 | American Samoa Local Customs | Tips 1 - 10 of 13 |  |
Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (13) Families make plantations usually on the hillsides. Sometimes the local Matai oversees the distribution of produce from the plantations for the whole village.
An area is cleared of trees, then bananas, breadfruit, taro, papaya etc. are planted. In some lowlands a swamp can be used for water taro.
In this warm moist climate a fallen tree rots away in about 6 months. The jungle takes over a plantation just about as fast if the weeds are not cut regularly.
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It is an old tradition for the chiefs and any man deserving respect, to have geometrical tattoos on their body from waist to knee.
The designs have meanings like the designs on tapa cloth.
Old-style tattoos are painful and it is right of manhood, bravery and perseverance to get the tattoo. Every big chief needs a good tattoo :)
Photos from a tattoo festival:
http://www.samoanews.com/2006FestPhotos/
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Samoan language is gernerally pronounced like a romantic language. Here is how to count to ten. We put more words on the linked page.
1. tasi
2. lua
3. tolu
4. fa
5. lima
6 ono
7. fitu
8. valu
9. iva
10. sefulu
http://www.ipacific.com/samoa/speak.html
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Built with hardwood tree posts, floored with coral gravel and thatched with palm fronds, all lashed together without nails. Still used in villages and for ceremonial gathering places.
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Samoa has had their own stamps for about 100 years and many are in circulation for collectors. Postage to American Samoa is almost the same as American states because of the close relationship between the territory and the US since April 17, 1900 when American Samoa seceded to the US and became under a US naval government. Samoa has its own elected government now.
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Most villages have activities for all ages with singing, traditional dance, siva siva, and Umu food. But Samoa is a modern educated place.
You will see respect for old dress and customs, but most Samoans live with new music and dress like everywhere else.
I include this 100-years-old picture because I like it. It brings memories of an exotic and more romantic time. The good old days. :) On special holidays, like April 17 Flag Day (secession day), you may see much time spent making traditional clothing with creative laurels and plant skirts and lavalavas to augment dress. Very beautiful.
For most it is easier to see traditional Samoan culture in Hawaii, go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Many Mormon students are from Samoa and demonstrate traditional customs. You might find many samoans representing other islands at the center. Samoans are the largest ethnic Polynesian group in polynesia.
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The piece of cloth in a bright color or Hawaiian print is the traditional garb of men and women. It is a great wraparound for a swimsuit now and very comfortable for men to sit.
You can buy them inthe shops and it si a great souviner to keep and use at home, beach or swimming pool.
The usual size needs to be wide enough to wrap around yourself 1.5 times and length from waist to over the knee for men and similar for women used from bust to thigh or longer.
It is like sitting in your towel all day, pamper yourself!
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With elected legislature and governor, Samoa is a democracy fa'a samoa, in the Samoan way.
Here is a website for Governor Togiola and the government.
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learn a few helpful Samoan terms;
Talofa: hello
Faafetai: Thank YOu
NO: leai
Vailima: the only beer you should be drinking while youre there!!
Plus; it's a bit offensive to walk through a village in swim wear..buy a sarong/lavalava to wear around your waist, theyre about SAT7.00 which is approx US3.00. Leave a Comment
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The typic Samoan clothes for a man to wear is a...........skirt !!!
Except in Fidji, I never seen a policeMAN wearing a skirt !! Funny... Leave a Comment
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on June 8, 2007
on August 26, 2002
on August 26, 2002
