The ‘Hongi’ is a traditional Maori greeting in New Zealand used by the Maori people. To greet in a hongi, you have to press your nose and forehead together with the nose and forehead of the person you are greeting.
People in Maori prefer to exchange greetings through hongi to shaking hands. A hongi is a common practice when welcoming visitors onto Maori grounds, as well as within traditional ceremonies.
Although at important ceremonies a hongi will also be given with a handshake as a way to make people of all cultures attending feel welcome. It is not unusual to see people, young and old, male and female, hongi when they meet in everyday situations.
The greeting is not reserved for traditional or cultural meetings, it is a natural part of everyday life. E
specially for those connected to their Maori heritage. The origins of the hongi can be traced back to Maori folklore to the creation of mankind.
The first woman created by the gods was Hineahuone, an “earth formed woman” so-called as she was shape
d
out of the earth. The god Tane embraced Hineahuone and breathed life into her nostrils.
When Māori greet one another by pressing noses, the tradition of sharing the breath of life is considered to have come directly from the gods. Through the exchange of this physical g
reeting, one is no longer considered manuhiri (“a visitor”) but rather tangata whenua, “one of the people of the land”.
According to legend, a woman’s shape was molded from the earth by the gods, yet it had no life until God Tãne breathed into the molded figure’s nostrils and embraced the gorgeou
s figure.
After breathing into her nostrils the female sneezed and came to life. The female figure was then given the name Hineahuone, roughly translated to “earth-made woman.” If you’re visiting New Zealand and are approached to participate in this sacred and noble gesture, you should always accept on account of the inherent meaning that comes with it.
To display your newfound sense of responsibility, you as a newly appointed tangata whenua may be required to partake in some tasks illustrating your loyalty and appreciation for the land itself.
In older times, this would have included such tasks as b
earing arms in order to defend your people and tending to crops, but now a newly appointed tangata whenua is still required to share in personal responsibilities like leaving no trace on the island and respecting its natural beauty.
By having friends greet each other within such an intimate space, the hongi represents an action that is more powerful than a mere handshake. By greeting one another at such a close distance, the participants both exchange breath, sharing in the v
ery essence of living with one another.
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