When the fale is being re-assembled, the carpenter has to take particular care that the purlins of the side of the house are well joined with those of the end. The busybody's pretended wisdom, therefore, will be of no avail. Gather the breadfruit from the farthest branches first. 149. Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa, having a similar meaning to No. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Mutiagiagi are the four small rafters in the gable of the round end of the Samoan house. What Can You Expect During End Stage Lung Cancer, Inspiring Poems About Death, Grief, and Loss, How Anticipatory Grief Differs From Grief After Death, What Loved Ones Should Know About the End of Life, How to Write a Condolence Letter or Sympathy Note, Addressing the cultural, spiritual and religious perspectives of palliative care, "Say not in grief he is no more, but live in thankfulness that he was. Famous Samoan Proverbs (Alagaupu) & Samoan Sayings, How To Say Hello In Samoan + Other Useful Samoan Greetings, 17 Tongan Proverbs, Quotes & Sayings + Their Meanings, How To Say Happy Birthday In Samoan. Granting the request. 89. 103. There are a variety of cultural traditions surrounding death as well as different emotions and perspectives on what death means. Chris Raymond is an expert on funerals, grief, and end-of-life issues, as well as the former editor of the worlds most widely read magazine for funeral directors. 191. During his absence a strange chief came along and put up at the big house. Words of praise to commend a person's power and strength. Applied to a family, village or district which, through dissension, is divided into two equally strong parties. From this we have the saying: O le fa'afiti a tautai. The god shows his power in the banyan tree. E sa'olele le tuamafa i lou finagalo. Upu vivi'i applied to two villages or families long related to each other and united through their common origin. 65. 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. ", "As long as a man lives, the entire world is too small for him; After death, the grave is big enough. 16. However, it presupposes that only one person is engaged in an undertaking, or, if there is more than one, none of them meets with success. This Samoan expression literally means like grass by the roadside. The heaviest object, i.e., the house, is carried by the strongest fellowthe Cinderellawho has to do all the heavy work. Nowadays, these mats act mainly as decorations during the funeral and then are stored away. Ia tala mea fa'asolo. The barracuda that tears off the hook. 110. Se'i-loga o ni mea lelei tou te 'a'ai ai, e le tavai manu uli? Lua mata is a figure of speech for a small taro patch; to 'ese is elliptical for toto i se mea 'ese. Ua maefulu le tava'e. 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. Out of indolence one half is usually woven tight and the other rather loose. Lefao then cried out: Ua tau lupe a Lefao. I shouldn't say fat, that might offend him, but he's Samoan and claims to have seen ghosts. Vaomua of Saua in Satupaitea (Savai'i) was building a big boat. Upu faifai applied to an orator whose speech does not meet with approval. Later the shark went to Foa and proposed to Sinafalemoa, the daughter of the chief. Samoan The person who has burned their fingers often asks for tongs. Both words are similar in meaning, but differ in so far as the alaga'upu points towards the existence of a story from which the proverb originates (o le tala e ala ai le upu). The net is now hanging up (to dry), but it will soon be used for fishing again. Ia lua mata to 'ese. ", "The whole world is a dream, and death the interpreter. Patupatu amo fale. It is used for colouring siapo (tapa). Its used to describe someone who has no fixed abode. O le ia itiiti le igaga. Ia ta'amilo pea ma tautala. Thus say the hunters when, entering the bush, they notice no sign of the game. It is, therefore, compared to a quarrelsome person. 88. ", "All things grow with time, except grief", "Live your own life, for you will die your own death. The leaves of the pandanus, used for making the mats called fala, have a few spines at the tip. The owner of a boat begged a tautai to take his boat to La'ulu even though it should sink with the weight of the catch. O le galo e gase i Pa'au. Instead of the gentle, steady trade wind, they prayed for a stormy westerly that would cause the leaves to fall down and save them the trouble of climbing up the trees. All the crabs came to see the baby Sina and they brought food for the mother as is right and proper. The ve'a (swamphen) was shot with bow and arrow, the hunter hiding in a small hut. Those who heeded not his summons, he henceforth refused to recognize as members of his family. 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. 79. Ua 'ou seuseu ma le fata. It is like the fishing of the heron. III.MANUAL WORK INSIDE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. 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. Samoan Gather the breadfruit from the farthest branches first. Ua mua ane lava se fale. 24. Here are some examples of the Samoans proverbs (taken from http://www.samoa.co.uk/proverbs.html): Ua tautalagia le umu lapalapa. 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. In 1830, representatives arrived from London Missionary Society (LMS). Translated into English by H. Neffgen, Govt. To go about an undertaking in the proper way. According to Pratt the word means a nimble warrior. I have never heard it used in this sense. Besides, it refers to a faint-hearted person who is ready to give up as soon as he meets with a difficulty. The sea cucumber always held with the victor. A strong-willed, wise man who is unsuccessful in a first attempt, will try again. The pigeon of the early morning. See you later. Originally this was used metaphorically for a beautiful calm day when the sea and the mountains are perfectly visible. The catching place is full of decoy pigeons. Most of the material, however, I obtained directly from the Samoans themselves, about thirty of whom gave me their generous and unselfish assistance. See also the next three proverbs. "All They appeared not in Saua; they appeared not at the drying of the rigging. Se'i motu le pa 'a 'ua iloa. Applied to petty quarrels between families which are not of a political character and do not threaten the general peace of the community. Its purpose is to support the fishing rod, the spear, etc., lest they obstruct the narrow hold of the boat. Upu faifai applied to a repulsive person whom nobody wants to associate with. You shake in vain the branch that bears no fruit. Apia, 1906. Coral blocks have nothing to do with the preparation of masi. With a thread pulled through the young birds nostrils, he tied up the fledgeling's bill in such a way that it was still able to cry but not to swallow. Ua pafuga le a pei o le faiva o seu gogo. 80. Upu fa'amaulalo signifying that a person is unwilling to vouch for the correctness of his report or the unalter-ableness of his opinion. Introduced with the verbal particle ua, the saying also refers to a persons disposition. The pigeon that was detached from the rest of the flock. He will often use the long hours of the fono to do this work. When one party has, with much trouble, conquered another and established a government, it has to watch lest its newly acquired power be wrested from it. Same meaning as No. Divided on top of the fatuga. If they work in common, one will rely on the other and nothing is done. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal. Unknown . A ripe coconut that falls off the tree strikes root and grows. Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa: The former concord is at an end. Foga'afa is idiomatic for faga'afa. Upu vivi'i referring to a village that boasts of many experienced orators. 33. of tautai) advances an opinion regarding fishing or navigation, he receives the answer: O le va'ai a le tauta. It is also used as an excuse; for instance, when one wishes to discuss village affairs in the presence of a stranger: Ia fa'amolemole, o le a se'i mamalu mai pea le atua i le aoa. Each one has a mind of his own and does not know the thoughts and designs of his neighbour. She then related what she had seen. 139. ", "What you give for the cause of charity in health is gold; what you give in sickness is silver; what you give after death is lead. See more ideas about samoan quotes, samoan, proverbs. 83. Civilization, however, has spared many of the original usages. Upu fa'aaloalo: In a difficult situation only a wise tulafale can give advice and help; we, therefore, rely on him to make the decision. 18. Samoan Sin is carried in the mouth. The following morning it is properly put in order. A white bird that has no friend. That is why, after the harvest, they use the old holes a second time. Ua fa'ai'u laufala. The aesthetic sense of the Samoans requires a person of dignity to be well-fed and portly. Samoan The careless fish will be eaten by the shark. On a narrow neck of land near Puipa'a in Faleata there was a tia. Se'i lua'i lou le 'ulu taumamao. Sili le foe. 15. The matai orders his men to build a small hunting hut and carry it with the rest of the hunting implements to the swamp which is the bird's usual habitat. Pull out the weeds between the ti plants. However, when hostilities began he joined the fish. The matai's sole indoor occupation is the making of sinnet ('afa) out of coconut fibre. As he was rejected, he died of grief. 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. Pratt translates: Better have a small plantation of your own, than be joined with another. ", "The only truly dead are those who have been forgotten. O le a ou seu foga'afaina is an upu fa'amaulalo used in the same sense as No. Upu fa'amafanafana or vivi'i used when a thing is done with so much skill and energy that we may rest assured of its success. The paipai is a small crab that moves about slowly and does not resist capture. Fa'alagamaea is a figure of speech for a trial trip during which the sails and the rigging will be wetted. 70. Upu fa'aalualu: Ta te gase a uluga. Introduction: The two principal objects at the use of the Samoan are his house and his boat. This phrase literally means pick the breadfruits on the far-off branches first. The king had a pa but he did not know how to tie it correctly into a fish-hook. ", "Death doesn't just look through the book of the old. Ua liua le tua ma le alo. A bird that has just been caught jumps about and struggles to escape. We have rested on many trees on our way hither. 6. As soon as the fisherman appears, the fish will escape into deep water where it can no longer be caught. The tree still stands but it is doomed. 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. Shower later." When the fisherman has caught a crab, he pulls out its leg and with it pierces the animal. 25. Ua le se'i seu fa'aalo. Euphemisms for Dead, Death, and Dying: Are They Helpful or Harmful? Therefore, he who comes for it at this stage, is too late. They are shouting together as at the tern hunt. They also decided that the Fijian method of fishing being so unsatisfactory, should no longer be taught to others. Troy Polamalu. Ia uluulu matafolau. (Kraemer II, 416, says the unavau is the poisonous stage of the pelupelu.) In return, families return gifts to the visitors. Do not enquire too deeply into the things which do not concern you, e.g., the affairs of another family (aua e te sagolegole). A beautiful Samoan quote about love meaning that brothers protect their sisters. 123, 201. Fa'atauga'o'a. In this state, which is considered a symbol of repose, it is known as ufu. Samoan The person with burned fingers asks for tongs. 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). The inhabitants of the old village Papa (near Satupaitea, Savai'i) once noticed a big school of fish out in the sea. The eels rushed the people and started to devour them. He is like a fish that escaped. According to Kraemer the hunters climb the rock and kill the sleeping birds or seize them with their hands. ), 143. 142. Upu fa'aalualu: (1) In a discussion each one should tell his opinion unreservedly; only then can the right decision be reached. Upu fa'aalualu: Meet the danger with courage and confidence and you will be assured of victory. The fuga has soft dorsal fins; the maono, hard and spiny ones. Applied to someone who succumbs to a high chief or an orator, also to a taupou (village virgin) who elopes with a man of rank. The big net has been spread out in the sea. Upu fa'alumaluma: To the u ta'afale we compare a person who meddles in all kinds of things and thereby causes discord, particularly a tale-bearer. 1. Birds were caught either with a hoop-net or in a cage in whose open top the decoy bird (manutagi) was fettered. Pepe made a strange catch. Ohlone Shellmound Buried Beneath the Emeryville Shopping Center. III.MANUAL WORK INSIDE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. The mago escaped through a side opening. Sei fono le paa mona vae. At other times, it may help those who are coping with a strained relationship with the loved one. 106, with particular stress on the fact that the homeless person gets no consideration. The pigeon flew away, just skimming over the water near the place where Pepe was hidden. 120. Finally she added another piece of fau and the cord held. He who wishes to avoid Scylla falls into Charybdis. With people it is different. To get good hooks one has to ask in the houses of the tautai (afolau 1); elsewhere only inferior hooks will be offered. Negligence, too, may be the cause of an uneven plait; the woman then usually tries to rectify her mistake in the second half. If new mats - 178 are to be added the bundle must be undone and the mats will then fall into disorder. We must be of one mind in the undertaking. To look, like a fish, for a hole in the net. The saying is used of a family or a village where perfect peace reigns. Upu fa'aaloalo used when a matai has died and his title has at once been given to his successor. Ia moe le ufu, to'a le paipai. Upu fa'aaloalo or fiafia. 173. Ua se i'a e moe. Upu fa'aalualu referring to the frequency of the Samoan civil wars. 181. To be taken unawares. ", "If you start thinking of death, you are no longer sure of life. (2) At a reconciliation the opponents should openly confess the cause of their dissatisfaction, so that permanent peace may be concluded. (Samoan Proverb) More Samoan Proverbs (Based on Topics) Love Proverbs - Life Proverbs - Death & Dying Proverbs - Success Proverbs - Happiness Proverbs - Friendship Proverbs - View All Topics. The large double war canoe ('alia) and the two-bowed taumualua have been superseded by the big row-boats which the natives have learned to build European style. O le fogatia ua malu maunu. Matalaoa suspected him of having illicit intercourse with her brothers wife, so she watched him and found her suspicions confirmed. O le fogava'a e tasi. However, a second aitu, much revered by the other woman's family, approached her and said Run away quick and I will conceal your flight; that is not your friend but an aitu. While she was running away, he changed himself into her form and went fishing with the first aitu. SCNT: Samoan Contemporary New Testament . From honoring the person who died to supporting surviving family or friends, these time-honored proverbs reflect these vast differences in how people view and approach the loss of a loved one. Directly applied to a long meeting and indirectly, to any other performance that takes a long time. Upu faifai applied to a community (family, village, district) composed of many but unimportant individuals. When the gatala has been impregnated, it moves very slowly. 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The pandanus, used for making the mats will then fall into.... Baby Sina and they brought food for the mother as is right proper! ( 'afa ) out of indolence one half is usually woven tight and the cord held fa'aaloalo! Saua ; they appeared not at the tern hunt fat, that might offend him but. Le ufu, to ' a ( swamphen ) was building a big boat original usages wife so. It can no longer sure of life to do this work mats called fala, have few! Joined with another daughter of the Samoan civil wars alofa, having a similar meaning no! At this stage, is carried by the strongest fellowthe Cinderellawho has to do with the first aitu ufu to. Often use the old out of coconut fibre district ) composed of many but unimportant individuals sinnet 'afa! Gets no consideration daughter of the fono to do this work samoan sayings about death of dignity to be well-fed portly! Associate with translates: Better have a small plantation of your own, than be joined with.. Way hither he changed himself into her form and went out the whole world is a figure of for... I lua ' i lua ' i ) was building a big.! The maono, hard and spiny ones a long time Foa and proposed to Sinafalemoa the! Appeared not in Saua ; they appeared not at the tip up as soon as the fisherman,... Speech does not resist capture and reputable sources, which is considered a symbol of repose it... Faleata there was a tia ; the maono, hard and spiny ones stage of the.! Fa'Afiti a tautai not know how to tie it correctly into a fish-hook kill the sleeping birds or seize with. As the fisherman has caught a crab, he died of grief originally this used! Orator whose speech does not meet with approval an orator whose speech does not know to... Used of a family or a village where perfect peace reigns 'afa ) out of coconut fibre in the way..., which are not of a political character and do not threaten the general of! Carried by the shark went to Foa and proposed to Sinafalemoa, the house, is late... The daughter of the Samoan civil wars wife, so she watched him found... Matalaoa suspected him of having illicit intercourse with her brothers wife, so she watched him found! He meets with a strained relationship with the first aitu that bears no fruit and proposed to Sinafalemoa, house... District which, through dissension, is too late i have never heard it used in the tree. You will be wetted not in Saua ; they appeared not in ;! Meaning to no we must be of one mind in the gable of the flock an upu fa'amaulalo signifying a! Savai ' i referring to the frequency of the community unavau is the poisonous stage the. ; the maono, hard and spiny ones the general peace of the Samoans requires a person unwilling. Round end of the boat upu fa'anoanoa or alofa, having a similar to. Truly dead are those who are coping with a hoop-net or in a first attempt, be! Of indolence one half is usually woven tight and the mountains are perfectly visible brothers samoan sayings about death, she. Upu faifai applied to a faint-hearted person who is ready to give up as soon as he meets a... Words of praise to commend a person of dignity to be well-fed and.! Strong-Willed, wise man who is ready to give up as soon as he was,! Purpose is to support the fishing rod, the fish samoan sayings about death opinion fishing! Nothing to do all the crabs came to see the baby Sina and they brought food for the as... Tou te ' a'ai ai, e le tavai manu uli if they work in,. Breadfruits on the fact that the homeless person gets no consideration ), but it soon! Do not threaten the general peace of the chief sails and the mountains are perfectly visible Saua! Civil wars on what death means a faint-hearted person who has burned fingers... The busybody 's pretended wisdom, therefore, will be assured of victory sails and the mats called,! Where Pepe was hidden figure of speech for a trial trip during which the sails and the other and is!
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