Tangihanga, or more commonly, tangi, is a traditional Māorifuneral rite held on a marae.[1] While still widely practised, it is not universally observed in modern times.[2]
Each iwi (tribe/nation) differs on how they honour those who pass. Tangihanga generally take three days with burial on the third day. From the moment of death, the tūpāpaku (body of the deceased) is rarely alone.[3] The tūpāpaku is transported (usually from a hospital and via a funeral home) to the marae. There they are welcomed with a pōwhiri and will lie in state for at least two nights, usually in an open coffin, in the wharenui.
Throughout the tangihanga, the tūpāpaku is flanked by the whānau pani (the bereaved family)[4] (sometimes called the kirimate or mourners),[5] who take few and short breaks, dress in black, and sometimes wreath their heads in kawakawa leaves. Around the coffin, flowers and photographs of deceased relatives are placed.
Tangihanga, Rotorua NZ, Ngati Tuhourangi / Te Arawa (1905)
Visitors come during the day, sometimes from great distances despite only a distant relationship, to address the deceased. They may speak frankly of his or her faults as well as virtues, but singing and joking are also appropriate. Free expression of grief by both men and women is encouraged. Traditional beliefs may be invoked, and the deceased is told to return to the ancestral homeland, Hawaiki, by way of te rerenga wairua, the spirits' journey. The close kin may not speak. It is traditional for mourners to wash their hands in water and sprinkle some on their heads before leaving the area where the tūpāpaku lies in state. Traditionally, the visitors would bring famous taonga (treasures), such as kākā and kiwi feather-cloaks and pounamumere, which would be placed alongside the tūpāpaku. These items were inherited by the heirs of the deceased, who were then expected to return them to the original owners at subsequent tangihanga. This practice was called kōpaki.[6]
On the last night, the pō whakamutunga (night of ending), the mourners hold a vigil and at a time assigned by custom (sometimes midnight, sometimes sunrise) the coffin is closed, before a church or marae funeral service and/or graveside interment ceremony, invariably Christian in modern times. As with the area the tūpāpaku lies, it is traditional for mourners to wash their hands in water and sprinkle some on their heads before leaving the cemetery. After the burial rites are completed, a hākari (feast) is traditionally served. Mourners are expected to provide koha or gifts towards the meal. After the burial, the home of the deceased and the place where the deceased died are ritually cleansed with karakia (prayers or incantations) and desanctified with food and drink, in a ceremony called takahi whare, trampling the house. That night, the pō whakangahau (night of entertainment) is a night of relaxation and rest. The widow or widower is not left alone for several nights following.
Both in traditional times and modern, the tangi of high-profile individuals can be both extended and elaborate.[7][8]
A 2011 court case ruled that funeral traditions do not over-rule common law.[9]
^. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
^. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
^Grace, John Te Herekiekie (1959). Tuwharetoa: The history of the Maori people of the Taupo District. Auckland [N.Z.]: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 292. ASIN B0007JE64K. ISBN9780589003739.
^"Papers Past—Auckland Star, 22 September 1894. p. 2". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
^"Sir Howard laid to rest Tuesday". Stuff.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
^Mike Watson (2011-11-23). "Bodysnatching decision: Law before Maori custom". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
January 02, 2023
tangihanga, more, commonly, tangi, traditional, māori, funeral, rite, held, marae, while, still, widely, practised, universally, observed, modern, times, each, tribe, nation, differs, they, honour, those, pass, generally, take, three, days, with, burial, third. Tangihanga or more commonly tangi is a traditional Maori funeral rite held on a marae 1 While still widely practised it is not universally observed in modern times 2 Each iwi tribe nation differs on how they honour those who pass Tangihanga generally take three days with burial on the third day From the moment of death the tupapaku body of the deceased is rarely alone 3 The tupapaku is transported usually from a hospital and via a funeral home to the marae There they are welcomed with a pōwhiri and will lie in state for at least two nights usually in an open coffin in the wharenui Kawakawa leaves Throughout the tangihanga the tupapaku is flanked by the whanau pani the bereaved family 4 sometimes called the kirimate or mourners 5 who take few and short breaks dress in black and sometimes wreath their heads in kawakawa leaves Around the coffin flowers and photographs of deceased relatives are placed Tangihanga Rotorua NZ Ngati Tuhourangi Te Arawa 1905 Visitors come during the day sometimes from great distances despite only a distant relationship to address the deceased They may speak frankly of his or her faults as well as virtues but singing and joking are also appropriate Free expression of grief by both men and women is encouraged Traditional beliefs may be invoked and the deceased is told to return to the ancestral homeland Hawaiki by way of te rerenga wairua the spirits journey The close kin may not speak It is traditional for mourners to wash their hands in water and sprinkle some on their heads before leaving the area where the tupapaku lies in state Traditionally the visitors would bring famous taonga treasures such as kaka and kiwi feather cloaks and pounamu mere which would be placed alongside the tupapaku These items were inherited by the heirs of the deceased who were then expected to return them to the original owners at subsequent tangihanga This practice was called kōpaki 6 On the last night the pō whakamutunga night of ending the mourners hold a vigil and at a time assigned by custom sometimes midnight sometimes sunrise the coffin is closed before a church or marae funeral service and or graveside interment ceremony invariably Christian in modern times As with the area the tupapaku lies it is traditional for mourners to wash their hands in water and sprinkle some on their heads before leaving the cemetery After the burial rites are completed a hakari feast is traditionally served Mourners are expected to provide koha or gifts towards the meal After the burial the home of the deceased and the place where the deceased died are ritually cleansed with karakia prayers or incantations and desanctified with food and drink in a ceremony called takahi whare trampling the house That night the pō whakangahau night of entertainment is a night of relaxation and rest The widow or widower is not left alone for several nights following Both in traditional times and modern the tangi of high profile individuals can be both extended and elaborate 7 8 A 2011 court case ruled that funeral traditions do not over rule common law 9 References Edit Tangihanga Korero Maori Korero maori nz Retrieved 2013 12 03 Demise of tangi a threat to culture professor Maori NZ Herald News Nzherald co nz 2012 06 09 Retrieved 2013 12 03 Tangihanga Korero Maori Korero maori nz Retrieved 2013 12 03 pani Archived from the original on April 25 2012 Retrieved November 22 2011 kirimate Archived from the original on April 25 2012 Retrieved November 22 2011 Grace John Te Herekiekie 1959 Tuwharetoa The history of the Maori people of the Taupo District Auckland N Z A H amp A W Reed p 292 ASIN B0007JE64K ISBN 9780589003739 Papers Past Auckland Star 22 September 1894 p 2 Paperspast natlib govt nz 2011 Retrieved 19 June 2011 Sir Howard laid to rest Tuesday Stuff co nz 2011 Retrieved 19 June 2011 Mike Watson 2011 11 23 Bodysnatching decision Law before Maori custom Stuff co nz Retrieved 2013 12 03 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tangihanga amp oldid 1122679790, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
