Manuia te Tauhaga Fou!

Talofa gatama Nanumea i te tauhaga fou tenei, ko “lua sefulu, sefulu”!!    In Nanumea, and in most of the places Nanumeans live, Po o Tefolaha is being celebrated as this is written.  Ane mo Kiti mo temaa kaaiga katoa wish you the best, as the year begins and as you enjoy this festive time.   These days, from Christmas through the New Year, to Tefolaha’s Day, and for some weeks longer in Nanumea itself, this is a time for community, for family, for church remembrances — it is a very special time for Nanumeans all over the globe.  Our hearts are with you.  Alofa lahi atu — Kiti mo Ane ikonei i Oregon.

Congratulations and Blessings Nanumea!

As all Nanumeans know, January 8th marks the annual festival devoted to Tefolaha, founder of Nanumean society.  The celebration embodies Nanumean identity, and also commemorates the decision Nanumeans made in 1922 to be a Christian community.   The “Day of Tefolaha”, Po o Tefolaha, will be celebrated widely on the evening of Friday, 9th January, starting with a church service, and followed by an exuberant all-night festive faatele dance.  A special feature during the faatele are “solo” processions up to a table to donate coins and other cash toward the maintenance of the church premises.  The faatele usually goes on until dawn, although many small children will be asleep on mats around the hall well before that.

Fanau Nanumea – Manuia Po Lahi, te Tauhaga fou, te Fulihaga Fou, mo te Po tenei o Tefolaha, tagata muamua o Nanumea!

Kiti mo Ane, Nonu, Kilea, mo Tavita ikonei i Oregon