How Would The First Explorers of Hawaii React To Hawaiian Wedding Ceremonies?
James Cook was the most significant of the European explorers to visit Hawaii, because it was he who recorded its existence. James Cook was a captain in the Royal Navy, and of his many achievements, another significant effort in cartography was the first mapping of Newfoundland. James Cook made two major visits to Hawaii, and unfortunately died there. One of his minor vessels was stolen by a lesser Hawaiian chief, and for ransom, James Cook kidnapped another minor chief. In an outrage, the natives of the island fought back, and killed him.
photo by Hawaii wedding photographer www.lotustar.com
Christian weddings and marriage in Europe was a detailed ceremony, and still is; it requires government and legal contracts, licenses, and involvement. Whether the first visitors in Hawaii were Irish, Spanish, or British, the wedding ceremonies of the Hawaiians would have caused immediate shock; because there were none. Not officially anyway. The different wedding ceremonies would vary from tribe to tribe, or island from island. Some of the traditional wedding rituals may have extended for days, or even weeks; other traditional ceremonies required the consent of every member of the family. In other areas or tribes, a wedding or marriage might have only been the decision of two individuals to sleep in the same bed, and start a family. When a Hawaiian couple married in this fashion, if it was their decision to separate, they merely returned to their own families. If they had children together, the offspring would be nurtured by the entire family. These customs would have been viewed by Europeans as largely uncivilized and primitive, considering the strict Christian rules of marriage amongst European men and women.
Rigid and legal religious marriages in Europe, in comparison to these relaxed and free traditions of the Hawaiian people would have naturally been a shock to the British James Cook, or the hypothetical Irish and Spanish visitors. The two cultures would have differed greatly, and the Hawaiian tribes were most likely viewed to be savages with no sense of morality. After James Cook died in Hawaii, his published information about the islands was distributed in several books. This led to several more visitors to the islands; whalers, traders, explorers. It is likely that European women were most likely not introduced to the Hawaiian islands for a great deal of time. The British explorers would have considered a lady amongst an "uncivilized" people, scandalous, improper, and most likely dangerous.
However, had European women been among traders, whalers, or explorers, and witnessed the wedding and marriage practices of Hawaiians, shock would most likely have been prevalent. And then perhaps tinged with envy, for the free nature that men and women were allowed to couple with one another. Fear may have also been a factor. Hawaiian men, with rough clothes if any, would have most likely made any European of possible rape, because of the free nature of their romance with women. Whether or not the fear of rape among visiting European women in the late 1700's is unfounded is just speculation. The more intricate feasts might have been viewed with awe as well. Flowers and family played a major role in traditional antique Hawaiian wedding rituals. Beautiful and pleasantly scented flowers would be hung over the bride and groom's neck in leis and garlands.
European men, on the other hand, might have viewed things from a slightly different angle. Without lawful marriages such as those in the European countries, men may have taken liberties with the Hawaiian women. It is ironic, that the most likely attitude among the whaling men, sailors and businessmen was that it was improper for European women to be among the locals, since it's most likely that European men took advantage of the local Hawaiian women. Hawaiian women may have been seen as nothing more than unattached, and available playthings for men to slake their lust upon, since their Hawaiian marriages were not religious or legally binding. Although it's as of yet hypothetical, there were most likely a large number of Hawaiian-European children born among the Hawaiian islands, once Europe established and maintained contact with the islands.
The reaction from both European genders were also most likely with an entertained attitude. The wedding feasts extending over weeks, dancing, and music, as well as other events that celebrated the act of consummation between bride and groom were positive and festive occasions. There would be much celebration among the families of the bride and groom, as well as friends. Some tribes had a specific day in which all couples with intent to marry could do so; it was treated as a major holiday in the culture. If Europeans were present, they would have been treated most likely with genial welcome or at least tolerant acceptance. It's possible that Europeans would have been entertained from an arrogant angle; considering the wedding rituals of the Hawaiian culture to be a great spectacle, or like a circus of performing animals. The European men and women that were present for the wedding feast or ritual, depending on their background, may have either fully and enthusiastically enjoyed the ceremonies, or have looked on with a more reserved and critical sense of entertainment.
In one sense, the reaction to Hawaiian wedding and marital ceremonies is obvious. Whether it was by coital transference, or by other physical exposure, the Europeans introduced disease to the otherwise isolated islands. It would be naive to believe that none of these disease that were introduced were of the venereal type. European men most likely brought different forms of sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, and gonorrhoea, and passed them along to Hawaiian women, who in turn, propagated the illness by sleeping with Hawaiian men. In the hypothetical case that European women ever slept with Hawaiian men willfully or otherwise, it is possible that European women may have also passed along sexually transmitted disease to the native islanders. Though possible, it is highly unlikely. Either way, the acts that took place in order to spread venereal disease throughout the Hawaiian islands is contingent on a lack of consideration and respect for Hawaiian marriage. This may have been an attitude shared by most, if not all visitors to the islands. In any case, the Hawaiian islands had been isolated from these and other types of diseases brought from Europe. The spread of disease wiped out the majority of the Hawaiian population, regardless of whether or not the liberties taken were the cause of a lack of respect for the traditions of Hawaiian locals, despite that this is the most likely case.
After disease made the population of the Hawaiian islands dwindle so severely, it was much easier for visitors to the islands to influence the small population. In 1820, American missionaries arrived in the islands, and spread the Christian religion throughout the region. This is also a sort of reaction to not only marriage ceremonies and wedding rituals in the Hawaiian culture, but also to the Hawaiian culture in general. In the present time, Gnostic and others of different religions can see that forcing other cultures to embrace a religion is not tolerant behaviour. This was an example of the Christian world and culture's intolerance to the beliefs and Hawaiian culture. Despite this past display of European and American oppression, Hawaii remained a largely independent region, until it willingly joined the United States. Also, despite the intolerance and arrogance shown to the Hawaiian religious and spiritual practices, many of the Hawaiian traditions remain intact today. Sixty percent of the Hawaiian population remains of "other" religious belief, while less than thirty percent embrace Christianity. Gradually, the traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremonies have merged with Christian wedding ceremonies, and like the rest of the United States, it is a legally binding contract. However, Hawaii also retains the power of common law marriage, along with a few other states in the U.S.
photo by Hawaii wedding photographer www.lotustar.com
Christian weddings and marriage in Europe was a detailed ceremony, and still is; it requires government and legal contracts, licenses, and involvement. Whether the first visitors in Hawaii were Irish, Spanish, or British, the wedding ceremonies of the Hawaiians would have caused immediate shock; because there were none. Not officially anyway. The different wedding ceremonies would vary from tribe to tribe, or island from island. Some of the traditional wedding rituals may have extended for days, or even weeks; other traditional ceremonies required the consent of every member of the family. In other areas or tribes, a wedding or marriage might have only been the decision of two individuals to sleep in the same bed, and start a family. When a Hawaiian couple married in this fashion, if it was their decision to separate, they merely returned to their own families. If they had children together, the offspring would be nurtured by the entire family. These customs would have been viewed by Europeans as largely uncivilized and primitive, considering the strict Christian rules of marriage amongst European men and women.
Rigid and legal religious marriages in Europe, in comparison to these relaxed and free traditions of the Hawaiian people would have naturally been a shock to the British James Cook, or the hypothetical Irish and Spanish visitors. The two cultures would have differed greatly, and the Hawaiian tribes were most likely viewed to be savages with no sense of morality. After James Cook died in Hawaii, his published information about the islands was distributed in several books. This led to several more visitors to the islands; whalers, traders, explorers. It is likely that European women were most likely not introduced to the Hawaiian islands for a great deal of time. The British explorers would have considered a lady amongst an "uncivilized" people, scandalous, improper, and most likely dangerous.
However, had European women been among traders, whalers, or explorers, and witnessed the wedding and marriage practices of Hawaiians, shock would most likely have been prevalent. And then perhaps tinged with envy, for the free nature that men and women were allowed to couple with one another. Fear may have also been a factor. Hawaiian men, with rough clothes if any, would have most likely made any European of possible rape, because of the free nature of their romance with women. Whether or not the fear of rape among visiting European women in the late 1700's is unfounded is just speculation. The more intricate feasts might have been viewed with awe as well. Flowers and family played a major role in traditional antique Hawaiian wedding rituals. Beautiful and pleasantly scented flowers would be hung over the bride and groom's neck in leis and garlands.
European men, on the other hand, might have viewed things from a slightly different angle. Without lawful marriages such as those in the European countries, men may have taken liberties with the Hawaiian women. It is ironic, that the most likely attitude among the whaling men, sailors and businessmen was that it was improper for European women to be among the locals, since it's most likely that European men took advantage of the local Hawaiian women. Hawaiian women may have been seen as nothing more than unattached, and available playthings for men to slake their lust upon, since their Hawaiian marriages were not religious or legally binding. Although it's as of yet hypothetical, there were most likely a large number of Hawaiian-European children born among the Hawaiian islands, once Europe established and maintained contact with the islands.
The reaction from both European genders were also most likely with an entertained attitude. The wedding feasts extending over weeks, dancing, and music, as well as other events that celebrated the act of consummation between bride and groom were positive and festive occasions. There would be much celebration among the families of the bride and groom, as well as friends. Some tribes had a specific day in which all couples with intent to marry could do so; it was treated as a major holiday in the culture. If Europeans were present, they would have been treated most likely with genial welcome or at least tolerant acceptance. It's possible that Europeans would have been entertained from an arrogant angle; considering the wedding rituals of the Hawaiian culture to be a great spectacle, or like a circus of performing animals. The European men and women that were present for the wedding feast or ritual, depending on their background, may have either fully and enthusiastically enjoyed the ceremonies, or have looked on with a more reserved and critical sense of entertainment.
In one sense, the reaction to Hawaiian wedding and marital ceremonies is obvious. Whether it was by coital transference, or by other physical exposure, the Europeans introduced disease to the otherwise isolated islands. It would be naive to believe that none of these disease that were introduced were of the venereal type. European men most likely brought different forms of sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, and gonorrhoea, and passed them along to Hawaiian women, who in turn, propagated the illness by sleeping with Hawaiian men. In the hypothetical case that European women ever slept with Hawaiian men willfully or otherwise, it is possible that European women may have also passed along sexually transmitted disease to the native islanders. Though possible, it is highly unlikely. Either way, the acts that took place in order to spread venereal disease throughout the Hawaiian islands is contingent on a lack of consideration and respect for Hawaiian marriage. This may have been an attitude shared by most, if not all visitors to the islands. In any case, the Hawaiian islands had been isolated from these and other types of diseases brought from Europe. The spread of disease wiped out the majority of the Hawaiian population, regardless of whether or not the liberties taken were the cause of a lack of respect for the traditions of Hawaiian locals, despite that this is the most likely case.
After disease made the population of the Hawaiian islands dwindle so severely, it was much easier for visitors to the islands to influence the small population. In 1820, American missionaries arrived in the islands, and spread the Christian religion throughout the region. This is also a sort of reaction to not only marriage ceremonies and wedding rituals in the Hawaiian culture, but also to the Hawaiian culture in general. In the present time, Gnostic and others of different religions can see that forcing other cultures to embrace a religion is not tolerant behaviour. This was an example of the Christian world and culture's intolerance to the beliefs and Hawaiian culture. Despite this past display of European and American oppression, Hawaii remained a largely independent region, until it willingly joined the United States. Also, despite the intolerance and arrogance shown to the Hawaiian religious and spiritual practices, many of the Hawaiian traditions remain intact today. Sixty percent of the Hawaiian population remains of "other" religious belief, while less than thirty percent embrace Christianity. Gradually, the traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremonies have merged with Christian wedding ceremonies, and like the rest of the United States, it is a legally binding contract. However, Hawaii also retains the power of common law marriage, along with a few other states in the U.S.
posted by wedding advise coordinator | 3:09 AM
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