Polynesian culture is the beliefs and practices of the indigenous peoples of the ethnogeographic group of Pacific islands known as Polynesia. The culture encompasses a huge range of practices, including rituals, feasting, ritual sex, and other elaborate practices. Punishments for transgressing these practices often included ritual sacrifice or even death. Intertribal warfare was also common, particularly when populations began to grow.
Polynesian rituals and ceremonies are deeply rooted in mythology and traditions, marking significant events in the life cycle, such as birth, marriage, and death. One common ceremony is the hula, which is a form of worship dedicated to deities. Offerings, prayers, and chants were used to express gratitude, seek favor, and honor the gods. Polynesian mythology encompasses the oral traditions of the people of Polynesia, a grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos in the Polynesian Triangle. Many great gods of the Polynesian pantheon, like Tangaroa, Tu, and Lono, were usually worshiped in their own way. In some cases, gods like Ku required human sacrifices.
The development of Polynesian culture is reflected in the mana, or spiritual power that resonates in the thunderous drum dances of Tahiti, the fierce haka of the Māori warriors of New Zealand, and the gentle hula of Hawai’i. Polynesian dance forms, such as the hula in Hawaii, the siva in Samoa, and the haka in New Zealand, are integral to the culture.
Converting the Polynesians to Christianity involved putting the kibosh on tattoos, native song, dance, and polytheistic gods. Priests deposited plates of food offerings in front of sacred stones, ornamented them with garlands of flowers and shells. These family rituals called ho’o pono held space for reflection, repentance, forgiveness, and gratitude.
📹 Ancient Religions, Rites and Rituals of the Polynesian Islands
Learn the sacred and taboo rites and rituals of the People of the Polynesian Triangle.
Why are Polynesians so big?
Recent studies indicate that the ancestors of modern Polynesians were likely small-sized populations with large, heavy body builds, which were presumably acquired through natural disaster-associated selection. A somatometric study of the Tongan population in Polynesia indicates that these characteristics are likely the result of natural disaster-associated selection.
What are the traditional practices of the Polynesians?
Polynesian traditional activities include coconut tree climbing, surfing, and various Ma’ohi disciplines. These activities have evolved over time and are still enjoyed by many people, particularly during the Heiva festivities in July. Some of the most well-known Ma’ohi disciplines include javelin throwing, stone lifting, fruit carrier race, copra contest, and coconut tree climbing. These activities are often linked to Polynesian people’s daily life, both past and present.
What were the beliefs of the ancient Polynesians?
Ancient Polynesian philosophy emphasized the supernatural power of mana, which was dispensed by gods and considered blessed by warrior chiefs and sacred meeting grounds. The tribe received mana through the power of association, and it required serious work to maintain its power. Societal taboos called tapu were established to prevent the dissolution of mana, and violating them could result in punishment or illness from the gods. European settlers, particularly French, Spanish, and British, were initially shocked by the open and carefree lifestyle of the natives, which clashed with their puritanical beliefs.
Converting Polynesians to Christianity led to the removal of tattoos, native song, dance, and polytheistic gods, and the adoption of a European style of dress. This radical change in Polynesian culture resulted in the loss of the history of ancient Polynesia, which was passed down through storytelling, and the art, song, dance, and tattoos that expressed the islanders’ identities. Today, ancient traditions have been restored, and Christianity is now embraced alongside traditional Polynesian culture.
What is the oldest culture in Polynesia?
Western Polynesia was first settled around 3, 000 years ago by the Lapita culture, while eastern Polynesia was occupied later. The Lapita are known for their distinctive pottery, while eastern Polynesia lacks ceramics. During the early settlement period, island groups in Polynesia interacted frequently, exchanging luxury goods like basalt adzes, pearl shell, and red feathers.
Traditional Polynesian cultures were effective adaptations to and mastery of the ocean environment. The Polynesians were skilled mariners, with voyages reaching Chile. Their mastery extended beyond shipbuilding and navigation, affecting social organization, religion, food production, and coping mechanisms for shipwreck. They were well-equipped to handle the hazards of the Pacific environment.
Conservatism is evident in all Polynesian cultures, even those separated by hundreds or thousands of miles. Comparing material goods, kinship terms, plant names, technical vocabulary, art motifs, and medical preparations reveals remarkable similarities between widely separated groups. Ornate genealogies, chants, legends, songs, and spells passed down through generations show a profound reverence for the past.
What is the first religion on earth?
Hinduism, a major faith with around one billion followers, is considered the world’s oldest religion with complete scriptural texts dating back 3, 000 years. The oral tradition that gave rise to the Mahabharata likely dates back to around 850 BCE, while its written Sanskrit form is 400 years younger. Zoroastrianism, the chief pre-Islamic religion practiced in Iran, draws on some of these Sanskrit oral compositions and later written texts.
Its founder, Zarathushtra, wrote hymns that predate written Sanskrit literature, making it possible to claim that Zoroastrianism is older than formally codified Hinduism. Judaism also dates to great antiquity, with an oral tradition nearly 4, 000 years old and written texts that may be older than the Sanskrit and Avestan texts of Hinduism and Zoroastrianism.
Is Moana Samoan or Hawaiian?
Moana, a Disney movie set 3, 000 years ago on the fictional island Motunui, is based on the real heritage and history of Polynesian islands like Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. The movie pays tribute to Polynesian heritage through its island homes, traditional Samoan fale, and tattoos on Maui’s back. However, Disney’s attempt to make Moana culturally accurate is not representative of all Polynesia and its people.
While the movie attempted to incorporate Polynesian traditions and history, there is still much to discover. The movie’s portrayal of Polynesian history and tradition is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Polynesia.
What are the rituals of Polynesia?
Polynesians were not only wary of mana and tapu but also of various spiritual beings, many of whom were malevolent. They believed in a host of gods, including great Polynesian gods like Tangaroa, Tu, and Lono, who were deified priests or chiefs. These gods were worshipped in their own way, often involving sacrifices, chants, feasting, ritual sex, and elaborate practices.
Magic flourished in Polynesian society, with everyone engaging in actions to ensure success in love, war, planting, or fishing or to bring misfortune to rivals. Magical specialists could be consulted when problems were too complex or difficult to solve by ordinary magic. Some magical practices have survived in Polynesian cultures to the present day.
Polynesian performance art was highly developed and enjoyed a resurgence in the late 20th century. However, little of the freestanding art forms, such as sculpture, painting, and textiles, has survived due to the perishability of materials and the dispersion during European contact.
Why are Polynesians so big and strong?
Recent studies indicate that the ancestors of modern Polynesians were likely small-sized populations with large, heavy body builds, which were presumably acquired through natural disaster-associated selection. A somatometric study of the Tongan population in Polynesia indicates that these characteristics are likely the result of natural disaster-associated selection.
Do Polynesians have thicker bones?
A study in New Zealand measured the bone mineral content of Polynesian and European women’s forearms to determine if inter-racial differences were present in these groups. The study found that Polynesians had about 20 higher mean values of bone mineral content than Europeans. The reason for this difference is unknown, but the findings suggest that high bone density is not exclusive to African races and that inter-racial differences in bone mineral content may be more common than previously thought. The study also found links to PubMed for selected references. The study highlights the need for further research to understand the racial differences in bone mineral content.
Do Polynesians believe in God?
Polynesians were not only wary of mana and tapu but also of various spiritual beings, many of whom were malevolent. They believed in a host of gods, including great Polynesian gods like Tangaroa, Tu, and Lono, who were deified priests or chiefs. These gods were worshipped in their own way, often involving sacrifices, chants, feasting, ritual sex, and elaborate practices.
Magic flourished in Polynesian society, with everyone engaging in actions to ensure success in love, war, planting, or fishing or to bring misfortune to rivals. Magical specialists could be consulted when problems were too complex or difficult to solve by ordinary magic. Some magical practices have survived in Polynesian cultures to the present day.
Polynesian performance art was highly developed and enjoyed a resurgence in the late 20th century. However, little of the freestanding art forms, such as sculpture, painting, and textiles, has survived due to the perishability of materials and the dispersion during European contact.
What was the religion before Christianity in the Polynesians?
Prior to the advent of Christianity, the Polynesian region was predominantly polytheistic, with prominent deities such as Tu (Kū), Tāne (Kāne), and Tangaroa (Kanaloa) being worshipped across the Polynesian triangle.
📹 Polynesian Spirituality: Mana, Taboo, Cosmogony, Afterlife, Trickster, Common Deities & Ancestry
This is Spiritual Studies session #34. This session focuses on the various beliefs of the precolonial spiritualities across the Pacific …
You’re very Respectful I must say, our spirituality before colonization and Christianity is spoken about less, you’d be surprised some are offended when you speak of our ways of life before Christianity (brainwashed by the west) it’s sad. But it’s cool to know (I’m assuming) not of Pacific Islander decent is taking time out their day to research our culture. You were spot on tho. I’m of Tongan Fijian Descent and very interested in our true way of life, most of our people have given up a lot for the Bible god or they think, not to say my people were not the most peaceful but we were in tune with nature like you said. Good content anyways. Peace and Love from Tonga and Fiji.
Your knowledge of Polynesian cosmology is impressive. Despite a few minor errors, you have captured much of the in depth “mauri” (essence) of our spiritual beliefs or taha wairua (spiritual side). That said, please allow me to clarify some important details. Kane or Ka(Car)-ne(ne as in “neck”) Car-Ne, is how the Hawaiians pronounce the name of the forest and land god. It is a Polynesian dialect variation of the Maori god Tane (Tar) – Ne. They are the same. Maori, Tahitians, Hawaiians, Easter Islanders, Rarotongans, Tongans, Samoans and many other pacific island nations, all share common ancestry. We preserve these connections by whakapapa (“wh”=”f”) or geneology. Also the void is called “Te Kore”. Te (as in Tear without the “ar”) Ko (As in core without the “re”) re (rolled re with “e” used as in “egg”) and literally means “The Nothing” or “The absence of all”. Interestingly, Te Kore also implies pure potential of all things because to us, creation was/is formed from The Nothing. The different names for Te Kore (and there are many) are descriptions of the voids attributes and sense perceptions according to the supreme creator being, “The Parenless One” as it became self aware, the first feelings, on its way from nothing to something which became Te Po or “The Night” Te (as above) Po (as in poor without the “r”) The same process continues with Te Po, until the dawn, Te Wheiao (pronounced Te Fay-Ah-Or) and then the light. Te Aomarama (Te Ahh-Or-Mar-Ra-Mar with out the “r”) The cosmology does go deeper in its meaning but you are definitely on the right track.
Thank you for your mannerisms in to sharing your understanding of our innerstanding. It is a humble approach, and I’m sure most of us would agree that if you approach our story with respect, many would support your work. We know our story. We know our genealogy. We lack the need for the western world to tell our story, but are flattered by the attempts made. It is a story that only open minds could comprehend. Kudos!
Lawless and disorderly sounds exactly like what we know as lower astral realms. With the earthquake before sleep-the human body experiences vibration before astral projection (visiting the other realms)-as above and below…the earthquake is attempting to restore or know itself, shaking the tree tai chi?? Animals in the wild when nearly captured or injured stomp and shake off energy. These modalities help us return to a harmonic state when imbalances are created within ourselves/ planet. Our ancestors left us beautiful wisdom within the mythology…
When talking about genders and “society positions” it is important to mention that in many Polynesian cultures we have a third gender Fa’aFafine (Fa’a=in the way of Fafine=Woman) this title is given to men who wish to follow their lives in the way of a woman or another case a Fa’atama (Tama=man) a title given to a woman who wish to follow the way of a man
I’m researching Gods of Hawaiian/Polynesian mythology for a Dungeons and Dragons world I’m developing and this was very insightful. I enjoyed your cross examination of different related and non(directly)- related belief systems and the implications of their shared stories. I know this is the tip of the iceberg but even this was a great help in guiding my inspiration. Thank you.
Kiaora your on bro a tohunga of history tapu and mana are a two faced coin learn tapu you will know mana our iwi is on east coast urewera te Whakatohea you are accurate about alot of poly history I’m a Maori from Aotearoa and my papa was a part Tahitian whangai and our ancestors changed their last names alot post colonization would love to talk more with you btw my kaumatua taught me young that tikanga trump’s te reo/ understanding means more than language which is why the reo
Very informative and captivating! I went to O’ahu with my family this summer for the second time in my life and I am eager to learn more about Polynesian culture, traditions and mythology. I think you approached this topic in a very respectful and humble way. I am of Swedish origin and thus very familiar with Norse mythology. I appreciate the Loki reference! 🙌
Respect and love for The amount of time, and Aloha that was put into Developing researching and presenting my Beloved history and and the complex metaphysical speech and practices that guided and taught my ancestors from the beginning of creation, and the longing, we are intrinsically share to return to Akua, ❤our father
If Man is made from maggots, then the Polynesians might have been the Dwarves of the Norse. The Norse are the tree people of Mayan mythology, and the Semites are the clay people. It is therefore interesting that the Mayans were the people made from corn… This implies a route of descent, where each culture receiving the Mystery includes their original creation stories on top of the old
Thank you for the wonderful knowledge of my ancient ancestors there alot I didn’t know. How ever Maori people’s spirits go back to a place called Cape Reinga which is the far north of the north island where a light house is located, at the bottom of Cape Reinga’s cliff there is a tree that Moari people’s souls/spirits leave from and take a journey back to our home of origins which was apparently called Hawaiiki, which does not appear on the map, the theory for that was Hawaiiki had submerged underwater.
Excellent study! I believe that Mu was a real place, and Polynesia is more connected to the rest of the world than is commonly believed; and it seems like a good idea to point you in this direction… The Irish letter A, in old dictionaries is a Palm Tree. The only palm tree that grows in Ireland is endemic to New Zealand. A Maori brother posted an excellent thread on Culdian Trust about the similarities between Maori and Gaelic. King Kalakaua wrote that the Hawaiians were Israel or had contact with Israel… V and W are represented by the same letter in Hebrew and Hawaiian. If you translate Hawaii into Hebrew, Hav can be interpreted as Love. Hava can be translated as Being or a Palace, and the two I’s in Hawaii would be the hands of Yah, meaning the Palace is Yah’s possession. Hawaii could be translated as, The Palace of Yah in Hebrew. Chief Paleiolani gave us the, Ho’okumu Ka Lani Ho’okumu Ka Honua: where he tells us, The first Hawaiians came from Alaska; and they’re related to the Haida’s of Haida Gwai, aka the Queen Charlotte Islands. The Haida were sailing at least as far as New Zealand, and they were major slave traders. Muscovites in California was written by a Jesuit priest in the 1700’s. He was stationed in China and met a Canadian woman he knew in Canada there. When he asked her how she got to China, she was traded as a slave across the Bering Straight. He also wrote about a Spanish woman who was captured in Florida during the conquest, and ended up being sold as a slave in Tartaria.
The connection of the divine fire of knowledge with trees reminds me of some Kabbalistic interpretations of the Tree of Life containing the divine Light versus the Tree of Knowledge being the false Light… Edit 1: Maui was surprisingly accurately portrayed in Disney’s Moana Edit 2: by deduction if Hina is moon Mahina clearly means Mother Hina. Edit 3: Genetically there are some deep connections between Northern Eurasians, Melanesians and Native Americans
Polynesians literally looks as if the outcome results of Melanesian/Micronesian interbreeding, with Mela. being the “father” race (soToSpeak) and Micro. being the “Mother” race, thus Poly. the “Child” race with child-like tendencies, playing, dancing, exploring, jumping around having fun all around the swimming pool play ground a.k.a the Pacific Ocean. Wallah!….By the way, such a lovely presentation you’ve presented here maaan👏👍very very interesting!
In the Friendly Isles it is Tapu to- whistle @ night, sneeze @ a funeral, eat while standing, eating father’s leftover food, sweeping @ night, laugh aloud @ cemetery in foreign village, clicking noises with the tongue, being in the middle of three while being photographed, husband or male to ever witness his wife or female giving birth, pregnant women to ever rome around at night, children to ever touch any belongings of father, ever to argue or talk back to father’s oldest sister, rinsing your hair while leaning back and many many more….or are those just a handful of superstitious beliefs???
🤲When i was a kid my mother would say “manna from heaven” and i would say no, mana IS heaven. And she would explain to me the story of the saying. And i would say but i think at some time mana was heaven and god. And she would ask me well which one? And i would say, its no different. Its same thing. And she would remind me that for many its categorically different. And i would shrug my shoulders like okay. …i realize now i had a near death experience before age of 4 and i was shown things about past lives and the universe in that time.
People who haven’t actually studied anthropology but have an interest in it often make the mistake of thinking matriarchal societies were run by women. Usually anthropologically it just means that family lineages were traced through the maternal side. In some societies the man and woman would have a kid, the kid would get a name linking them to her tribe, then her brothers would raise the kid.
I am indigenous māori and alot of stuff you said was very factual, respectful and educational, some of the pronunciation was off but im not holding it to you, for example the word “tāne” isnt said like “kane” it is said like “ta-nei” and “tāpu” isnt said like “tap-oo” it is said like ” ta-poo” and alot of our words are said like this, i hope this can help with your pronunciation, as i said im not putting you down just educating on how to better say out words
I would like to pick your brain 🥰 trippy I only just watched something on shanism I say but you know what I mean and what lock me in is the tree it looks exactly like a tree one of a few God’s dwelling in Samoa apparently it’s where these God’s initate and all that basically this place is how I would see today a parliament house or church a meeting place for order and the law so thank you for your truth knowledge and wisdom I believe we all as humans owe it to ourselves from the work of our forefathers to continue the journey ✨ Thank you I want to know more!
He forgot to mention that the islands were the mountaintops of a huge continent, and the islanders were the survivors of the continent being destroyed by plate shifting/volcano eruptions. The surviving maohi/maoli/Maori remained on the spared mountaintops which we now only know as Polynesia. Interisland travel by water between the islands and other countries happened AFTER this event. So NO… we are NOT descendants of Asia…. I mean look at us, can’t compare us with petite Asian people (no offense)
The heart is the Mana Not the language, here is my example because the church changed don’t mean we have to,, if you find your unkles etc, there wallet full of cash, or belongings, your heart will lead you to true Mana,, I call my miss my kumara, people laugh, Nd IL say well she’s my staple diet nd my sweet potatoes😜💯%
Jesus didnt put me in my mother belly or jesus didnt create me so i am not going to disrespect my mom who created me with my father. People who love jesus or dont believe in any God that they just came here. Now there is God and people who call me crazy might just not have a soul since they show no feelings at all.
You would think they would be many Polynesian statues as there are European have been unnerved that clearly saw a white man with a beard. What makes this amazing is the Indians usually grow nothing if anything at all a tiny bit of peach fuzz and they certainly did not have full beards. Yet scores of statues have been found that clearly show White people. Including in Mexico where I think they should be showing more Polynesians. There’s even some stories that not only did the Polynesians come here but the Indians went there. I made sure there is plenty of evidence that many white people came here the Phoenicians, according to ancient Rome there was a land called Brazil fifteen hundred years before it was officially discovered, the Irish almost certainly came here and so did the Welsh. It has been proven that the Vikings came to Canada and since I believe in the Kensington runestone I believe they also made it to mainland America. There is also stories that the Chinese came here both in the 400ad and 1400s ad. View lands had been discovered as much as the Americas starting with the native American ancestors which we believe come from Asia but there’s no clear evidence that that’s where they came from. As a matter fact the gearheads more closely resemble European. I’m not so sure I believe the Chinese made it here twice because I believe their strong traditions would have lived on. They said it was common knowledge to Roman sailors that there was lands beyond the pillars of Hercules including continents.
Yeah honestly I was turned off by the narrator within the first minute with the definition of Polynesia and the pronunciations… I know I’m biased but I’m tired of others learning our history and culture and then retelling it as if they are experts on the subject.. Just tell your stories about your peoples past. It doesn’t bother me that much but nah I’m not listening to this to actually learn because I know it’s flawed and it’s authentic. It doesn’t come from a lived experience it comes from an academic research project perspective. It doesn’t suck but it’s not the source of knowledge and wisdom – flawed… Tell Eirpoean stories instead