Samoans believed in dying at home and being buried the day after death to prevent the spirit from causing any trouble or misfortune for their family, O le upega le talifau. A pair of coconut trees, one of which is full of maggots. 175. 33. A many-pronged arrow could not be used to shoot pigeons in a thicket, as the leaves and branches would have hindered or deflected its flight. The pigeon of the early morning. Samoa, arise and raise your flag, your crown! Buy Sympathy FlowersShop Funeral StationeryBrowse Memorial Items. The people hunted mostly with the help of decoy birds. This phrase is used to describe someone whos will is stronger than their body. Used by a person to show that he intends acting on his own responsibility and will not allow anyone to deter him from his goal. Or: Ou te fia pa'u i se niu 'umi, ou te le fia pa'u i se niu muliIf I am to meet with defeat, let it be at least through a person of rank. When the breadfruit harvest comes, the lou will be found, too. When its tuber is mature, the leaves wither. Should one be weak and faint-hearted, the undertaking will fail. 131. 86. Shower later." 160. So it is with governmental power. A person who has supplied a tulavae for the fata is entitled to take part in the fishing and to share in the catch. ", "Live that people may speak well of thee at thy grave. O le tiuga a Matala'oa e tiu ma afifi. Ua sili mea le seuga. 135. When the boatbuilder does not find a suitable plank, he shifts the one at his disposal back and forth, vainly trying to fit it in place. E le'i iloa i Saua; e le iloa i le fa'alagamaea. Samoan May it end with threats and not come to blows. 174. Hence, house building and boat building are the two most respected trades. Pull out the weeds between the ti plants. ), 143. Divided on top of the fatuga. The big net has been spread out in the sea. The following applications are also customary: It is mean to hide one's possessions. With the communistically minded Samoans avarice is one of the worst vices. 22. E ta'ape a fatuati. According to Kraemer the hunters climb the rock and kill the sleeping birds or seize them with their hands. The tifitifi is a small fish. When the fisherman has caught a crab, he pulls out its leg and with it pierces the animal. O le pa ua sala i le maga. It is often planted on the edges of a taro patch, so that with its big leaves and tall stalks it may keep away the weeds. 51. 13. Pili cast his net by himself. The middle portion of the roof and the round ends are then carried to their new emplacement. 178. When the cup was presented to the black tern the gogo sina (white tern) said, Don't give him any kava; let him drink water; he has disgraced his family.. The best hooks are those with a perfectly white pearl shell shaft. Ia lua mata to 'ese. 7. It means that his opinion is of no value. Se'i to le niu i le tua'oi. Upu fa'aaloalo: expressions of respect and courtesy. Upu taofiofi: Be careful in an undertaking and mind the obstacles. 48. Mocking words referring to loveless, undutiful parents. Upu fa'amafanafana. Required fields are marked *, CALL: (415) 431-3717Hours: 9AM-5PM PST. Even though no defect has been discovered, it is well to wait and to repeat the examination, for the errors cannot all be found at once. The work, called milota'i, is usually done by the women. Ohlone Shellmound Buried Beneath the Emeryville Shopping Center. The fibre being too short, she lengthened it with polata (fibre from the midrib of the banana leaf). Remarks: This method of hunting is not to be confounded with the hunt of the fua'o that nest in large numbers on Pola Rock in Tutuila. 6. Few mats, however, meet these requirements. Upu fa'amaulalo. 123, 201. 8. Used of an asembly whose members have come from different villages and who, later on, will disperse again. The hunter is interested only in those wild pigeons that appear in front of his hut. In Manono the lo appears so often that it is paid for with lo. When a Samoan has to do manual work, he takes off his lavalava and puts on a girdle of ti leaves. If they work in common, one will rely on the other and nothing is done. Inspirational Samoan Quotes & Sayings. 106. Ua sanisani fa'amanuao. The sea cucumber always held with the victor. I am fishing because I have helped to make a fata. This expression is one of the best Samoan quotes about family. The bonito was mistakenly pulled up on the outrigger side. 41. Their wilful damage is considered in the same light as a bodily injury and a personal insult to the owner. 3. Upu vivi'i applied to two villages or families long related to each other and united through their common origin. In return the owner will receive a gift of food. The peaceful demonstration erupted into violence when the NZ military police opened fire on the marchers. The word umu signifies a hole, a groove. Upu taofiofi: Let each one attend to his own affairs and not meddle with those of others. Another explanation is as follows: For the capture of the dolphin (masimasi) the hook is baited with flying fish. Mr. T. Smith, Private Secretary to Logan. To'ai fa'a i'a a po. A Samoan proverb meaning that life may take someone far from home but they will always return home. The Maoris have a similar proverb: Those who avoid the sea-god will be killed by those on shore. 10. In Tutuila people knew how to catch sea birds with- - 162 out a decoy (No. Thus say the hunters when, entering the bush, they notice no sign of the game. A strong-willed, wise man who is unsuccessful in a first attempt, will try again. The wild manutagi, hearing the call of the decoy bird, approaches gradually by hopping from tree to tree, before it enters the cage. The 'apoa have spines on the back and breast. 119. Often one hears this saying at the reception of guests. Ua fa'amea tapena i ua. 146. 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 This is used of someone who tries to prevent or settle a dispute. When the wild manutagi has entered the cage of the decoy bird, the hunter, crying 'ae'ae, jumps out of his shelter and covers the cage. 171. Fallen off a high coconut palm. 5. 35. Sa'a faaoti le utu a le faimea. People have lots of misconceptions about me. To be taken unawares. He is like the tropic bird which is proud of its feathers. The offspring of birds are fed with flower nectar, but the children of men are nurtured with words. Besides, it refers to a faint-hearted person who is ready to give up as soon as he meets with a difficulty. A few men managed to regain the shore. Upu fa'anoanoa: Man is mortal. ", "The ugliest life is better than the nicest death. The bonito is pursued by the swordfish. The Fijian met with failure, but the Samoan caught many fishes. Once bitten, twice shy. A big fish net is made in parts (tulavae) by individual persons. E a le puga nisi, a le ana nisi. 64) fortune was changing. The dying of the pair of birds. Mocking words referring to common people who begin to eat before the high chiefs, and to similar cases. 44. (This copy is now in the Alexander Turnbull Library. The fishermen said Ua tagi le pu ina ua maua i le upega, o le a mate. (The pu cries because it is caught in the net where it will die.). Place the ridge pole first, then we shall pass the battens. To tie together two pieces of fau. The following saying is based on the same story. Euphemisms for Dead, Death, and Dying: Are They Helpful or Harmful? 111. Va i lupe maua. This often miscarries. O le gase a ala lalovao. Ua tuliloa le atu a le sa'u. E gase a uluga. (See below.). 148. Ua penapena i tua o tai i'a. 2018;7(Suppl 1):AB016. The jumping about of a newly caught bird. It also refers to elderly or sick people whose days are numbered, but in this case it may not be used in the presence of the person to whom it is applied. III.MANUAL WORK INSIDE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. 110. 163. It is, therefore, compared to a quarrelsome person. Fresh water fish, e.g., the tuna (river eel) are slimy and slippery and, therefore, hard to catch and hold. A decision made at night may be changed in the morning. Proverbs and sayings may be especially helpful after the loss of a loved one. Thank you so much for the extensive info. Out of indolence one half is usually woven tight and the other rather loose. E sa'olele le tuamafa i lou finagalo. The sapatu (barracuda) is a big predatory fish which, when caught, is very violent. 172). Avatu ni lo, aumai ni lo. Introduction: The two principal objects at the use of the Samoan are his house and his boat. Like the twisting of a cord.
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