Maori traditions to do with placentas??
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Topic: Maori traditions to do with placentas??
Posted By: Rachael21
Subject: Maori traditions to do with placentas??
Date Posted: 14 June 2008 at 9:46pm
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Ok I'm planning on burying (sp?) Capreces placenta on her birthday and had a few questions. I'm not maori but Ben is and I like the idea of doing something from the kids culture as I know nothing about any of mine. I've done some research but can only find the reasons for doing it not really any traditions.
I want to bury it under a tree is there a traditional tree to use? I wanted to say a nice Maori poem so does anyone know one or could point me in the direction of a website that has good ones? I wanted to give her and Jack a greenstone necklace, is this an appropriate time for giving one and is there any certain designs that would be good for this time? Any to avoid? Thanks for any help. |
Replies:
Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 14 June 2008 at 9:52pm
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My DH is Maori. He didn't really care what we did with the placenta, but I felt it was important to bury it as it's part of our daughters culture. We took it down to his family home and buried it on the propertly under a rose bush. His dad said a prayer and that was it. A very low key event. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Lisha
Date Posted: 14 June 2008 at 10:03pm
We kept Lucy's placenta, and burried it underneath a Kowhai tree at our batch  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 14 June 2008 at 10:19pm
| not sure about placenta, but we are having the boys' greenstone made for them in Gisborne, and giving it to them on their fifth birthday. ou family tradition, not everyone's thgouh |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 15 June 2008 at 7:38pm
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The only specific tradition associated with placentas is that they must be buried/returned to the earth, the ceremony etc. that surrounds it depends on the particular tribe or family traditions.
I think it's an appropriate time to give a pounamu, in fact any time is OK, the important thing with pounamu is that you can't buy it for yourself, it has to be given to you. All of our girls got theirs for their first birthday, so that's become a kind of tradition in our family, and Willie bought me one when I got pregnant this time (yes, yes, I know, baby number four, he never was one for timing!). A good design for kids is the koru, which symbolises new life, and doesn't have to look like th AirNZ one lol, there are lots of different designs. Also the fish hook, which I can't for the life of me remember off hand the meaning of, and the manaia (carved figure) which is a spiritual guardian. The other thing we did was had all our girls greenstones blessed (and I assume Willie had mine done too) before we gave them to them, call it superstition but it is traditional for them to be blessed. A kaumatua once told me it is fine to bless it yourself, just put it under running water, preferably in a stream or creek but a tap will do, and either say a prayer or just think about what you want for the wearer's future eg. health, prosperity etc. Hope this helps. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 15 June 2008 at 9:42pm
Thanks Emma that really helped. 
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