Haka

[dolf]

Following the terrorist attack, the Haka is back in the news. Biker gangs, school children, etc. all performing the Haka to show respect and unity.

Current events aside, I'm hugely jealous of the New Zealanders having this awesome tradition. Watching the All Blacks rugby team performances always gives me goosebumps, and must be pretty intimidating to face. They might well have the coolest national dance in the world.

And you know what us Brits get? Fucking Morris dancing

 

[stickygirl]

just to clarify - these are Morris Dancers
https://www.flickr.com/photos/beanmunster/382038926

and this is the haka

 

[dolf]

Jingling ankle bells and hanky waving can't really compete with that..

 

[Sean]

I remember about ten years ago at Twickenham, when the All Blacks started the Haka, 60,000 Englishmen sang Swing Low at the tops of their voices for the entirety. The Kiwis couldn't be heard. It was glorious.

 

[dolf]

I remember about ten years ago at Twickenham, when the All Blacks started the Haka, 60,000 Englishmen sang Swing Low at the tops of their voices for the entirety. The Kiwis couldn't be heard. It was glorious.

Lame. We're just lame.
And rude. Lame and rude.

These guys, on the other hand, have a worthy response.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

No, never mind

x X x

 

[Bill_Cosplay]

They should have danced like this....

https://media2.giphy.com/media/l378plFwSe6x8JGbS/200.webp?cid=3640f6095c900cd23831736f551e9f46

 

[stickygirl]

Lame. We're just lame.
And rude. Lame and rude.

These guys, on the other hand, have a worthy response.

Wow yea - they beat NZ on their home turf

big fellas

 

[Ann_Tagonist]

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/White-Guilt-554x350.jpg

 

[BaritoneTele]

You're right dolf....fuckin' white people especially the British are extra lame.

So loathing of your own heritage and culture you're desperate for it to be destroyed, forgotten or just plain taken over, how noble and progressive.

 

[oggbashan]

This is a funeral haka for a teacher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Qtc_zlGhc

And another for a NZ soldier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Qtc_zlGhc

 

[adrina]

This is informative.

The guys on the field... eh, just more sports nuts. The history and meanings within the culture itself are far more interesting to me.

 

[InsightRiot]

I liked the white girls shield wall the best.

 

[pink]

I'm an idiot. I know nothing more of it other than Jason Momoa.

 

[Debbie]

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new...onal-haka-honour-victims-christchurch-attacks


Very powerful and emotionally moving.

 

[KimGordon67]

The haka that students in Christchurch spontaneously performed as part of their vigil in the park by the mosques is here. I love that this is an unquestioned part of our young people's education.

I've seen it performed at weddings, graduations, funerals, and in a range of other contexts. It can be an amazing way of capturing emotion in a way that shows strength, which I think is something I find particularly moving. The spontaneous ones especially - it's almost like people can't help themselves, or see it as the best way of embodying how they're feeling.

 

[Debbie]

I'm an idiot. I know nothing more of it other than Jason Momoa.

You are most definitely not dumb.


https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/aquamans-haka-tutor-speaks-out

 

[dolf]

This is a funeral haka for a teacher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Qtc_zlGhc

And another for a NZ soldier:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Qtc_zlGhc

Powerful stuff.

The haka that students in Christchurch spontaneously performed as part of their vigil in the park by the mosques is here. I love that this is an unquestioned part of our young people's education.

I've seen it performed at weddings, graduations, funerals, and in a range of other contexts. It can be an amazing way of capturing emotion in a way that shows strength, which I think is something I find particularly moving. The spontaneous ones especially - it's almost like people can't help themselves, or see it as the best way of embodying how they're feeling.

We just have nothing comparable in our culture. Nothing that even comes close. And it seems to be such a beautiful and healthy way to express strong feelings and create a feeling of belonging and unity amongst people. Gender, age, religion and colour don't matter with Haka.

I think perhaps the yanks feel that way about their anthem, but the English national anthem sucks balls. Asking the imaginary deity to preserve the life of the rich person who is only important because their family has been rich and important for a long time? Most people don't even know the words and it really doesn't resonate.

 

[Hal9000_]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5-thpEU-MQ

 

[KimGordon67]

Powerful stuff.
We just have nothing comparable in our culture. Nothing that even comes close. And it seems to be such a beautiful and healthy way to express strong feelings and create a feeling of belonging and unity amongst people. Gender, age, religion and colour don't matter with Haka.

I think perhaps the yanks feel that way about their anthem, but the English national anthem sucks balls. Asking the imaginary deity to preserve the life of the rich person who is only important because their family has been rich and important for a long time? Most people don't even know the words and it really doesn't resonate.

Our national anthem is a little rubbish too, and very English - we usually end up mumbling the second verse because we're not sure of the actual words. It does to sound better in te reo (the Māori language) ... I'm sure the English one would sound better in Welsh or Gaelic, but I'm guessing it would be difficult to get people on board with that?

 

[dolf]

Our national anthem is a little rubbish too, and very English - we usually end up mumbling the second verse because we're not sure of the actual words. It does to sound better in te reo (the Māori language) ... I'm sure the English one would sound better in Welsh or Gaelic, but I'm guessing it would be difficult to get people on board with that?

It would please the Welsh, but has sod all to do with English culture. Also, Welsh is unpronounceable to non natives. Same with Gaelic. It would actually have the opposite effect, because Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England are separated kingdoms within Britain, so picking the minority language of one would put off almost everyone. Hell, Cornwall would like to be separate too.

Sometimes the Morris dancers clack sticks. Sticks!

 

[KimGordon67]

It would please the Welsh, but has sod all to do with English culture. Also, Welsh is unpronounceable to non natives. Same with Gaelic. It would actually have the opposite effect, because Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England are separated kingdoms within Britain, so picking the minority language of one would put off almost everyone. Hell, Cornwall would like to be separate too.

Sometimes the Morris dancers clack sticks. Sticks!

There's nothing wrong with a good stick.

 

[dolf]

There's nothing wrong with a good stick.

It's not a good stick. It's a pitiful stick. It's like six inches long

 

[KimGordon67]

It's not a good stick. It's a pitiful stick. It's like six inches long

Maybe they could wear kilts?
And not dance?

 

[dolf]

Maybe they could wear kilts?
And not dance?

Then they'd be Scottish. They'd have everyone else taking the piss about how tight fisted they are, their diet of deep fried Mars bars and cheap booze, and their skirts.

Perhaps what unifies the Brits is taking the piss out of ourselves and each other...