Then they will gather into a flock to travel to another part of the forest whence they will scatter once more. When a decoy bird refuses to call, people say it is to'iastricken (with sickness or obstinacy). To this refers the popular song: A'e i le Pola ne'i gaseNe'i sosola o manu e. Climb the Pola Rock noiselessly lest the birds fly away. Apia, Samoa, 1916. We must be of one mind in the undertaking. Words to encourage a person to strive after his goal, and not allow himself to be deterred by any consideration or obstacle. 124. Ua se i'a e moe. When a chief, with the help of his tulafale, succeeds in obtaining the hand of a noble lady, the latter (as well as the child issued from the marriage) is praised as. See also the following. 169. 16. As an upu fa'amafanafana: E le afaina, ua e pa'u i se niu umiTake comfort, it is to a person of rank that you have succumbed. Like the pressing out of the 'o'a. 6. Upu vivi'i applied to two villages or families long related to each other and united through their common origin. The Samoans maintain that if the parents were left undisturbed, they would remain with their young and allow themselves to starve to death. Its inhabitants had the reputation of avoiding all waste when fishing. A wider interpretation is often given to this custom, known as malagafaga, and the begging may be extended to other objects. Tavai manu uli. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. When these migrant members attend a funeral in their homeland, they will pay to get there and bring a good amount of money with them. Due to an increase in poverty and migration among Western Samoans, total reciprocity of gifts is no longer strictly followed. 64) fortune was changing. A petitioner uses it to indicate he realizes the negative answer he gets is only an evasion. I am not competent to judge how the unavau's poison is communicated to the pelupelu, whether this happens in the sea or when the two fish are accidentally cooked together. Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa: The former concord is at an end. EMAIL: WECARE@SEVENPONDS.COM, 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. Don't throw away a favourable opportunity. Gathered into a flock from different parts of the forest. Upu fa'amaulalo and upu faifai. The torch is tilted over while the flying fish die. 77. Lefao then cried out: Ua tau lupe a Lefao. It is not like a container in which the tattooing instruments are sleeping together. Out of indolence one half is usually woven tight and the other rather loose. Ua maefulu le tava'e. In order for a Samoan to be accept and respected and therefore find themselves, they must follow the rules of their people. O le a ou seu foga'afaina is an upu fa'amaulalo used in the same sense as No. Birds were caught either with a hoop-net or in a cage in whose open top the decoy bird (manutagi) was fettered. Literally: When it is felt toward the sea, it is felt toward the land. The tautai must pay for his sins. 36. To disentangle the coconut-leaf net. ", "There is no one who can jump so high as to escape death. ", The death of an elderly man is like a burning library. The translation, then, would be: Why do you handle your net without considering the others?. 11. 192. 31. ", "Life is not separate from death. The Fijian met with failure, but the Samoan caught many fishes. Upu vivi'i applied to surpassing qualities in persons or things. The middle portion of the roof and the round ends are then carried to their new emplacement. 2. CM Punk. 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. 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. An honorific designation of an old sacred mat whose story may be found in v. Beulow, Turner and Kraemer. Avatu ni lo, aumai ni lo. v. Buelow and Kraemer give the following explanation: The one dances about and wastes his time with useless things, whilst the other by persevering efforts goes straight towards his goal. Ia ta'amilo pea ma tautala. So that it may be used effectively the following morning. A fai 'ea a'u mou titi se'ese'e? Upu fa'aalualu. It is also used as an upu faifai to repulse someone's interference. She lived in a small hut behind the big house occupied by her brother and his family. Only the manutagi is still caught in the old way and, if the report be true, the chiefs of Aopo and Tiave'a will, occasionally, net pigeons according to the ancient rules of the hunt. He is like the plate of the drill. The saying refers to retribution in a good and in a bad sense. The work begins with loosening the rounded ends of the house from the fatuga (timbers to which the purlins are fastened). Type-written copy. The hermit crab is doing the climbing, but it is its shell that suffers the damage. Turner, on page 221, says: If a pigeon sees its mate fall dead, it will drop down and cover the body with its wings even though it should be killed also. The bonitos swim about thoughtlessly, but the seagulls are on the alert. The jumping about of a newly caught bird. Ia fa'autu ia le fao. Quotes tagged as "samoa" Showing 1-9 of 9. This was the original meaning of the proverb. We have rested on many trees on our way hither. 23 Samoan Proverbs 1. Upu fa'aaloalo applied to the wife of a chief or a tulafale: May you be blessed with many children. 179. Turn the house around; the ropes will protect it. Ua penapena i tua o tai i'a. He is like the tropic bird which is proud of its feathers. Upu fa'aaloalo: Respectful term used to designate a full meeting. When the plant sprouts once more, the tuber can still be used; but as soon as it has new leaves, the tuber becomes uneatable. Whats with the custom of washing the body every 6 months from the grave. From Fagaiofu the lo travel to Falelatai and then along the coast to Manono. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Should anyone, in the excitement of the work or to show off, give orders to his neighbours, no one will heed him, for only the tautai may give orders. ", "Only love gives us the taste of eternity. 100. Upu faifai: offensive expressions, insults. (2) At a reconciliation the opponents should openly confess the cause of their dissatisfaction, so that permanent peace may be concluded. The denial of the fisherman. Upu faifai. 145. The crab brags about its legs. Ua liua le tua ma le alo. The Samoans value the mats so much that the most important ones bear honorable names. When the thief returned and saw the charm, he was frightened. Ia ifo le fuiniu i le lapalapa. Only seen in the mouths of the fish. "There is no one who can jump so high as to escape death." It is also used in the form of: Ua fa'ae'e le 'au'au, etc., after the leader has concluded his address. The omnipotent God as brought us together today, for although we are living close together it is He who rules our lives. Proverbs can often describe feelings you're unable to express. The numerous muagagana (proverbial expressions) relating to pigeon catching prove how popular the sport was with the Samoans. The people hunted mostly with the help of decoy birds. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. O le mafuli a puou. They are shouting together as at the tern hunt. You don't love someone because they're a dream of perfection. 148. It is also used for the notch made by the carpenter in a tree trunk or a beam to facilitate his work. 4 > Proverbial expressions of the Samoans, by E. Schultz, p 139-184. 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. O le ala ua mutia, 'ae le se ala fati. Samoan Gather the breadfruit from the farthest branches first. In wet soil taro thrives particularly well; it is, therefore, whenever possible, raised in a swamp. 39. It exists no longer. Upu fa'aulaula: Playful words referring to losses easy to bear and easy to repair. It is actually used as a request to be respectful. The matai's sole indoor occupation is the making of sinnet ('afa) out of coconut fibre. If they work in common, one will rely on the other and nothing is done. The collapse of the heap of stones. More Samoan Proverbs: You shake in vain the branch that bears no fruit. The land where her house stood now belongs to Chief Auva'a. They can be particularly useful when you are simply trying to find the right words and need a little inspiration. Refers to the weeds growing between the houses. Pepe tried to catch it. Many of these have hidden meanings. Mocking words referring to loveless, undutiful parents. 118. 121. The fisher then pulls it forth with his hand and kills it by sinking his teeth through its head. Upu vivi'i used of a person or a community that performs an undertaking unassisted. 147. This phrase is used to describe someone whos will is stronger than their body. The wisdom shown at lauloa fishing. Volume 58 1949 > Volume 58, No. Ua se temeteme. 70. This Samoan idiom literally means why do you not steer out of the way?. According to Kraemer the hunters climb the rock and kill the sleeping birds or seize them with their hands. Euphemisms for Dead, Death, and Dying: Are They Helpful or Harmful? After the harvest the pole will be laid aside or thrown away. Taia i le tafao, taia i le va'ai. Proverbial Sayings of the Samoans. 7. Upu taofiofi: Slowly and thoroughly; without precipitation. E tasi, 'ae afe. The fault was committed in the bush, but it is now talked about on the highway. Upu fa'aaloalo: A polite expression referring to the first speech delivered at a meeting or at the reception of a travelling party. Having foolishly got into trouble he is asking for help. 82. The papata crab had born a child and there was much rejoicing among the relatives. Ua solo le falute. 117. Matala'oa was a bush village in Falealili, inland of Poutasi. Oh, Samoa, hold fast your power forever. 190. The majority of Hawaiian sayings and quotes have a positive message of hope and love. Now Streaming Week 4: The Crown. (Pratt translates: One who has no fixed abode.). These are used often in day to day life. 45. Ala mutiaan old road. 83. (The fable evidently owes its origin to the fact that the sea cucumber's anus may easily be mistaken for a mouth.). When a big funeral happens, orators and their mourning family members should directly receive mats and food as forms of reciprocation for their gifts. 25. (Kraemer II, 416, says the unavau is the poisonous stage of the pelupelu.) 172. 103. This proverb is also used to describe the troublesome condition explained in No. Paraphrase for: To remove someone from a family, a meeting, or a village. 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. (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 Like the call of a stricken decoy bird. Coconut milk was usually given to the birds. When a bonito has taken the bait, the fisherman will swing in his rod with a forward motion on the starboard side, the canoe still moving on. Same meaning as No. Our lives are decreed to be taken by the gods. These have evolved from ancient traditions, and theyre still in practice in Samoan communities across the globe. The idea of a good and bad death is a common belief throughout the world. A good death, in Samoan tradition, is a death that happens at home. When death happens at home, the spirit stays with the family peacefully. "Who is old and doesn't believe it, will trip into his grave without seeing it." I think it is simply used as a faianaga, a jest referring to a lean person. 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). E pipili tia, 'ae mamao ala. ", "The ugliest life is better than the nicest death. 55. 8. When exposed to the air the matulau dies very quickly. Further discussion is then superfluous; the matter is settled. It is also used as an upu fa'amaulalo, an apology to the receiver whom courtesy then requires to praise the value of the gift. One of the best Samoan sayings about family meaning, in the face of adversity, only family will truly be there for us. As to each coconut leaf belongs a cluster of young nuts, so each individual belongs to his family. Ua fa'ai'u laufala. A new road is ala fati. Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. One day the boys went fishing for their father. The pigeon of the early morning. It means the palolo was gone by the time the people reached the reef. Samoan Sit and wait for the good chestnuts. He invited all the tautai (fishers and sailors) of Samoa to come to Laua and help him. Ulumu politely offered Lefao to take station in the falemuathe front hut. The barracuda that sleeps apart. Like a fish, one should look for a hole in the net. 174. 3. Faimea are those tautai who are clever at making fish-hooks. 22. O le faiva 'ese lo Pepe. 3, 11, 12). 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. Required fields are marked *, CALL: (415) 431-3717Hours: 9AM-5PM PST. The god gave him a fetish (tupua) which the man hung up in an aoa tree (banyan). 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. From this we have the saying: O le fa'afiti a tautai. A decision made at night may be changed in the morning. E lele le toloa ae maau i le auvai The toloa bird 131. Muniao (la'au fa'alava) is a transverse piece of wood placed across the net to keep it properly stretched. The evil a man does, lives after him. Lefao's people heard the call and repeated it so that the news of his victory quickly spread through the bush and through the town. The saying also has the same meaning as No. The purlins are well joined. One single deck. When the aitu wanted to return, he became entangled in the net and cried out in a loud voice. Samoan The person with burned fingers asks for tongs. Ua logo 'ese'ese fa'amea vilivili. Ua si'i le matalalagathings have changed. Fa'alupe tumulifale. This Samoan idiom literally means strong in heart but broken in the back. In the war between the birds and the fishes (No. 135. 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. This expression is one of the best Samoan quotes about family. 104. The whole contraption is known as matau, or more simply, pa. To polish the pa, pieces of coral are used: the rough kind called puga, as well as the softer 'ana. Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa, is an Oceanian country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. The word umu signifies a hole, a groove. 125. 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. By Chris Raymond They were too late for the catch. When wearing the mat, it is folded in two and the coarser half is worn underneath. Upu faifai or fa'afiti: To refuse a request because the petitioner has previously shown himself unloving and hardhearted. Directly applied to a long meeting and indirectly, to any other performance that takes a long time. The softness of the octopus. (This copy is now in the Alexander Turnbull Library. 41. Upu faifai referring to a person who meddles with other people's affairs without the slightest reason. He will say to the tautai: Fa'amolomole, o lo'u va'a o le va'a si'i vale, au ou sau lava i lo'u fia fagota, i.e., I beg your pardon; I have launched my canoe without a good excuse; I have come to help you. Upu fa'anoanoa or alofa: An undertaking miscarries through the negligence of one of the participants. Thus also did Vaomua. A few men managed to regain the shore. The club fight took place on the three malae in Falafa. 6. 180. At the building of the double canoe it is necessary that an ample supply of sinnet be available, lest the tying of the planks and the completion of the boat be retarded. 87. The tulafale try their utmost to bring about the wedding of their chief and when this is accomplished they are not sparing in flatteries, as they will be well rewarded with the fine mats that constitute the bride's dowry. Upu fa'aaloalo. When the breadfruit harvest comes, the lou will be found, too. Before bird-catching an offering should be made. Upu fa'aalualu referring to the frequency of the Samoan civil wars. On fixed days in October and November every year the palolo worm appears on the reef and is caught in large quantities by the natives who highly esteem it. If the tautai has no luck, people will say it is the punishment for some sin he has committed and that he must try again until he makes a catch. O le sala a tautai e totogi. Their wilful damage is considered in the same light as a bodily injury and a personal insult to the owner. Used of a weak, sickly old man. Let the crab take counsel with its leg. The big net has been spread out in the sea. This refers to a mishap that befalls several people at the same time. A beautiful Samoan quote about love meaning that brothers protect their sisters.
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