Tom, How very cool that you learned this nugget on your visit to a Maori village. Intimidating yet beautiful - what a combination. It is great to see people believing in something bigger than themselves. I wonder if this has kept the Maoris going for so long, despite all the challenges of needing to adapt to the modern world.
On a related note, I just hesitated on the word 'modern', investigated and found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernity. Yipes. Here's to Maoris and other tribes keeping their faith.
Tom Berry
02 March 2012 13:04
The New Zealand Haka dates back centuries and I think actually comes from the Cooke Islands originally which is where the Maoris first originated (not 100% sure but visited there and was told that!!). The Haka comes in so many different forms and was used as way to frighten and intimidate the early colonialists. I've been to a traditional Maori village and seen it at close quarters and I must say, it is not only very intimidating but beautiful. It's so nice to see a culture survive, we in England can learn a lot from New Zealand on that front.
Andrea Wilson
06 November 2011 19:29
That's interesting. I hadn't even thought of that. This haka comes from the Maori war dance, and is evocative and masculine for sure (which is why I love it!). But there are others with women and some even with children. Now that must be cute...and empowering for the kids. Check out the Wikipedia article here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka) or the link from the tribute page...
Rebecca Rogers
02 November 2011 11:51
This is a ritual that perhaps, as a woman, I will never truly understand. It's one of the most masculine displays I've ever seen among men.
Andrea Wilson
Tom, How very cool that you learned this nugget on your visit to a Maori village. Intimidating yet beautiful - what a combination. It is great to see people believing in something bigger than themselves. I wonder if this has kept the Maoris going for so long, despite all the challenges of needing to adapt to the modern world.
On a related note, I just hesitated on the word 'modern', investigated and found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernity. Yipes. Here's to Maoris and other tribes keeping their faith.
Tom Berry
The New Zealand Haka dates back centuries and I think actually comes from the Cooke Islands originally which is where the Maoris first originated (not 100% sure but visited there and was told that!!). The Haka comes in so many different forms and was used as way to frighten and intimidate the early colonialists. I've been to a traditional Maori village and seen it at close quarters and I must say, it is not only very intimidating but beautiful. It's so nice to see a culture survive, we in England can learn a lot from New Zealand on that front.
Andrea Wilson
That's interesting. I hadn't even thought of that. This haka comes from the Maori war dance, and is evocative and masculine for sure (which is why I love it!). But there are others with women and some even with children. Now that must be cute...and empowering for the kids. Check out the Wikipedia article here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haka) or the link from the tribute page...
Rebecca Rogers
This is a ritual that perhaps, as a woman, I will never truly understand. It's one of the most masculine displays I've ever seen among men.