Maori-Hongi. The traditional way of greeting.

 

I got the above two images off the internet...aren't they awesome? What is even more awesome is that Hongi is still the way to greet each other in the Maori culture here in New Zealand. I find it intimate, real, and beautiful. 

I started relief teaching on Friday (Yay!!) and was fortunate enough to be part of the crew preparing the kids from ages 8-11, of all different cultures, for their initiation ceremony happening next week. They are basically going to be adopted into the Maori family and it is a kind of "right of passage." The children are ridiculously excited. They have to learn the words, songs and steps of the ceremony. Wow. Two traditional Maori elders came to the school in the afternoon to perfect the ritual and make sure the kids know exactly what to next week. It is a sacred ceremony and it is fascinating to see how seriously the children take it and how solemnly they learn. 

If you would like to have an idea of the beginning of the ceremony, have a look at Whale rider, a stunning New Zealand movie that shows a part of the initiation of the village boys. The following URL is an excerpt from the movie. The welcoming ceremony part is about  quarter of the way in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rSYWz4Z3idc (I really recommend seeing the whole film though. It is magical)

The children are going to sleep over in a Hoturoa Marae. A traditional Maori meeting place where the ceremony will be performed. They will learn different traditional Maori arts such as weaving, basket-making and fishing.

Hoturoa Marae

It was an interesting experience as I can not speak Maori, but the kids helped me so much in the pronunciation of things! Funny to see little European kiddies rattling off in Maori. I was grateful for such a special day. :)