To Macgregor Index

To Canoes

Rotuman Custom as told to Gordon Macgregor in 1932
from notes archived at
Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai'i

Calendar

Category:

Calendar(1)

Topic:

Months

Consultant:

C. Jacobson

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

1 year = 6 months: tafi

  • 1. Kas fe
  • 2. Hosag-hau = flowering of the Bau (Fij.) trees
  • 3. Afapuga
  • 4. Alipapa
  • 5. Haue ta = Island off Noatau
  • 6. Noa'tauta = Noatau

Faut e mua - winter, beginning with S.E. trades about April.
Faut e fa'u - summer, beginning with N. wind about November.

Holidays

  • Noatau
  • Haua
  • Mosianghau
  • Afupuga - tabus on noise all month
  • Oipapa

These are the months of the sau's reign. The sau was said to live in six places during his reign.

Every month has a holiday = kato'aga. They had a ri hapa near the shore on the marä'e, where the sau sat for a holiday of songs and dances. kato'aga = one day. The holiday rotated through the six districts and all the people of the island gathered at the marä'e of the district in which its kato'aga was celebrated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

Calendar(2)

Topic:

Months

Consultant:

Taito Matiasi

Macgregor's Notes

Comments

Kasafe = March
Hosaghau = April
Afauag-ta = May
Aipapa = June
Haueta = July
Noatau = August

To Macgregor Index

To Canoes