The     
Ancient Chamori Royal Wedding

Ancient Chamori Royal Wedding Ceremony
Tinige’ Norbert Perez
Scenes & Scripts
The Ancient Chamori Royal Wedding Ceremony is an elaborate and colorful event for the Taotao Tano’ of Guahan. The ceremony is done with extreme detail to class and status, from a matriarchal concept.

Preparation for the ceremony normally begins years in advance with meticulous planning and purposeful staging. The selection of partners comes from many sources, from the natural selection between the woman and the man; the consultation and advice of the elders; and the holistic and spiritual omens gathered from the heavens.

The days leading to the big ceremony are normally lively and upbeat. The entire songsong (village) is bursting with activity, very similar to a local fiesta. The women of the village are busy tending to the food preparations. You can hear them chanting in a merry way. The chants come in sequences between the huts, as in a boastful and challenging dictation. There is laughter everywhere. The sounds of children playing near the shorelines. The sounds of children singing and chanting. The sounds of wood drums provide a constant upbeat mood. The sound of the kulos can be heard from distant songsongs, communicating in their own magical way. The village is filled with smoke emanating from the ground (hotnos) ovens. The scent of baked gaddo’, suni, dågu, guihan, haggan, hima, toson, atmangao, uhang, ayuyu, ko’ko’ fill the entire songsong.

The ceremony is performed at the shoreline.
The Maga’Saina and the Låhi stand near the shoreline awaiting the arrival of the Palåo’an. The entire village population is completely removed from the ceremony as they stand and watch from a distance. The only people allowed near the Maga’Saina and the Låhi are the Royal Matuas and the children (famagu'on), who perform chants to acknowledge the Royal event.

The sound of kulos’ and wood drums emanates everywhere, announcing the ceremony. At the sight of the Palåo’an's entourage, which is announced from a kulo’ in the royal canoe, the entire village comes to a complete silence. The parade of proas, escorting the Palåo’an is slow and majestic. The only sound to be heard is the chirping of the ko’kos’ and the seafaring birds.

Upon arrival at the beach, the Palåo’an is carried from the proa to the shoreline. The Palåo’an, smiles and raises both arms to acknowledge her family and friends. The Palåo’an is always facing the island, while the Låhi is always facing the sea. This is symbolic of their contrasting spirits. The Maga’saina brings the couple together. Goes into a long sermon about the Taotao Tano’ and the purpose of this ceremony. Finally, he comes to the couple and begins the sacred circumstance. He counsels them on the social and cultural taboos. He prays and chants for their happiness. He adorns them with flower petals to anoint their coming together.

Maga’Saina:
Man daña’ hit på’gu na ha’åni put esti na palåo’an yan esti na låhi.
(We are gathered here today for this Woman and this Man)
Man daña’ hit på’gu na ha’åni sa’ malago’ na umafahta i guinaiyan-niha.
(We are gathered here today because they wish to share
their love for each other)
Man daña’ hit på’gu na ha’åni sa’ machuchuda’ i hinengge’-ta;
(We are gathered here today because our belief is overwhelming)
hita ni’ manåotao Tano’.
(We…the people of the land)


Finally, he calls out:

Låhi, dimu påpa’ gi inai.
(Man, kneel down on the sand)
Palåo’an, po’lu i kannai-mu gi ha’i-ña.
(Woman put your hands on his forehead)
Fahta på’gu i guinaiyan-miyu.
(Now pronounce your love for each other)
Palåo'an:
Hu guaiya hao ginen i minengmong tataotao-hu.
(I love you from the rhythm of my being)
Låhi:
Hu guaiya hao lokkue' ginen i minengmong tataotao-hu.
(I love you too from the rhythm of my being)
Sa’ hågu i puti’on i lina’lå-hu.
(Because you are the star of my life)

Maga’Saina:
Fahta i guinaiyan-miyu.
(Pronounce your love for each other)
Palåo'an:
Hu guaiya hao ginen i lineklok i hagå-hu.
(I love you from the fire in my blood)
Låhi:
Hu guaiya hao lokkue' ginen i lineklok i hagå-hu.
(I love you too from the fire in my blood)
Sa’ hågu i pilan i lina’lå-hu.
(Because you are the moon of my life)

Maga’Saina:
Fahta i guinaiyan-miyu.
(Pronounce your love for each other)
Palåo'an:
Hu guaiya hao ginen i finigan guinifi-hu
(I love you from the passion in my dream)
Låhi:
Hu guaiya hao lokkue' ginen i finigan guinifi-hu
(I love you too from the passion in my dream)
Sa’ hågu i mina’lak i lina’lå-hu.
(Because you are the light of my life)

Maga’Saina:
Fahta i guinaiyan-miyu.
(Pronounce your love for each other)
Palåo'an:
Hu guaiya hao ginen i hinagong aniti-hu
(I love you from the breath of my soul)
Låhi:
Hu guaiya hao lokkue' ginen i hinagong aniti-hu
(I love you too from the breath of my soul)
Sa’ hågu i anghet i lina’lå-hu.
(Because you are the angel of my life)

Maga’Saina:
Fahta i guinaiyan-miyu.
(Pronounce your love for each other)
Palåo'an:
Hu guaiya hao.
(I love you)
Låhi:
Hu guaiya hao lokkue'.
(I love you too)


The Maga’Saina signals the Palåo'an to remove her hand from the Låhi’s forehead.

Maga’Saina:
Låhi, na’ suha i atdas gi ilu-mu.
(Man, remove the Mwarmwar from your head)
Chule’ esti na atdas ya un pega gi ilu-mu.
(Take this Mwarmwar and place it on your head)
Desdi på'gu para mo’na, tungo’ i sagå-mu, Låhi.
(From this day forward, know your place..Man)
Låhi:
Hu’u Saina (Yes Lord)
Maga’Saina:
Tungo’ na’ esti na Palåo’an i ma’gås-mu.
(Know that you are the charge of this woman)
Låhi:
Hu’u Saina. (Yes Lord)
Maga’Saina:
Låhi, dengnga påpa ya un ngenge' i adeng-ña.
(Man – bent down now and kiss her ankles)
Esti na bidå-mu
(This act of yours)
Che'cho' låhi
(It is the work of a Man)
Che'cho' taotao
(It is the work of a Man)
Desdi i tutuhon i tano',
(Since the beginning of the earth,)
i famalåo'an muma'gagasi i lina'lå-ta.
(The woman has ruled our livelihood)
Ekungok yu'!
(Listen to me)
Si nanå-mu hao fumañågu.
(Your mother gave birth to you)
Si nanå-mu hao muna'susu
(Your mother fed you breast milk)
Si nanå-mu hao muna'dångkulu
(Your mother raised you)
Sa' si nanå-mu i hale'-mu
(Because your mother is your root)
Ya på'gu....
(And now)
Esti na palåo'an para u finañågu i famagu'on-mu
(This woman will bear you, your children)
Esti na palåo'an para u nina'fañusu
(This woman will feed them breast milk)
Esti na palåo'an para u nina'fandångkulu
(This woman will raise them)
Sa' esti na palåo'an i trongko-mu yan i hale' i famagu'on-mu
(Because this woman is your tree and the root of your children)

The Maga'Saina called on the Palåo'an to kneel on the sand, facing the Låhi. He called on the Famagu'on to bring the basket of flower petals. He reaches into the Guagua' and takes a hand full of flower petals and he anoints the couple.

The Maga'Saina now tells the Låhi to remove his Love Beads and to give the Love Beads to the Palåo'an. He tells the Palåo'an to wear the love beads. Then he said to both of them and to the crowd.
Esti na Bangat guinaiya hu chule' gi Lahi ya hu nå'i i Palåo'an. Kumekelekña esti na hågu na Taotao...maapengga hao. Ya hågu na Palåo'an...maapengga håo, lokkue.
This Love bead, I take from this man and I give to this woman. This means that YOU (pointing to the man) are now spoken for and YOU (pointing to the woman) are spoken for, as well)

Then, the Maga'Saina called on the Famagu'on to bring him the Agimat. He reaches for the ceremonial chalice and prepares to mix the chå with the special herbs. He then brings the chalice and serves it, first to the Palåo'an and then to the Låhi.

Esti na Agimat ginen i mañaina-ta siha para hamyu. Gimen esti ya hu sinimiya i guinaiyan-miyu.
(This Love potion is from our ancestors. Drink this so that the seeds of your love will grow)

The Maga'Saina now motions for the couple to stand. He brings forth a young turtle at which time he orders the couple to take the animal out to the shoreline and release it to the sea.
Esti i haggan na gå'ga'....ga i mañaina-ta siha. Hanao ya en setta huyong gi tasi ya hu lå'la'.
Sa ginen i lina'lå-ña na manguaha hit. Ginen i lina'lå-ña na manlå'la' hit ni' mannåotao Tano'.

The Royal couple takes the haggan to the shoreline and releases the sacred animal. Both return to their appoint space before the Maga'Saina.

Maga’Saina:
Håyi giya hamyu ti nina’magof nu esti na dinaña’ HACHA’GUA?
(Who among you is not happy with this wedding?)
Håyi giya hamyu ti nina’magof nu esti na chinetton hinengge’?
(Who among you is not happy with this lasting belief?)
Håyi giya hamyu ti nina’magof nu esti na figan guinaiya?
(Who among you is not happy with this heated emotion?)
Tachu’ på’gu kumu ti dinanchi esti na cho’cho’.
(Stand forth now if this deed is not right)

I fina'tinås-ña i Saina....
(What the Lord has put together)

Tåya' sinia yumulang....
(Let no man put asunder)

At this time, the Låhi and the Palåo’an face the Maga’Saina and bows.

The Maga’Saina bows to the couple, as well.
Maga’Saina:
Hånao på’gu ya en na mampta’ i guinaiyan-miyu yan i lina’la’-miya gi tano’.
(Go now and spread your love and your life throughout the land)
The Royal Couple face the crowd and wave. The Royal Matuas pave the way and clear the shoreline. They turn the Royal Proa around and face it out to sea. The Låhi picks up the Palåo’an and sets her in the Proa. He climbs in, both still waving at the crowd. The Royal Matuas push the craft out a ways to give it clearance. And then the Royal Couple sails off into the sunset.

Hacha'Mori