By Ed Diokno
A passionate haka performed at a New Zealand wedding moved a bride – first, to tears and then moved her to join in the chant and dance usually performed by men.
The haka is a Maori war dance traditionally used on the battlefield to intimidate an enemy.
Haka is a fierce display of a tribe’s unity, strength and pride. The haka includes rhythmic body slapping, making fierce faces and violent foot-stamping to accompany a loud chant.
Today, the haka is often used during Maori celebrations and ceremonies to honor guests and enhance the importance of that occasion.
RELATED:High school seniors perform haka at graduation;Haka-Inspired All Blacks win 2015 World Rugby Championship
LATEST STORIES
“I felt the need to show love and respect back” said Aaliyah. I was really blown away.”
At her wedding, the group performed the tika tonu, which Aaliyah described as “an open-range” haka that often gets taught in high school.”It’s a standard haka that most people know, so it gives people chance to step in and show their respect, whether you are young or old, whether your knowledge of this haka is strong or weak,” said Aaliyah. “It’s a haka that is able to bring a lot of people together.”
RE: Haka at Maori wedding goes viral:everybody has there own way to celebrate wedding and there should be no issues at all.
RE: Haka at a Maori wedding goes viral: It is so beautiful to see that traditions like this keep living on … amazing, it speaks to me on such an instinctive level that it makes me wonder about my ancestry
So aggressive when teary-eyed, embracing and touching foreheads with one another at the end. 😉 I thought this was incredibly cool and glad I got to see it.