They can be particularly useful when you are simply trying to find the right words and need a little inspiration. 3. Upu taofiofi: Weighty decisions should not be made precipitately, but only after mature reflection; each new discussion may bring new ideas. When the hook is badly bound, the fish will not take it. Only at Neiafu is the trade wind despised. 110. Samoan phrases are a group of words functioning as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. Ua le sau i le afu, le sau i le tutupu; ua sau i le lalau. Mocking words applied to a boaster. A Samoan quote about death which highlights how permanent death is. Mr. T. Smith, Private Secretary to Logan. Upu faifai or fa'afiti: To refuse a request because the petitioner has previously shown himself unloving and hardhearted. (Samoan Proverb) More Samoan Proverbs (Based on Topics) Sin - Friendship - Work & Career - Morning - Night - Birds - View All Samoan Proverbs Buy books and product about Samoan @ Amazon Popular Topics Love Proverbs - Life Proverbs - Death & Dying Proverbs - Success Proverbs - Happiness Proverbs - Friendship Proverbs - View All Topics We need a bigger gun." 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. E a sipa le lama, 'ae fano malolo. Not so long ago there was a village there, whose people are now living in Falevai, a fuaiala (section) of Falelatai. These Samoan quotes about love and family give an interesting insight into the Samoan beliefs and language. Place the ridge pole first, then we shall pass the battens. Upu fa'aaloalo used to introduce some complimentary remarks about the previous speaker, if the latter was a high chief or an orator of rank. May the cluster of nuts bow to the midrib of the coconut leaf. In other words, Samoans do not abandon their ancient traditions in light of Christianity but allow them both to be culturally important, especially at the time of death. A worthless bird flies over the tia. Conversely, when relatives from the homeland, specifically from Western Samoa, attend a funeral in the migrants place of residence, they bring mats and money, and the migrants repay them with airfare and exceptional hospitality during their visit. (See below.). Compare also Nos. Delight in the hunter's hut. So it is with governmental power. 84. More Samoan Proverbs: The knee feels the tapping. E le se tunuma ma moe fa'atasi. When the net is finished people say, Ua peiseai sa fai i se afa e tasi; or elliptically: Ua se afa e tasi. A decoy bird that keeps away the wild birds. The leaves of the ti plant were used to make the titi (leafy girdle; see No. When the time is right, ask the surviving family member what that cause might be. 37. 39. Finding no blossoms it will set on the leaves. 155. 25. When it tries to climb over rocks and tree trunks, it frequently tumbles down. This is the titi with which one can slide about (se'ese'e) in the dirt. Ia oloolo pitova'a. 5. The offering was called fa'asao a manu vao. The falling of a ripe coconut. Upu faanoanoa or alofa referring to a person who has come to harm through anothers fault. When the breadfruit tree called puou is uprooted in a storm, it will not die but grow again. A careless person will be taken by surprise by his watchful enemy. Upu faifai: The little crayfish valo that leaves its hole and, unbidden, enters its neighbour's hole, illustrates a person who officiously meddles with other people's concerns. This cannot be done on the left side because of the outrigger. Ua fano lua i masa. Mocking words referring to common people who begin to eat before the high chiefs, and to similar cases. Se'i muamua se fa'asao a manu vao. Saying "hello" is as simple as ml in an informal setting. Death, in Samoan tradition, is considered Gods Will. It has traditionally been believed that Samoans should die at home. Hidden like a tattoo design. Should things take an unfavourable turn, they will then be willing to help you (just as he who is familiar with a fine fish-hook, is able to find a similar one). 61. Va'a tele (big boat) is used figuratively for 'upega tele (big net). Ua mu le lima, tapa le iofi. 19. With people it is different. Upu faifai referring to a person who meddles with other people's affairs without the slightest reason. For the next harvest the old lou will be fetched again or a new one will be made. However, another aitu named Pagoa was lurking there and ate up those who had escaped the eels. The surprised Ulumu could not but recognize Lefao's dexterity. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. In order for a Samoan to be accept and respected and therefore find themselves, they must follow the rules of their people. The torch is tilted over while the flying fish die. The motion of the hunter's hand is visible. Samoan The person with burned fingers asks for tongs. Samoa, arise and raise your flag, your crown!Look at those stars that are waving on it:This is the symbol of Jesus, who died on it for Samoa.Oh, Samoa, hold fast your power forever.Do not be afraid; God is our foundation, our freedom.Samoa, arise: your flag is waving, your crown! The sting-ray (fai) has a sharp barbed spine in its tail with which it can inflict severe wounds. Upu fa'amaulalo, fa'anoanoa or alofa referring to a person who has neither home nor family. Man, also, strives after material advantages. ", "He who comes for the inheritance is often made to pay for the funeral. Change). Fa'a'ulu toli i gaoa. Below Ive listed the most well-known Samoan idioms and expressions. Thus people say, Ua se i'a e moe o mauga o Savai'i. A visiting matai applies these words to himself when he thinks that, owing to his presence, his - 161 hosts are prevented from discussing their affairs. In 1830, representatives arrived from London Missionary Society (LMS). This is called: Va lelei. Mounting anger over the weekend reporting of the death of a Samoan transwoman in Apia has spilled over into New Zealand with prominent transrights campaigner Phylesha Brown-Acton saying the Samoa Observers coverage has left her absolutely disgusted, reports Gay NZ. Same meaning as No. Prayers From Prison. Ia lafoia i le fogava'a tele. For a Samoan to be chosen as a respected tulafale, he or she participates in a special ceremony called a saofai, whichhappens only when the family discusses and comes to a consensus. O le i'a ua lata i le loto. 4. Introduced with the verbal particle ua, the saying also refers to a persons disposition. SCNT: Samoan Contemporary New Testament . The bonitos swim about thoughtlessly, but the seagulls are on the alert. 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. Ua sasagi fua le livaliva, 'a ua gau le matavana. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and Savaii, one of the biggest islands in Polynesia.More on Samoa from Wikipedia! In wet soil taro thrives particularly well; it is, therefore, whenever possible, raised in a swamp. 3, 11, 12). Upu faifai referring to a person who feigns love and affection. The barb easily breaks off and remains in the wound, while the fish escapes. When lying in the sand, they can easily hurt one another. (Kraemer's contention that the moamoa is not eaten in incorrect.). Upu faifai. When this contraption has been destroyed deliberately or otherwise, the fishermen will come and rebuild it. When the lo appears, Samoan custom requires the family of the husband to present a number of these fish to his wife's clan. (No. Ua 'ou seuseu ma le fata. Ua talaga a pa sina. ", "There is a cure for everything except death. "One is certain only of death." Its purpose is to support the fishing rod, the spear, etc., lest they obstruct the narrow hold of the boat. 34. Do The present collection is an attempt to rectify this deficiency. III.MANUAL WORK INSIDE AND OUT OF THE HOUSE. The fish-hook is incorrectly bound. Nalayeh H. Addressing the cultural, spiritual and religious perspectives of palliative care. The chief Amituana'i came along and abducted them. 8. Gather the breadfruit from the farthest branches first. When the saying is applied to girls (o le i'a vai tama'ita'i), it is used as a faianaga (jest). 3. The following saying is based on the same story. Referring to a person about to leave his home, never to return. 2. Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. He who falls off a high coconut tree will sustain some hurt; to fall off a small tree (niu muli) is not dangerous. Samoan The person who has burned their fingers often asks for tongs. This phrase literally means he is a lizard crawling however it is actually used to describe a disobedient person. When the wild yam is mature, the stalks wither and break into pieces. Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa: The former concord is at an end. Do not fish with the stick. E sao mai i Amouta ai tali le Amotai, fai foi o lea, a o le toe aso i Moamoa. Samoan Sit and wait for the good chestnuts. Only the matamea crab presented herself without a gift. 141. The wild manutagi, hearing the call of the decoy bird, approaches gradually by hopping from tree to tree, before it enters the cage. Ia tupu i se fusi. When two men are in partnership, they must be of one mind. If the assistant is inattentive and looks away, the plank will not fit in and the work miscarries. You don't love someone because they're a dream of perfection. That is why, after the harvest, they use the old holes a second time. When the aitu wanted to return, he became entangled in the net and cried out in a loud voice. E fa'apupuati le gase. Samoan Blessed is the moon; it goes but it comes back again. The death of the head of the family, on the other hand, is considered a great loss. Upu vivi'i applied to two villages or families long related to each other and united through their common origin. It is also used jestingly at the preparation of food or kava, when the portion set aside is likely to prove insufficient and the whole available supply had better be used. Se'i muamua ona ala uta. See more ideas about samoan, samoan quotes, polynesian culture. A fishing expedition may have no success, but a suspicion usually has some ground for it. It is an upu vivi'i, commending a person for his retentive memory. O le i'a a vai malo. Since the spread of Christianity the saying refers to the repose of the soul after death. The bird's breast feathers are very sparse. 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. If the maga breaks or is bitten off by a fish, the loss can easily be repaired. An exhortation not to allow one-self to be downcast by a single failure. Now, family members often remain in the homeland, and migrant members send them money. 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. Both fish are frequently caught together. A fourth arrow for emergencies lies behind the hunter and may be shot in any direction. In vain rejoices the drill plate when the drill point is broken. The lower end of the rafters is tied fast, the upper end lies hidden in the timber work. Lani Wendt Young, Telesa: The Covenant Keeper. Samoan custom required that all the family members assist at such an undertaking, either to help in the building or to supply food. Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa, having a similar meaning to No. They are gregarious. Upu faifai applied to a repulsive person whom nobody wants to associate with. Upu fa'amafanafana. He then fits it in place and with his wooden mallet (tafao) hammers it down, his assistant holding it. Check out the video below which features a range of famous Samoan quotes and well-known Samoan sayings & proverbs. It is particularly used in a salutatory speech: O le pule o le Atua ua mafai ai ona tatou fesilafa'i i le aso nei, aua e ui ina va i fale ve'a o lo tatou soifuaga, 'ae pule lava le Atua i lo tatou soifua. Neither is it unusual amongst the Samoans that in a common undertaking one partner tries to overreach the other. The mago fled towards Savai'i followed by the pa'itele. It is more difficult to make the shaft, pa, than the hook, maga; therefore, the pa is more valuable. They can comfort those who are mourning alone or help you as you write a eulogy or pen a condolence letter. Here are some humorous words that may help: Knowing when not to speak following a death is as important as knowing when to speak. Samoans use a lot of sayings and expressions in daily life which offer advice and even sometimes have hidden meanings. Some manutagi have the bad habit of driving the wild birds out of the cage before the hunter has had time to catch them. A big fish net is made in parts (tulavae) by individual persons. "Gun first. Everyone grieves differently and for different periods of time. The just needs no memorial, for his deeds are his monument. A wider interpretation is often given to this custom, known as malagafaga, and the begging may be extended to other objects. These proverbs and sayings reflect those thoughts: There is a time for everything, including humor. In other societies, death is regarded as a specter no one talks about. The saying also has the same meaning as No. 92. 123. Upu vivi'i. Jeanine Tuivaiki. 111. EMAIL: [email protected], Appointed family orators facilitate the process of death and funeral in Samoan culture, Hospice social worker, Scott Janssen, offers advice on how to ease a loved one's pain, Advance directives provide people with mental health issues the ability to communicate with providers when they are doing well. In Aana the expression refers to an aitu incorporated in a white tropic bird that lived on Mount Tafua. The favourable progress of an undertaking is a good sign of final success. The translation, then, would be: Why do you handle your net without considering the others?. ". Words of regret used by the loser. Pratt translates: Better have a small plantation of your own, than be joined with another. The middle portion of the roof and the round ends are then carried to their new emplacement. This figure of speech presupposes that a single pigeon was spied by a hunting party and that it was artfully enticed and caught in presence of all the hunters. See No. Like the twisting of a cord. 133. Because of this incomplete fastening the term: 136. See you tomorrow. The saying means: I have the right to take part in the discussion. Who sits at home in the morning will not eat in the evening. E a le uga i tausili, 'ae tigaina fua le atigi alili. Upu fa'anoanoa. O le poto a lauloa. 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. 8. 54. Sa (matou) tu'u la'au mai nei. However, the ancient myths also co-exist with Christianity, and this blending of rituals can be seen in funeral customs. It was called the passage of the bonito and through it the bonito fisher had to bring her a fish, even though he had caught only one. The lou is a long pole with a crook at the end, used in gathering breadfruit. Upu fa'aalualu: (1) In a discussion each one should tell his opinion unreservedly; only then can the right decision be reached. A fisherman who has lost his hooks may approach another canoe, take hold of a fish line and remove the fish-hook. Sometimes a bit of humor can be a blessing during deep grief. They were too late for the catch. Upu fa'anoanoa: Man is mortal. The Banner of Freedom (O Le Fua o Le Saolotoga o Samoa) is the national anthem of Samoa.(Video). Upu fiafia referring to events that bring joy and contentment. ", "Death doesn't just look through the book of the old. The totality of the fata, again, form the complete net. (2) At a reconciliation the opponents should openly confess the cause of their dissatisfaction, so that permanent peace may be concluded. Once upon a time a mago and a pa'itele had a fight. List of Phrases in Samoan Below is a list of the phrases and daily expressions in Samoan placed in a table. 9. 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. 57. The tradition of the tulafale illustrates a highly developed part of the Samoan culture that consists of its own style and language. I prefer this explanation. One is for the birds approaching in front, the other for the birds coming from the right and the third for those from the left. Ua maefulu le tava'e. According to the communistic system of the Samoans, a travelling party is allowed to beg fish-hooks at the houses where they call. Samoan Gather the breadfruit from the farthest branches first. Proverbial Sayings of the Samoans. A person who has supplied a tulavae for the fata is entitled to take part in the fishing and to share in the catch. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal. Unknown . The feathers of certain birds, e.g., the tavae or tropic bird, are attached to the fish-hook to serve as artificial bait. Proverbs offering support include: Some cultures view death as a very part of life on a larger continuum. Ua se ta'ata'a a le ala. Like the grass on the wayside. E tenetene fua le livaliva, 'ae sagasaga 'ai le vili ia. A white tern that is so proud of its glossy plumage that it will not associate with darker birds. Ulumu politely offered Lefao to take station in the falemuathe front hut. 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Who feigns love and family give an interesting insight into the Samoan beliefs and language thoughts There... Of perfection proverbs and sayings reflect those thoughts: There is a good sign of final.... According to the communistic system of the biggest islands in Polynesia.More on Samoa from!!
