Polynesian+Celebrations+&+Ceremonies

toc =Polynesian Celebrations & Ceremonies=

**Questions:**

 * What types of celebrations do they have?
 * Which celebration are the most important ones?
 * Explain how do they celebrate their ceremonies.
 * When do they celebrate stuff?
 * Explain the things they do daily.
 * What do they do in the celebrations?

The Teuila Festival is very important to Samoans. Peniamina Day is also important to Niueans. All informations are below in **Daily Life**. Most Samoans boat race, dance and sing. > Samoans celebrate the Teuila Festival,Niueans celebrate Peniamina Day.
 * Answers to the questions:**
 * Which celebration are the most important ones?
 * Explain the things they do daily.
 * What do they do in celebrations?
 * What celebrations do they have?

Most people in Samoa are native Polynesians. Outside experts say they originally came from Southeast Asia. Samoans disagree. They believe they were placed on their islands by a god named Tagaloa. Samoa contains several small islands and two larger ones, 'Upolu and Savai'i. Most people live on 'Upolu in the capital city of Apia. It's a small but modern city. Savai'i and the smaller islands are less more people to live. Some islands have no cars or roads. Nearly all Samoans can read and write. They enjoy games such as //kirikiti//, a local version of cricket. The game is played with a thcelebrateree-sided bat and a set of complicated rules. A game may go on for days. The rules of Samoan checkers are different than those used in the Western version. Samoans also enjoy swimming and other outdoor activities on their beautiful tropical islands. For example, Papasee'a Sliding Rock allows daring swimmers to whoosh down slick rocks into a waterfall and land in a pool. Most people live in village homes made of lime plaster and thatch. Newer houses have tin roofs and blocks that brought from New Zealand. In some places, the house stand was empty. There are no familes moved in until the family are leaving the island. Thought people still live in villages, there are no longer obey a local chief. Still, some of the old ways remain. For example, Saturday is "Bush Day." People travel to the inner part of the island to tend their gardens. Most Niueans grow at least some of their own food.
 * Samoa**
 * Niue**

**Samoa** Here is a schedule of some of the Samoan holidays:

3rd-9th 2009 Samoa International Game Fishing Tournament, including annual Ladies Tournament (6th May) and official prize-giving (9th May) **June** 1st Independence Day Celebrations 2nd Independence Day Holiday 28th Samoa International Marathon 1st Teuila Festival
 * May ****
 * September ****

13th White Sunday Holiday (Lotu-a-Tamaiti) tbc Palolo Rise
 * October ****

7th Arbor Day tbc Palolo Rise
 * November ****

Samoa's biggest event is the Teuila Festival. This September holiday has boat racing, dancing and singing. One highlight is the fire-knife dance. Past midnight, seven days after, Samoans harvest //palolo//. These special times only gives twice a year--once in October and again in November. The //palolo// are sea worms. In Samoa, the //palolo// are called "the caviar of the Pacific." The second Sunday in October is known as White Sunday. It’s a day for kids. People dress in their best white clothing to go to church, and children are allowed to lead the church services. Afterward, everybody goes home to have a large feast with family members. That feast is the only time when kids are allowed to eat before the adults. Parents also give their children gifts. Constitution Celebrations in October bring three days of parades, feasts, dancing, singing, and sports. Right after these celebrations comes Peniamina Day. It marks the begging of Christianity on Niue. Easter and Christmas are important holidays. As a member of the British Commonwealth, Niue also observes the Queen's birthday.
 * Niue**
 * Cook Island**

Cook Island Cook Islanders celebrate their independence during a 10-day Constitution Festival. Held in August, the festival includes sports, dances, music, history and more. In November, people celebrate Tiare, the floral festival. The event includes flower-arranging contests and a parade featuring flower-covered floats. **Cook** Islanders also celebrate Christian holidays. Rarotonga celebrates Gospel Day in July. Easter and Christmas are celebrated throughout the islands. Kiribati celebrates Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter. It also celebrates Independence Day on July 12th and Youth Day on August 4th. According to legend, Palau was formed by a giant named Uab. When he fell down he broke apart. His head became the island of Ngerchelong. Its natives are said to be the country's most intelligent and talkative people. Uab's stomach became the island of Ngiwal. That's why that island's natives eat seven times a day! Uab's legs became Koror, the most active island. The bulk of his body became the large island of Babeldaob. Another legend explains the mysterious Badrulchau of Babeldaob. These huge stone columns stand **in** rows **in** an open field. It's said that gods placed them there as supports for a god-sized //bai//. Palauans enjoy celebrating festivals throughout the spring. They celebrate Youth Day as well as Senior Citizens' Day. Other national holidays include President's Day, Constitution Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. //Toka// is a special dance that's held on Tanna. It celebrates loyalty among members. Another important holiday on Tanna is John Frum Day. It includes dancing, parades and festivals. The yam harvest is extremely important to islanders. The people of Pentecost Island perform a rite called land diving, or //naghol//. Men tie long vines to their ankles. They dive off platforms and nearly reach the ground. They come so close that their hair scrapes the earth. Unlike the fad of bungee jumping, land diving has a purpose. It's supposed to ensure a successful yam harvest. On Maewo Island, men wearing masks protect the yam harvest. They use thorny sticks to drive off outsiders.
 * Kirbati**
 * Palau**
 * Vanuatu**
 * Wallis and Futuna Island**

Islanders celebrate St. Pierre Chanel Day on April 28th. They also celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas, Easter and All Saints Day. French holidays such as Bastille Day are celebrated, too.

=Annotated Bibliography= United States. Dept. of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. //Background Notes: Samoa//. (June 2002). http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000169141 25 Nov 2008 This website gives really good information about Samoan, which is a part of Polynesia. It gives a Subject and the website gives you the correct information you wanted to have.
 * "Samoa." Lonely Planet WorldGuide. 21 April 2003.

Stanley, David. "Niue." //South Pacific Handbook.// 6th ed. Chico, CA: Moon Publications, 1996. 328-399 http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000170206 26 Nov 2008 This website gives us a very descriptive paragraph of each section of Niue, which is a part of Polynesia. Sirs dicoverer give very detailed answers or fact that you needed to know. "Palau." Lonely Planet WorldGuide. 20 April 2003. United States. Dept. of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. //Background Notes: Palau//. (Jan. 2003). http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000169132 26 Nov 2008 This is a very good website and it really helped me out. United States Dept. of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. //Background Note: Kiribati.// (Feb. 2001). http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000170643 26 Nov 2008 this website gives a load of information about Kirbati. Margolis, Susanna. "The **Cook** Islands." //Adventuring in the Pacific: Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia//. San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1995. 144-160. http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000168519 26 Nov 2008 This website gives very useful information about Cook Island but I only used the part about celebrations. http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000167223 26 Nov 2008 This website was very good and I think sirs discoverer is a very good website.
 * "Niue." Lonely Planet WorldGuide. 10 May 2003.
 * Margolis, Susanna. "Palau." //Adventuring **in** the Pacific: **Polynesia**, Melanesia, Micronesia//. San Francisco: Sierra Club, 1995. 373-386.
 * Mainichi, Mark. "Low-Lying Kiribati Keeps Treasures Afloat." //Daily News//. 30 Dec. 2000. InfoTrac OneFile. Online. 20 May 2003.
 * "**Cook** Islands." Lonely Planet WorldGuide. 8 April 2003.
 * Margolis, Susan. "Vanuatu." //Adventuring **in** the Pacific: **Polynesia**, Melanesia, Micronesia//. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1995. Pages 281-297. United States. Dept. of State. Bureau of Public Affairs. //Background Notes: Vanuatu//. (Jan. 2003).

http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000169586 27 Nov 2008 http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Polynesians.html 27 Nov 2008 This website got different kinds of facts about polynesia, and it was kind of useful, but other subjects weren't the one we wanted.
 * Angleviel, Frederic. "Wallis and Futuna (2002 Year in Review)." //The Contemporary Pacific//. Spring 2003. InfoTrac OneFile. Online. 29 April 2003.
 * Gell, A. //Wrapping in Images: Tattooing in Polynesia//. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.

http://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?contid=8&wmn=Oceania&cid=137&cn=Samoa&sname=Holidays&snid=16 28 Nov 2008 “Peru.” //CultureGrams World Edition//. 2009. ProQuest. 19 May 2009 .
 * “Indepentent State of Samoa.” CultureGrams World Edition, Kids Edition, States Edition. 1993. ProQuest.

> [|Web Development by Enlighten] 6 Dec 2008 > http://www.jasons.com/Samoa/samoa-events-and-festivals > This website tells you what celebrations there are in Samoa but does not explain about the celebrations.
 * [|Jasons Travel Media]