Sunday, October 2, 2011

New Zealand Maori Customs



The Maori history in New Zealand is interesting.
Legend has it they came from around the "Hawaiian Islands, home to the Rock
and genocided the Moriori in New Zealand , who were pacifists and therefore unable to defend themselves
from any warring tribe.
The Maori kept the Moriori prisoner and they intermarried but the Moriori were not allowed to marry each other.
Then the white people arrived and things changed for the Maori.
The white people brought sheep and other animals to graze on the beautiful landscape and they ate all the Maori crops.This left the Maori with little to make a living off of.

Today New Zealand is seen as a new countrywith lots of potential.
It is a very beautiful place to visit.
The Morori are allowed to rebuild their culture and the Maori have lots to show the world about their ways, of which they are very proud of. Their masks are incredible.
Many of the youth , like our Aboriginals here in Canada, have fallen into the gansta mentality.
But the society is determined to turn things around with time.

I really liked these videos.




Scary!


TāwhirimāteaGod of the wind and storms
Tāne MāhutaGod of the forest and all that dwell therein, especially the birds
PapatūānukuMother Earth
RanginuiFather sky
TangaroaGod of the sea, rivers, lakes and all that live within them
TūmatauengaGod of war
RongoGod of peace
RūaumokoGod of earthquakes and volcanoes
Rongo mā TāneGod of kumara and all cultivated foods
Haumia-tiketikeGuardian spirit of wild food
Whiro God of evil




With this weapon the Maori could chop off the top of a persons' head or worse.
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One opinion as to why the Maori stuck their tongues out

When the Maori stick their tongue out it is part of one of the many haka dances. Different kinds of hakas were performed for different occasions; to greet visitors, for amusement, to acknowledge an important event or achievement, and some were preformed before going into battle.
War hakas (peruperu) were performed by warriors before a battle, to declaire their strength and prowess in order to intimidate their enemies. By displaying fierce facial expressions and grimaces, waving weapons, poking out the tongue, bulging and showing the whites of the eyes, and uttering grunts and cries, the Maori hoped to invoke the war God and frighten their opponents.
So I think that the tongue sticking out was just a part of this greater display of fierceness: to intimidate, frighten, and shock their war enemies.

Source(s):

I grew up in Hawaii and was exposed to all peoples of Polynesia. I had a few Maori friends :)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moriori_people

Hope you enjoy

Have a great day!
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A wife says to her husband you're always pushing me around and talking
behind my back. He says what do you expect? You're in a wheel chair.




The wife has been missing a week now. Police said to prepare for the worst.
So, I have been to the thrift shop to get all of her clothes back.
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6 comments:

Diane Stringam Tolley said...

Fascinating! I had no idea their history was so violent!

A Lady's Life said...

diane - I love to learn about things lol

Amber said...

Interesting! I would love to visit New Zealand again one day.

A Lady's Life said...

Amber - I would love to visit it the first time lol

Olga said...

What an interesting post. These customs fascinate me.

A Lady's Life said...

Olga they sure do and the masks are wonderful.