article
Kava ceremonial in Tonga
journal of the Polynesian Society • 36 • Published In 1927 • Pages: 21-47
By: Collocott, E. E. V. (Ernest Edgar Vyvyan).
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This is a description of the various aspects of the ritual involved in the use of kava, from the most formal ceremonial at the installation of the king, to informal friendly gatherings. In this extremely class-conscious society, the etiquette of the kava circle is complex. Collocott discusses the significance of the seating arrangements, and their reflection of the status of each of the noble lineages or 'houses,' presentation of food, kava preparation, order of serving, speeches, role of the MATAPULES and the relations between chiefs and MATAPULES, different kinds of kava roots, installation of a chief, the Tui Kanokupolu, and the Tui Tonga. He also discusses kava ritual during visits to shrines, kava for travelers, the use of kava in settling disputes, and the importance of names and titles during the kava ceremonies. The details of this ceremonial provide much information on the social relations of the noble lineages of Tonga.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Eating
- Recreational and non-therapeutic drugs
- Oratory
- Personal names
- Status, role, and prestige
- Classes
- Visiting and hospitality
- Etiquette
- Lineages
- Local officials
- Chief executive
- Executive household
- cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Tongans
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2006
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- Oceania
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Polynesia
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Missionary
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Martin J. Malone; 1978
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- no date
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- not specified
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- Tonga
- NotesAdditional notes
- By E. E. V. Collocott
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 08012644
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Tongans