Introduction

This is a brief survey of the days set aside either for the performance of religious ceremonies or as a result of these ceremonies. It also includes the few occasions on which no work is done which are purely rest days. These, however, are not haphazardly chosen, being set aside year by year at the same season.

All the days listed below are known as téer or holidays, however thise are held to with varying degrees of strictness. Some téer are so strict that to leave the village would mean sickness or even death; others are enforced by means of fines; others seem optional, work being performed in the fields without fear of sickness or fine. Each of the occasions listed below concerns directly or indirectly each member of the village. This list does not include the many ceremonies performed by families which do not have village significance. A brief description of the ceremony or reason for the holiday will be given.

 

January 2 Karasákas a one day holiday following the performance of a wedding ceremony in which pigs are sacrificed, termed lópis.

" 5 Saráeg a holiday following the death and burial of one of the villagers.

" 9 Pásing a holiday following the return of villagers who have been guests at a wedding ceremony in a neighboring village.

" 16-18 Sálit a ceremony performed for a person whose sickness is presumed to be caused by the spirit of an unavenged ancestor.

" 22-24 Sálit see above.

Feburary 2-4 Fílang a ceremony performed prior to the planting out of rice seedlings.

" 10 Pásing (see Jan. 9)

" 15-25 Apoy a ceremonial complex performed for the welfare of the newly planted rice.

March 5-7 Charepchep a rest period following the milling of sugar cane.

" 10 Lefen burial of a man who met death by accident.

" 11 Lefen si aníto buring by the spirits.

" 12 Saráeg village mourning day.

" 13 Saráeg si aníto mourning by the spirits.

" 15 Peksiw a ceremony for the separation of the spirit from the place of the living.

" 16 Faregfeg ceremony performed by the dead man’s ab-afóngan (sleeping and communal gathering place) companions.

" 17 Fókar the dispersal of the dead man’s ab-afóngan companions.

" 22 Amóot a further ceremony by the dead man’s ab-afóngan companions.

April 5-8 Sórat a ceremony associated with the cleaning of the rice terrace walls.

" 20 Taráong a ceremony consequent on a house burning down.

" 22-24 Losad a ceremony performed before placing scarecrows in the ricefield.

May 3-5 Ferway a ceremony to close one village season and introduce another.

" 15 Mam-an si fafarey a holiday following the return of men who had gone to the forests to cut rattan.

" 19 Chaw-es a feasting of ab-afóngan members at their group house.

June 2-5 Saar si pákhey ceremony performed before the start of the rice harvest.

" 14-16 Pasíkar a ceremony for the increase of the harvest.

July 3-6 Téer ad Fákhiw a special ceremony before the harvesting of rice at Fákhiw.

" 14 Karasákas (see Jan.2)

" 31 Saráeg (see Jan. 5)

August 11-12 Chaw-es (see May 19)

" 17-18 Faweg a ceremony to stop a typhoon.

" 19 Otop a ceremony for the welfare of village pigs.

" 28-30 Patay si ag-ákhom ceremonies connected with post-harvest feasting.

September 3 Saráeg (see Jan. 5)

September 5- Fayas a continuous series of ceremonies revolving

November 1 around a type of wedding ceremony in which carabao are killed.

November 3-5 Sálit (see Jan. 17-18)

" 8-12 Téer si kil-ing a ceremony preparatory to the sowing of rice seed.

" 14 Saráeg (see Jan. 5)

" 18-21 Sálit (see Jan. 17-18)

" 25-29 Símet si téer si kil-ing a strengthening of the Nov. 8-12 téer, because a man died on the last day. Extended because of the appearance of rainbows on Nov. 27-28.

" 21 Saráeg (see Jan. 5)

December 13 Saráeg (see Jan. 5)

" 20-22 Téer si ketna ceremonies to terminate the sowing of seed rice.

" 26-27 Téer si sangásang ceremonies to repel an epidemic in the village.

" 30 Saráeg (see Jan. 5)