Ta'ovala
Taʻovala is the name for a form of ceremonial clothing in Tonga , where a mat is tied around the waist. The clothes are worn by both men and women, especially on formal occasions. The ta'ovala is also used in the Lau Islands , as the region is heavily influenced by the culture of Tongan.
Origins
A legend tells that a group of Tongans arrived at Tu'i Tonga by boat . The crossing was rough and their clothes, or what was left of them, were no longer appropriate. So they cut the sails of their boat and wrapped themselves in them. The Polynesian sails are made of bast mats. The king was so pleased with the sacrifice they had made with their precious sail that he ordered that this clothing be used as court clothing in the future. The Tongan hip mat may share a common origin or idea with the Samoan "valatau" or "vala" waistband, which is often worn by speakers and chief sons ("manaia") and daughters ("taupou") festive occasions and rituals.
Queen Salote Tupou III. ordered the ta'ovala to be part of the officers' uniform. Hence the ta'ovala is widespread among men in Tonga. It is a little less common in women, as they prefer the kiekie .
shape
The normal ta'ovala for everyday use is a short mat that half covers the thighs. It is tied around the waist with a cord ( kafa ), which is often made from coconut fiber ( coir ) or human hair from a deceased relative. The ta'ovala for festive occasions such as weddings is much larger and often lavishly decorated. A large, rough mat is used for funerals. If the wearer is of a lower rank than the deceased companion, an old, worn mat is used. The older and more worn it is, the better. These special garments are passed down as valuable heirlooms.
The ta'ovala are also part of the koloa , traditional women's handicrafts. Every woman should know how to make it. If girls do not learn this in the family, they are given lessons in schools. In recent times there have also been women who have specialized in handicrafts and who sell their products in the market.
Fabrics
Ta'ovala can consist of different materials:
- Strips of pandanus leaves that are usually not colored. Occasionally black stripes are indented, and rarely are all of the ta'ovala black. The strips can be coarse (approx. 15 mm for burial robes ) or fine (only a few millimeters, as for the ta'ovala loukeha , which are worn for audience with the king). Mats are always hand woven. The fine mats in particular are therefore precious and expensive. The oldest and most valuable mats are kept and worn by the Tongan royal family on festive occasions.
- Strips of hibiscus fiber, so-called fau . This material is used in the same way as the pandanus leaves, but it is not as coarse and can be woven in numerous patterns, which is faster than braiding them. Most civil servants ta'ovala are made this way.
- Plastic offers modern variants. Old flour sacks are often used, which is a quick alternative.
history
Before the encounter with Western culture, the men only wore a fringed skirt made of local materials that were 60 to 80 cm long. Women dressed traditionally carried two mats, each about one square meter (yard) in size, made of a combination of pandanus and hibiscus, which were girded around the waist. Children were usually naked. Christian missionaries who arrived from the late 19th century onwards greatly influenced the concept of shame.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Greta Briand, Ruth Peters: Community Perspectives on Cultural Considerations for Breast and Cervical Cancer Education among Marshallese Women in Orange County, California. In: Californian Journal of Health Promotion. 2010, 8; Pp. 84–89 August 25, 2013.
- ^ A b Introduction to Marshallese Culture . Retrieved August 17, 2013.
- ^ Edwin Munsell Bliss: The Encyclopedia of Missions , Volume II. Funk & Wagnalls, New York 1891.
- ^ Marshallese Culture . Retrieved August 16, 2013.
literature
- 'IF Helu: Critical essays: Cultural perspectives from the Southseas. 1999.