The traditional Culture of Samoa is a communal way of life with little privacy. In the Samoan culture all activities are done together. The traditional living quarters, or fales (houses), contain no walls and up to 20 people may sleep on the ground in the same fale. During the day, the fale is used for chatting and relaxing. One's family is viewed as an integral part of a person's life. The aiga or extended family lives and works together. Elders in the family are greatly respected and hold the highest status, and this may be seen at a traditional Sunday umu (underground oven). The aiga is, in traditional Samoan culture, or Faasamoa, the extended family. ...

The traditional Samoan dance is the Siva. This is similar to the Hawaiian dance, with gentle movements of the hands and feet in time to music and which tells a story. Other types of dance are modern dance by the younger generations, at bars or nightclubs. jus like my ass For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... Hawaiian could refer to the Hawaiian language the native Hawaiian people within Hawaii. ...

Samoan Meals

Sundays are traditionally a day of rest, and many families congregate to share an umu together for a Sunday afternoon meal. In a traditional household, the older members of the family will sit and eat first, and as the meal continues the younger members and then children are invited to eat. The umu contains an abundance and variety of dishes ranging from fresh seaweed and crayfish to baked taro and rice. Coconut appears in many Samoan dishes, for example palusami, a parcel of corned beef, breadfruit, onions, taro leaves wrapped in breadfruit leaves and coconut cream and baked in the umu. This is eaten in its entirety including the leaves, and is rich in taste due to its coconut content. Ascophyllum nodosum exposed to the sun in Nova Scotia, Canada Dead Mans Fingers (Codium fragile) off Massachusetts coast For the band, see; Seaweed (band) For the rock musician, see; Seaweed (musician) Seaweeds are any of a large number of marine benthic algae. ... Families Astacoidea   Astacidae   Cambaridae Parastacoidea   Parastacidae Crayfish, often referred to as crawfish or crawdad, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are closely related. ... Binomial name Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott Taro corms for sale Taro (from Tahitian), more rarely kalo (from Hawaiian), is a tropical plant grown primarily as a vegetable food for its edible corm, and secondarily as a leaf vegetable. ... Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... Corned beef is a cut of beef (usually brisket, but sometimes round) cured or pickled in a seasoned brine. ... Binomial name Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg The Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a tree and fruit native to the Malay Peninsula and western Pacific islands. ...

Religion

Samoa, presently, is a deeply religious Christian country, despite traditional Samoan culture being characterized as being tolerant of behaviors contrary to the doctrines of Christianity. Protestant Christianity has become the main religious influence in Samoa since missionaries from the London Missionary Society began proselyting there in the early 1830s (among them was Reverend George Pratt, who also wrote the first Samoan grammar). There are many churches to be found around the islands, which are often full on Sundays. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ... The London Missionary Society was a non-denominational missionary society formed in England in 1795 by evangelical Anglicans and Nonconformists, largely Congregationalist in outlook, with missions in the islands of the South Pacific and Africa. ... Proselytism is the practice of attempting to convert people to another opinion, usually another religion. ...

Handcrafts

Samoan handicrafts can be found at the craft market and some shops. These include the siapo (equivalent to the Fijian tapa) which is made from beaten mulberry bark, and then patterns or pictures are painted on with a natural brown dye. These pictures typically depict fish, turtles, and hibiscus flowers. The siapo may be used for clothing, for wrapping objects and even simply for decorative reasons. Kava bowls are sturdy, round wooden bowls made of varying sizes, and have many short legs around it. Kava is made up with water in the bowl and drunk socially using coconut shells to scoop up the drink. It is a ground natural extract from the pepper plant root and is used for medicinal and slightly anaesthetic properties. Other handicrafts are fine mats, ornaments or jewelery and hair accessories using naturally occurring materials such as sea shells, coconut and coir. Tapa cloth (or simply tapa) is a bark cloth made in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, primarily in Tonga and Samoa, but as far afield as Java and Hawaii. ... The word Tapa can refer to many different things: Tapa is a town in Estonia Tapa is a place in Afghanistan Tapa is a traditional cloth from Polynesia Tapa is a game similar to backgammon Tapa is a Hindu meditation technique. ... Species See text. ... Species See text. ... Binomial name Piper methysticum G.Forst. ... Binomial name Piper nigrum L. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. ... Anesthesia or anaesthesia (see spelling differences) has traditionally meant the condition of having the perception of pain and other sensations blocked. ... Coir (Etymological origin: from Tamil and Malayalam - kayar - cord) is a coarse fibre extracted from the fibrous outer shell of a coconut. ...

Traditional Samoan medicine is often practiced as a first-line before hospital medicine. This is a type of alternative medicine using plant leaves to massage the affected area.

Dress

The traditional ladies clothing is the puletasi which is a matching skirt and tunic with Samoan designs. The lava lava is a sarong which may be worn by men or women. They are of different patterns and colors, but tend to be plain for men who may wear it as part of an official uniform. Some men have intricate and geometrical patterns tattooed onto their lower body and upper legs. The tattooing process is performed without any anaesthesia and is said to be painful. The puletasi is a traditional item of clothing worn by Samoan girls. ... A lava-lava is a kind of clothing worn by Polynesians, especially Samoans. ... A sarong or sarung is a large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn as a skirt by men and women throughout much of south Asia and southeast Asia, parts of Africa, and on many Pacific islands. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Sports

The main sports played in Samoa are rugby union and Samoan cricket (kirikiti). About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League. A 2002 article from ESPN estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American.^{[citation needed]} A number have also ventured into professional wrestling. A rugby union scrum. ... ESPN, formerly an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ...

Rugby union is very popular in Samoa and the national team is consistently competitive against teams from vastly more populous nations. Samoa have competed at every Rugby World Cup since 1991, and have made the quarter finals in 1991, 1995 and 1999. Samoa also play in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Pacific Tri-Nations The sport is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union, who are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and thus, also contribute to the international Pacific Islanders rugby union team. At club level there is the National Provincial Championship and Pacific Rugby Cup Prominent Samoan players include Douglas Faaee, Pat Lam and Brian Lima. In addition, there are many Samoans that have played for or are playing for the All Blacks. First international Samoa 0 - 6 Fiji (18 August 1924) Largest win South Korea 3 - 74 Samoa (1993) Worst defeat Australia 73 -3 Samoa (1994) World Cup Appearances 4 (First in 1991) Best result Quarter Finals, 1991, 1995 The national rugby union team of Samoa is called Manu Samoa (the name... For the world cup that is contested in rugby league, see Rugby League World Cup. ... The 1991 Rugby World Cup was hosted by England with games also held throughout other nations in Europe. ... The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. ... The 1999 Rugby World Cup which was hosted by Wales, broke new ground as for the first time the big eight nations did not qualify automatically. ... The logo of the 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations. ... Pacific Tri-Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Samoa Rugby Football Union are the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Samoa. ... The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga Rugby Unions. ... First match Queensland Reds 29 - 48 Pacific Islanders (20 June 2004) Largest win NSW Waratahs 21 - 68 Pacific Islanders (25 June 2004) Worst defeat Ireland 61 - 17 Pacific Islanders (26 November 2006) The Pacific Islanders rugby union team (usually known as just Pacific Islanders) are an international rugby union team... The National Provincial Championship is the second highest level of rugby union competition within Samoan rugby and is a stepping stone for local players into international rugby union. ... The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup started in 2006 and involves representative teams from the three Pacific rugby unions - Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. ... Patrick Richard Lam (born 29 September 1968 in Auckland) is a former rugby union footballer and head coach of Auckland. ... Brian Lima (born 25 January 1972 in Apia, Samoa) is a Samoan rugby union footballer. ... First international Australia 3 - 22 New Zealand (15 August 1903) Largest win New Zealand 145 - 17 Japan (4 June 1995) Worst defeat Australia 28 - 7 New Zealand (28 August 1999) World Cup Appearances 5 (First in 1987) Best result Champions, 1987 The All Blacks are New Zealands national rugby...

Rugby league is also popular amongst Samoans, with Samoa reaching the quarter finals of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Australian rules football, played as Samoa Rules is also growing in Samoa with the national team, the Bulldogs, competing at the Arafura Games and the 2002 and 2005 Australian Football International Cups. Rugby league football (often shortened to rugby league) is a full-contact team sport played with a prolate spheroid-shaped ball by two teams of thirteen on a rectangular grass field. ... The twelfth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain and France in 2000. ... High marking is a key skill and spectator attribute of Aussie Rules Precise field and goal kicking using the oval shaped ball is the key skill in Aussie Rules Football Australian rules football, also known as Australian football, Aussie rules, or simply football or footy is a code of football... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Australian rules football in Samoa. ... Australian rules football in Samoa has been played since 1997. ... Samoa guernsey The Bulldogs are Samoas national Australian rules football team and represents the best Samoan born players, many from the Samoa Australian Rules Football Association. ... The Arafura Games is a Multi-sport event usually held every two years in the Australian city of Darwin, in the Northern Territory. ... The Australian Football International Cup is an international Australian rules football competition hosted by the Australian Football League. ...

Samoans have been very visible in American professional wrestling, despite the relatively small population of the islands. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Peter Maivia, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Umaga/Jamal, Rosey, Samoa Joe, Wild Samoans, The Headshrinkers, Rikishi, and Sonny Siaki all have a Samoan heritage. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972) is an American actor and third-generation professional wrestler, best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment as The Rock. ... Peter Maivia (born 1935 - died June 13, 1982) was a professional wrestler better known as High Chief Peter Maivia. ... James Reiher (born May 18, 1943) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name of Jimmy Superfly Snuka. ... Edward Umar Fatu (born March 28, 1973) is a Samoan professional wrestler better known by his ring names Jamal, and currently Umaga. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Nuufolau Joel Joe Seanoa (born March 17, 1979), is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Samoa Joe, and currently performing for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). ... The Wild Samoans was the tag team of Afa & Sika in Mid-South Wrestling, National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF); the Samoans have held a record twenty-one Tag Team championships around the world. ... The Headshrinkers were a professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation that consisted of Fatu and Samu. ... Solofa Fatu, Jr. ... Sonny Siaki (born July 23, 1974) is an American professional wrestler, currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment in the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory. ...

Sports in American Samoa

Sports in American Samoa is not that different from Samoa. The main difference is the popularity of American sports such as football and its league, NFL. Samoans tend to follow rugby. United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... NFL logo For other uses of the abbreviation NFL, see NFL (disambiguation). ... A rugby union scrum. ...

See also

• History of Samoa
• Music of Samoa
• Rugby union in Samoa

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Culture of Oceania

	Australia Chromograph map of Samoa - George Cram 1896 The history of Samoa began when immigrants from the Lau islands in eastern Fiji arrived in the Samoan islands approximately 3500 years ago and from there settled the rest of Polynesia. ... The Samoas are a Polynesian island chain, currently divided between the independent state of Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) and an American territory called American Samoa. ... Rugby union is very popular in Samoa and the national team is consistently competitive against teams from vastly more populous nations. ... Image File history File links Australia. ...	Australia · Norfolk Island · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands
	Melanesia Copyright 2004 Affordable Solutions Pty Ltd Aust. ... Map showing Melanesia. ...	East Timor · Fiji · New Caledonia · Papua New Guinea · Solomon Islands · Vanuatu The Culture of East Timor reflects numerous cultural influences, including Portuguese, Roman Catholic and Malay, on the indigenous Austronesian cultures in East Timor. ... In the traditional culture of the Solomon Islands, age-old customs are handed down from one generation to the next, allegedly from the ancestral spirits themselves, to form the cultural values to Solomon Islands. ...
	Micronesia Image File history File links Micronesia. ...	Guam · Kiribati · Marshall Islands · Northern Mariana Islands · Federated States of Micronesia · Nauru · Palau Although now in decline, the Marshallese were once able navigators, using the stars and stick and shell charts. ...
	Polynesia Image File history File links Polynesia. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a Māori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ...	American Samoa · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · New Zealand · Niue · Pitcairn · Samoa · Tokelau · Tonga · Tuvalu · Wallis and Futuna There is no one culture of New Zealand. ...