This Elin Nordegren look-a-like pic from the Britannica website, caught my attention today. The photo depicts what would happen if Elin went to New Zealand to visit and was greeted by a Maori.
Instead of shaking hands, us horis hongi. Meaning we press noses in greeting, symbolizing in the mode of James Cameron‘s Avatar, how indigenous people connect with other living created beings.
The hongi symbolizes the breath of the creator, shared through each others nostrils in greeting to acknowledge as a witness that breathing and the breath are gifts to us all.
That was your little horiwoood New Zealand encyclopedia lesson today. lol!
If you’ve never been to New Zealand… get there in your lifetime. The uniqueness of Maori culture is listed as the 4th main reason why people go there by the New Zealand tourism board, but us Maori know it’s the number one reason along with New Zealand’s stunning green landscapes.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 1.4.2010~
Kia Ora,
you may be interested in information shared.
Visit YOUTUBE: “The end of colonising Maori”.
Nga Mihi
Janine
I love the picture of the Hongi you have above. Oh no wait, I see your link to the source. I can contact the webmaster for a high resolution picture.
Thanks for blogging Maori culture!
Sally