Samoans

A detailed Summary of Samoans

Anthropologically and historically, Samoans are people of Polynesia who migrated, according to some historians, from Malaya or India, and, according to others, from India or Asia; even some believe that they came from Raiatea or Hawaiki. Culturally, they are polite, respectful, generous, and outstandingly hospitable. Morally, they are jealous, envious, revengeful and prone to falsehood. Samoans are defined in the Webster's Dictionary as "One of the natives of Samoa, among the finest and purest in type of the Polynesians, known for their cleanliness, dignity, and intelligence."

The two articles I chose to use were on the topics of their mythologies about birth and death, and their body art, or tattooing. The Samoans of today are much different in many ways from the old ways and traditions. This was caused by the arrival of such groups as the Ambassadors of Christ invaded the island in attempts to civilize them and convert them to Christianity. I will be referring to the period prior to these invasions occurring, for I believe that was the true culture and nature of the Samoans. There are many customs and superstitions common to the Samoan people in connection with the birth of a child as well as in the case of a loss of life.

While the birth of a child was seen as a blessing, the death of a Samoan was seen as a punishment. There were four main beliefs on the cause of death. The first was a direct punishment from the gods. Another was due to the commission of acts contrary to the established custom of family and village life. The third belief was the fulfillment of a curse by a parent, sister, or a witch doctor. The final belief was that death could be caused by revenge by an already deceased individual.

Many superstitions were also followed once a woman had become pregnant. A pregnant woman was never allowed to go anywhere alone for fear that evil spirits, called aitu, would affect the child by touching the mother or might kill the mother and take the unborn child. Women were not allowed to wear garlands of flowers around their neck for if she did, the child would be born with the umbilical cord around its neck and strangle it to death. The husband was warned not to make the pregnant wife angry or upset, for the child would become a villain if she did. A prolonged period of labor for the wife was blamed on the husband. When the labor would last for days, the husband was forced to face his wife and confess of an extramarital affair during the pregnancy. Once the confession was heard, the birth of the child unexplainably followed.

One of the most popular forms of art expression was tattooing. Now a lost artform for the Samoans, it was once a thriving industry and held a significant meaning in the Samoan culture. Until

Some common words found in the essay are:
Tattooing Samoans, Men's Guild, Ambassadors Christ, Webster's Dictionary, Hawaiki Culturally, , customs superstitions, birth child, India Asia, Malaya India, art tattooing, mythologies birth death, women family, mythologies birth, tattooing samoans, birth death, woman pregnant,

Approximate Word count = 1025
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People