The creation of our culture has been passed down from generation to generation, since the beginning of time. It has been said that thousands of years ago as our planet Earth was just beginning, two of our gods, Raja, the goddess of fertility, and Balto, the god of life fell deeply in love, and came together to procreate our culture, the White Paws. We call ourselves White Paws, because of our distinct white paws which are in contrast to our striped bodies. Since mostly everyone in our culture looks the same, we recognize one another by the scent each individual gives off, and by each White Paws necklace that identifies . For past centuries we have lived in the forests of Madagascar, though through the stories told, our culture originated in the mountains of Madagascar. The warm climate, and proximity to the ocean provides us with bountiful game and fish to hunt, as well as an abundance of trees to create our shelter.
Our culture consists of male and female White Paws, aging from newborn to 110 years old. Female White Paws outnumber males in our culture, as they are less involved with hunting and dangerous activities. Females are also seen as the most important in our culture because of their ability to give life, like the goddess Raja. The life expectancy in our culture is at an average of 90 years, however many elders have surpassed the life expectancy, and these elders are who we refer to as the doctors and wise men of our culture because of their extensive knowledge. Upon reaching a certain age, each wise men and doctor are given a sacred bone to wear around their neck, distinguishing them from the rest of the group.
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Balto, the god of life with the sun, which symbolizes life on Earth,the ability to grow crops, and the reason for the existence of the White Paws. |
Religion is a major part of our culture. Two of our most important gods, Raja and Balto are the reasons why we exist. Balto, the god of life, created the earth thousands of years ago so that he may one day create a species like him, and have a sanctuary for them to live. Balto was what many elders called a wolf, while Raja, the goddess of fertility, had the body of a tiger, with distinguished stripes on her skin. Upon hearing Balto’s wish, Raja informed Balto of her ability to create mass amounts of life. In our community we have a hut that is dedicated for praying to Balto, and where the White Paws gather together and bring offerings for our god. We also have a separate shrine next to the hut for Raja, as many females, as well as males will pray to her to bring them new young.
Our language, called Barkish, is a mix of the native language we have spoken for centuries, and the English language that we were taught by humans who visited our island many years ago.
Symbol for language, as our language
Barkish is a mixture of our native tongue and
English that was taught to us by humans. It symbolizes
the bond which we created with the humans, and how
important their role of teaching their language to us
has been in our culture.
Barkish is a mixture of our native tongue and
English that was taught to us by humans. It symbolizes
the bond which we created with the humans, and how
important their role of teaching their language to us
has been in our culture.
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| Ring of marriage, symbolizes an eternity of life together, as the circle never ends, and brings two sides together to create one, just like a marriage brings two souls together to become one. |
Marriage is a very important institution in our culture, as it marks the unity of a male and female White Paw for eternity. Mostly all marriages in our culture are arranged by the elders in the community, as it is them who receive a visit from Raja in their dreams, telling them which male and female should marry. Once a male and female are matched, they are given a ceremony where golden rings are exchanged, and placed onto their necklace, tying the two White Paws together for eternity.
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| Feathers, symbolizes the alpha who wears the phoenix feathers that stand for leadership and authority over our culture. The alpha must take a journey and find the magical phoenix and take its feathers, symbolizing strength and courage. The alpha has the final say in governing our community. |
Our government consists of our alpha male, who keeps the peace in our community, and the elders of the group, who are seen as the most knowledgeable in our community. The elders discuss the manner of regulating our community, but it is the alpha who makes the final decisions. It is only the alpha White Paw who has the right to wear feathers of a phoenix on his neck, which is the symbol for leadership and authority in our culture.
Rituals of the Four Institutions
Religion is one of the most important institutions in our society. We believe that we were created by the god Balto, and goddess Raja. We also believe that we were created on a blue moon, on each blue moon, the White Paws gather together outside the hut of gods Balto and Raja for a ceremonial dance, which is also the way we are able to communicate to the gods. All White Paws of the community attend the ceremony. Although the elders are the ones who foresee the ceremony, it is the alpha who plays a major role in communicating with the gods. It is his phoenix feathers that help us connect to Balto and Raja, as they are offered to the gods along with special flowers from the jungle called Shrumbas, which are known to have tremendous healing powers as well as give us visions which bring us closer to Raja and Balto. These flowers mystical powers to connect with the gods will only work during a ceremony, but their healing powers are their main use throughout the year. The flowers and phoenix feathers are placed in the center, while the community of White Paws are circled around them.
The elders and wise men are seated in the inner circle, closest to the feathers, while the alpha is seated just outside the circle, but overlooking the ceremony. He does not need to be in the circle, as he has the power to communicate with the gods more often than any other White Paw. The doctor selects a chosen few out of the group drink the concoction of crushed Shrumbas and water, and then instructs them to dance around the feathers and flowers, until they receive a visit from the gods.
Our government consists of the elders and wise men of the community, and the alpha. Once a month, they gather inside the home of the alpha, to discuss community issues, and the induction of a new elder into the group, as occasionally an elder may pass away, due to their time on earth was finished. The elders rely on the alpha for finalizing decisions, just as the alpha relies on the elders to acknowledge him of what goes on inside the community. Although other White Paws are not allowed into the meetings, it is the elders who represent the community, and take their concerns into mind.
Just before the meeting, the elders are greeted by different people in the community about issues, or improvements that could be made in their society. It is their job to address these issues in their meeting with the alpha. This meeting of the elders and alpha is an important norm in our culture because it keeps order in the community, as well as induct new members into the government. A new member is chosen by the elders by vote, then the new member is sworn in by the alpha, in a series of bows that must be done to the alpha, as well as saying the prayer to Balto for his acceptance into the government.
Marriage for the White Paws community represents an everlasting bond between male and female, and the unity of two souls into one. As mentioned before, most of the marriages are the result of elders choosing who belongs together. Every month, on the morning after the first full moon, those who are chosen by the elders are woken up at the crack of dawn, and are dressed in white flowers around their necks, which represent a soul who is not yet unified by another, but is in the process. In other words, these white flowers represent this White Paw has been chosen to unify with another soul.
Once a White Paw is dressed in these flowers, an elder is at their home to greet them and take them to the center of the village to perform the Lock-wee dance, or the finding of the soul mate through a ceremonial dance. At the center of the village, there is a spot that is cleared out to make room for the chosen White Paws. Families of the White Paws are there, along with the elders of the community. Every month there are precisely 10-12 unmarried White Paws who participate in this event. The ceremony begins with the Lock-wee dance, where each must dance for a total of 2 hours in front of their elders and family. This dance is said to call upon the gods, who will help the unmarried White Paws find their other half in the group. Although the elders are the ones who know which two belong together, they do not assist until the very end, when the chosen are given the task to pair up with their soulmate. Once a male and female have successfully found their other half, it is then approved by the elder, and they are then set to be married within the coming months. This is a very important ritual, as it shows just how much we value marriage, and how the success of pairing two White Paws together means the future of our culture, and the growth of our community by producing more offspring.
Language
The humans are first greeted by the alpha and elders, then they are sent into a vacant hut for them to unpack their belongings. Once they have unpacked they are lead to the center of the village where the ceremony takes place. They are seated next to the alpha on a bench made of tree trunks, and watch as members of the community dance before them to show their gratitude. They are offered food and Shrumba, as an offering of good health to the humans. The next day after the ceremony has finished, all White Paws gather around the hut of the humans with offerings of more food and gifts, where the humans display new inventions to give to our community, such as these things called “pots” and “pans”, as well as teach us new words in their
language. This ritual exposes our values that we have towards our human friends, and the norms of learning new things for our culture to succeed and grow.
Rites of Four Life Cycles
BirthBirth may be the least ritualized life cycles on our community. This is so because often times a newborn will not make it before their first month of being alive. A female White Paw can have one to four newborns per pregnancy. When a female is about to give birth, she is joined in her hut by her mother, partner, and doctor to help deliver the newborn. Once the newborn is born, it is a game of waiting, as the newborn is not even given a name until they have past the one month mark. It is not until it is over a month old do the parents give it a name, and celebrate its birth by bathing it, symbolizing its cleanliness. The parents are the ones who perform the rite, and family members and close neighbors attend the event outside their hut. Although washing the newborn is an important part of this rite, it is not until the newborn is given a name and a necklace that they’re status is changed from a newborn, to a White Paws member.
The coming of age of a female White Paw is one of the most important rites of passage in our White Paws culture. Female White Paws are seen as more important than males because of their ability to reproduce. Once a female has started menstruation, she must then participate in a ceremony that lasts three days. In the separation stage, the female is taken out of her family’s hut, and sent to the forest, where there are makeshift tents for the participating females to stay in. The females are separated from society and placed into tents outside the community. The females are not given food or water to eat for three days. In order to become a female White Paw mother, one must go three days without food or water during their menstruation. If this cannot be done, this proves to the community that they are not capable of having children, and are not ready to be married. In the liminal stage, the females are in their tents, waiting for the days to pass. They are no longer children, but are not yet capable of being mothers. They have no status. Once the three days have passed, the females are then reincorporated into future mothers of White Paws society, and are then capable of getting married. This represents communitas because without the coming of age for women, our society would cease to exist.
Marriage is an important rite of passage in our society, because without marriage, one cannot reproduce, and one will not have another to spend the rest of their lives with. After the coming of age for a female, and two White Paws have been arranged begins the rite of passage for marriage. The female and male are removed from their families and are sent to the jungle, where they must spend one week, preparing food and hunting for one another. They must make their own shelter, kill their own food, and provide for one another without assistance. They are separated from society, to start a new stage in their life. The week in the jungle is also the liminal stage, because they are no longer single White Paws, but must stand a week in the jungle to move onto the status of married. Unmarried White Paws rely on their family and community for support, so this is the ultimate test to see if each is ready for marriage, and ready to support one another. Once a week has passed, and the couple is in good standing, they are then given the task of building their own hut in the village. Once this has been done, and once they are visited by the alpha and elders, they are then considered married. This is the reincorporation stage, as they are now considered married in their community, and continue to start a family of their own, benefiting the White Paws community. This also creates communitas, because the White Paws culture depends on marriage to keep their culture alive.
Although White Paws have a somewhat long life expectancy, we know what death is inevitable, and eventually one must pass to be with the gods. When a White Paw is said to be in their final days, others from the community visit their hut to give their blessings, and give thanks for all they have done. The family gives a final prayer to the gods, asking that their loved one be sent with them, and once the White Paw has passed, they are wrapped in a white cloth, symbolizing their purity and innocence, to be sent with the Gods. Cremation is how we lay our White Paws to rest, so once a person has passed, we collect wood and create a palette to place the body on, and set fire to the body. Flowers are placed on the body to represent a new life. Family members are the ones who prepare the body, and burn it. Once the fire is burned out, the ashes are collected and put into an urn, until the ashes can be released into the ocean. The dead is not recognized as passing through to the final stage until their ashes are thrown into the ocean.
White Paws Ideology
The White Paws are a strong culture that has always been rooted in religion as well as spiritual beliefs. Within the community there are families, elders, the alpha and his family, and warrior White Paws. Warriors are those who have participated and have successfully completed the festival called the Rinrur festival, which translates to winter in human language. The Rinrur takes place every year in the coldest season, and is considered a cleansing ritual, as well as a spiritual ritual, as those who participate forgo one week without food, also known as fasting, to cleanse their bodies of sins and toxins that have built up in their bodies. White Paws believe that we are only free of sins and toxins when we are born, but over time toxins, which can come from anything such as the food we eat, our thoughts, even jealousy from other White Paws build up in our bodies, which can cause illness, bodily discomfort, and even prevent us from being close to our gods Balto and Raja. The Rinrur festival takes place a few miles outside the village, in a field that has been used for centuries for the festival. Once part of the dense forest, White Paws cleared the forest to make space for the festival, as well as all who attend. Ancestors of the White Paws chose to use this space after a vision of Balto was seen by a hunting White Paw, and was told clear the forest, and have the festival to prove the community’s faith to their gods. Except for the young White Paws, all are eligible to participate in the festival. Hundreds of White Paws participate every year in the Rinrur festival, but only a fraction of participants make it though the entire week to become a warrior. Rituals such as chants, dances,water drinking, and the ingestion of a plant that is seen as a taboo drug, take place during this festival. Participants are only allowed to drink water for the entire week, and a tea that is made from the chiwa plant, which is seen as a taboo plant because of its effects it causes on White Paws. It is seen as a hallucinogen, but many White Paws use the festival to take the chance to ingest it and not have to deal with being judged upon others. This festival is not only an event where White Paws show their devotion to their gods and prove to themselves their stamina, it is also a place where White Paws can truly be themselves without the worry of judgment from others. The Rinrur festival in a sense resists aspects of normative culture, because in the White Paws culture, everyone is on their best behavior at all times. Judgement is a serious matter in our culture, as one wrong move or action from a White Paw can mean their removal from their family, or even removal from their community. Image is everything for our culture, and to make a fool of yourself, or cause any negative attention to yourself is bad on your family, as well as the alpha. It is only in the safeness of your own home that a White Paw can put their guard down and be themselves. It also resists aspects of normative culture because the festival’s main feature is the fasting, which is not something that is usually practiced in our culture. As mentioned earlier, many White Paws attend Rinrur to cleanse their mind and body, achieve the status of warrior in their culture, and as a chance to live without scrutiny for a week. Participants are expected to bring their own supplies for shelter, and water for themselves and participants, as all the water that will be drunk comes from the participants. The water is poured into a well which is located in the center of the field, and serves as the reservoir for the festival. Songs and ritual dances are used throughout the day to take their minds off hunger, and to keep their spirits lifted. To prevent one from drinking too much water, and causing illness, times of the day are designated for all to drink water and tea. Although there are relatively few rules other than the ban of food, participants are expected to participate peacefully, and do no harm to others. The well located in the center of the field, is seen as a symbolic feature of the event, because without the well, and without water this festival would not be able to take place. It is the source of life at the festival, since there is no food.
While many White Paws attend the festival to in a sense be free from their culture, those who choose this route usually do not last the full week fasting. They do not have the determination of the White Paws who are destined to achieve their warrior status. Although for past centuries the Rinrur festival was solely seen by the community as a spiritual and physical cleansing, and an honor to those who succeed in it, over the past few festivals it has started to be seen as less of an honor, and more of a time to fool around by the community and those who attend for that purpose. Recently there have been deep divisions to how people respond to the festival, as there are those who attend to cleanse, and those who see it as a week to do as they wish. Those who attend to be free from scrutiny do not see the Rinrur as much of a powerful event as the others, as they are merely there to be free. Authenticity of the event is marked by warriors who continue to attend the event, as well as those who are solely there to fast, and to create a deeper connection with the gods. Those who attend have their last meal the night before attending the festival, and must wait seven days before having another meal. Political aspects of the Rinrur include past warriors attending the festival to ensure peace is kept, and to watch over those who are fasting. The Rinrur is seen as an honorable event by the alpha and elders, because it creates strong, and loyal White Paws in their community.
Reflective
This class has greatly informed me about the ritual practice and the meaning behind symbols deeper than what are on the outside. Before this class I had very little knowledge about rituals, assuming only tribes in remote areas practiced rituals. I hadn’t realized just how complex the understanding of rituals and symbols was, and how many theories and theorist spent their careers studying groups of people to create these theories. Before learning about structural functionalist and psychological functionalist, as well as pollution and Turner’s liminal stage, I did not put much effort into trying to understand exactly why they were doing that ritual in that particular way, or think deeper into trying to figure out why these certain rituals were being done. I also learned about Durkheim and social cohesion, collective effervescence and There were many readings and discussion which I found interesting, including the Champagne and Chocolate French wedding ritual. Before discussing it in class, I was a bit confused about the reason behind using chocolate and wine together, and having the newlyweds eat it while being awakened by their friends. I didn’t understand why this happened, and why it was their single, younger friends doing this and not their family as well. Although I read the article, I was so relieved we had the discussion in class to dissect the article and get to the deeper meaning behind this tradition. I learned the theories that were being used in these traditions, and saw the metaphor of the wine and fudge being the symbols for bowel movements.
Another one of my favorite discussions was the Ndembu ritual. I found it very interesting how the Ndembu saw the Mudyi tree as their reason for life. I thought I understood the reason for the tree symbolizing life, but I understood the meaning behind the tree completely when we created a pyramid using the Mudyi tree, and the importance and metaphors that follow it. The white sap of the tree symbolized milk which symbolized women’s breast and their ability to reproduce, creating life. I did not understand at first why the Ndembu girl’s puberty ceremony was done when a girl developed breasts, and not after her first menstruation, but after further discussing it in class, I had a much better understanding. By far one of the most important things I learned from this ritual and symbol class, is to dig deeper than whats on the surface, and think about the reasons behind why these symbols are used, and why certain rituals are performed. After learning about different theories, and ways of understanding different cultures, I can now have a better understanding of different cultures and their rituals, as well as be able to appreciate all of the different celebrations for life and death.
Background from Blogger.com
The White Paws are a strong culture that has always been rooted in religion as well as spiritual beliefs. Within the community there are families, elders, the alpha and his family, and warrior White Paws. Warriors are those who have participated and have successfully completed the festival called the Rinrur festival, which translates to winter in human language. The Rinrur takes place every year in the coldest season, and is considered a cleansing ritual, as well as a spiritual ritual, as those who participate forgo one week without food, also known as fasting, to cleanse their bodies of sins and toxins that have built up in their bodies. White Paws believe that we are only free of sins and toxins when we are born, but over time toxins, which can come from anything such as the food we eat, our thoughts, even jealousy from other White Paws build up in our bodies, which can cause illness, bodily discomfort, and even prevent us from being close to our gods Balto and Raja. The Rinrur festival takes place a few miles outside the village, in a field that has been used for centuries for the festival. Once part of the dense forest, White Paws cleared the forest to make space for the festival, as well as all who attend. Ancestors of the White Paws chose to use this space after a vision of Balto was seen by a hunting White Paw, and was told clear the forest, and have the festival to prove the community’s faith to their gods. Except for the young White Paws, all are eligible to participate in the festival. Hundreds of White Paws participate every year in the Rinrur festival, but only a fraction of participants make it though the entire week to become a warrior. Rituals such as chants, dances,water drinking, and the ingestion of a plant that is seen as a taboo drug, take place during this festival. Participants are only allowed to drink water for the entire week, and a tea that is made from the chiwa plant, which is seen as a taboo plant because of its effects it causes on White Paws. It is seen as a hallucinogen, but many White Paws use the festival to take the chance to ingest it and not have to deal with being judged upon others. This festival is not only an event where White Paws show their devotion to their gods and prove to themselves their stamina, it is also a place where White Paws can truly be themselves without the worry of judgment from others. The Rinrur festival in a sense resists aspects of normative culture, because in the White Paws culture, everyone is on their best behavior at all times. Judgement is a serious matter in our culture, as one wrong move or action from a White Paw can mean their removal from their family, or even removal from their community. Image is everything for our culture, and to make a fool of yourself, or cause any negative attention to yourself is bad on your family, as well as the alpha. It is only in the safeness of your own home that a White Paw can put their guard down and be themselves. It also resists aspects of normative culture because the festival’s main feature is the fasting, which is not something that is usually practiced in our culture. As mentioned earlier, many White Paws attend Rinrur to cleanse their mind and body, achieve the status of warrior in their culture, and as a chance to live without scrutiny for a week. Participants are expected to bring their own supplies for shelter, and water for themselves and participants, as all the water that will be drunk comes from the participants. The water is poured into a well which is located in the center of the field, and serves as the reservoir for the festival. Songs and ritual dances are used throughout the day to take their minds off hunger, and to keep their spirits lifted. To prevent one from drinking too much water, and causing illness, times of the day are designated for all to drink water and tea. Although there are relatively few rules other than the ban of food, participants are expected to participate peacefully, and do no harm to others. The well located in the center of the field, is seen as a symbolic feature of the event, because without the well, and without water this festival would not be able to take place. It is the source of life at the festival, since there is no food.
While many White Paws attend the festival to in a sense be free from their culture, those who choose this route usually do not last the full week fasting. They do not have the determination of the White Paws who are destined to achieve their warrior status. Although for past centuries the Rinrur festival was solely seen by the community as a spiritual and physical cleansing, and an honor to those who succeed in it, over the past few festivals it has started to be seen as less of an honor, and more of a time to fool around by the community and those who attend for that purpose. Recently there have been deep divisions to how people respond to the festival, as there are those who attend to cleanse, and those who see it as a week to do as they wish. Those who attend to be free from scrutiny do not see the Rinrur as much of a powerful event as the others, as they are merely there to be free. Authenticity of the event is marked by warriors who continue to attend the event, as well as those who are solely there to fast, and to create a deeper connection with the gods. Those who attend have their last meal the night before attending the festival, and must wait seven days before having another meal. Political aspects of the Rinrur include past warriors attending the festival to ensure peace is kept, and to watch over those who are fasting. The Rinrur is seen as an honorable event by the alpha and elders, because it creates strong, and loyal White Paws in their community.
Reflective
This class has greatly informed me about the ritual practice and the meaning behind symbols deeper than what are on the outside. Before this class I had very little knowledge about rituals, assuming only tribes in remote areas practiced rituals. I hadn’t realized just how complex the understanding of rituals and symbols was, and how many theories and theorist spent their careers studying groups of people to create these theories. Before learning about structural functionalist and psychological functionalist, as well as pollution and Turner’s liminal stage, I did not put much effort into trying to understand exactly why they were doing that ritual in that particular way, or think deeper into trying to figure out why these certain rituals were being done. I also learned about Durkheim and social cohesion, collective effervescence and There were many readings and discussion which I found interesting, including the Champagne and Chocolate French wedding ritual. Before discussing it in class, I was a bit confused about the reason behind using chocolate and wine together, and having the newlyweds eat it while being awakened by their friends. I didn’t understand why this happened, and why it was their single, younger friends doing this and not their family as well. Although I read the article, I was so relieved we had the discussion in class to dissect the article and get to the deeper meaning behind this tradition. I learned the theories that were being used in these traditions, and saw the metaphor of the wine and fudge being the symbols for bowel movements.
Another one of my favorite discussions was the Ndembu ritual. I found it very interesting how the Ndembu saw the Mudyi tree as their reason for life. I thought I understood the reason for the tree symbolizing life, but I understood the meaning behind the tree completely when we created a pyramid using the Mudyi tree, and the importance and metaphors that follow it. The white sap of the tree symbolized milk which symbolized women’s breast and their ability to reproduce, creating life. I did not understand at first why the Ndembu girl’s puberty ceremony was done when a girl developed breasts, and not after her first menstruation, but after further discussing it in class, I had a much better understanding. By far one of the most important things I learned from this ritual and symbol class, is to dig deeper than whats on the surface, and think about the reasons behind why these symbols are used, and why certain rituals are performed. After learning about different theories, and ways of understanding different cultures, I can now have a better understanding of different cultures and their rituals, as well as be able to appreciate all of the different celebrations for life and death.
Background from Blogger.com
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