Faʻa Sāmoa consists of the Samoan language, customs of relationships, and culture, that constitute the traditional and continuing Polynesian lifestyle on Samoa and in the Samoan diaspora. It embraces an all-encompassing system of behavior and of responsibilities that spells out all Samoans' relationships to one another and to persons holding positions of authority. This is how Samoans are raised and live, and provides support and direction to individuals within family and political structures. Central to the organisation of Samoan society is the culture's faʻamatai, the traditional system of social organisation.[1] Hosts have responsibility for the actions of their guests, and may incur a fine from the village authorities for infractions of local customs.
Faʻa Sāmoa includes the way one stands, walks and speaks, for example by saying "tulou" when one walks in front of someone who is seated. Likewise, it is extremely disrespectful to eat or drink when walking through a village.
Traditional Samoan tattoo
As another example, most Samoan villages enforce a period of prayer in the early evening, signified by ringing a bell or by blowing a conch shell. During this brief curfew (the sa) one should not stop in the village if passing through. Appointed guardians, or aumaga, may stand by the road to ensure that travelers do not enter.
In addition to the set familial relationships, which extend to one's entire extended family (the ‘aiga) with its familial chief (the matai), Samoans show respect to persons in positions of authority, and reverently observe customs of long standing which have rather more force than mere etiquette.
Historyedit
Samoan elder
When missionaries arrived from Europe in 1830, they found ways to associate Samoan cultural beliefs with Christianity,[2] which contributed to the spread of Christianity in 19th-century Samoa. An example of these purportedly shared beliefs is the respect of one's elders. In faʻa Sāmoa, the young respect older generations, especially their parents and grandparents.
^ Fana'afi Le Tagaloa, Aiono (1986). "Western Samoa the Sacred Covenant". Land rights of Pacific women. University of the South Pacific;Institute of Pacific Studies. p. 103. ISBN982-02-0012-1. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
^Wildermuth, Grace (2 April 2013). ""Heaven and Earth" Samoan Indigenous Religion, Christianity, and the Relationship Between the Samoan People and the Environment". SIT Digital Collections. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
External linksedit
"Faʻasamoa - The Samoan Way", American Samoa government website
The Samoan Way
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faʻa, sāmoa, samoan, traditional, customary, life, samoan, culture, contents, concept, history, gallery, also, references, external, linksconcept, edit, nbsp, samoan, participating, ceremony, consists, samoan, language, customs, relationships, culture, that, c. Faʻa Samoa the Samoan Way is the traditional customary way of life in Samoan culture Contents 1 Concept 2 History 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksConcept edit nbsp Samoan man participating in a ceremonyFaʻa Samoa consists of the Samoan language customs of relationships and culture that constitute the traditional and continuing Polynesian lifestyle on Samoa and in the Samoan diaspora It embraces an all encompassing system of behavior and of responsibilities that spells out all Samoans relationships to one another and to persons holding positions of authority This is how Samoans are raised and live and provides support and direction to individuals within family and political structures Central to the organisation of Samoan society is the culture s faʻamatai the traditional system of social organisation 1 Hosts have responsibility for the actions of their guests and may incur a fine from the village authorities for infractions of local customs Faʻa Samoa includes the way one stands walks and speaks for example by saying tulou when one walks in front of someone who is seated Likewise it is extremely disrespectful to eat or drink when walking through a village nbsp Traditional Samoan tattooAs another example most Samoan villages enforce a period of prayer in the early evening signified by ringing a bell or by blowing a conch shell During this brief curfew the sa one should not stop in the village if passing through Appointed guardians or aumaga may stand by the road to ensure that travelers do not enter In addition to the set familial relationships which extend to one s entire extended family the aiga with its familial chief the matai Samoans show respect to persons in positions of authority and reverently observe customs of long standing which have rather more force than mere etiquette History edit nbsp Samoan elderWhen missionaries arrived from Europe in 1830 they found ways to associate Samoan cultural beliefs with Christianity 2 which contributed to the spread of Christianity in 19th century Samoa An example of these purportedly shared beliefs is the respect of one s elders In faʻa Samoa the young respect older generations especially their parents and grandparents Gallery edit nbsp Flower lei nbsp The ocean connects the islands of Samoa nbsp Sea turtle in Samoa nbsp Christianity in SamoaSee also editFaʻamataiReferences edit Fana afi Le Tagaloa Aiono 1986 Western Samoa the Sacred Covenant Land rights of Pacific women University of the South Pacific Institute of Pacific Studies p 103 ISBN 982 02 0012 1 Retrieved 2 March 2010 Wildermuth Grace 2 April 2013 Heaven and Earth Samoan Indigenous Religion Christianity and the Relationship Between the Samoan People and the Environment SIT Digital Collections Retrieved 12 September 2021 External links edit Faʻasamoa The Samoan Way American Samoa government website The Samoan Way nbsp This culture related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Samoa related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Faʻa Samoa amp oldid 1212622427, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
