"Raya on apgan" is a traditional ceremony celebrated by the indigenous people of Sabah, Malaysia. It is a significant event that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Kadazan-Dusun community. The ceremony is usually held during the harvest season and marks the end of the paddy planting cycle. During Raya on apgan, the community gathers to offer prayers and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. The ceremony is believed to bring good fortune and protection from pests and natural disasters. It is also an opportunity for the community to come together, strengthen their bonds, and show gratitude for the land's fertility.
It is also an opportunity for the community to come together, strengthen their bonds, and show gratitude for the land's fertility. The preparation for Raya on apgan is an elaborate process, involving various rituals and traditional practices. One of the crucial elements is the ritualistic planting of seven paddy stalks, representing the seven paddy spirits.
Hold my broom: May Day / Beltane
You don't have to get skyclad and howl at the moon to celebrate May Day (based on the Gaelic holiday, Beltane), but we're not judging you if you do. Today is simply about stopping to smell the flowers.
By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published May 01, 2021 at 10:31 AMHold My Broom is an OnMilwaukee exclusive series exploring the magickal, mystical and cackle-worthy.
For many, May 1 marks the time when we can finally start getting stoked for summer. Others know it as May Day – a Euro-based spring holiday only vaguely recognized in the United States – that encourages people to commune with nature in whatever way it works for them, from firing up the grill to digging in the dirt until sundown.
May Day is also International Workers’ Day, or what my partner calls, “The real Labor Day.”
May Day might also conjure images of poles adorned with ribbons and folks getting frisky outdoors (ahem), but now we’re also talking about a holiday that May Day is based on: Beltane.
Beltane is a Gaelic holiday celebrating the halfway point between the spring equinox (March 21) and the summer solstice (June 21). Traditionally, Beltane was a focus on fire and fertility; a time of seed-planting in all of its forms and joy.
Today it is celebrated by Pagans, Wiccans and spiritual nature lovers alike. For some, it includes rituals both old and new, for others it is simply a time to pause and reflect on growth, literally and/or metaphysically.
In short, Beltane is a time to stop and smell the flowers.
For me, it’s the time of year when I shave winter’s afghan off my legs and blaze up fires in my yard on a regular basis. This year, I tracked down someone whom I hadn’t spoke to in many years, but who had great impact on my family’s life and I knew was a celebrator of this shift into summer.
Mary O’Connell is a farm-based educator who owns Paradise Farms in West Bend. Many moons ago, she was the director of LifeWays, an early childhood center located in the magical Koenen nature preserve in Riverwest and the place both my sons started their journey into the world without me.
Last week, I called to ask her if she was doing anything cool on the farm for the first of May, and like I was hoping, she is indeed.
Mary was in the process of creating a maypole with 10 families who had been coming to the farm every Wednesday for months to learn about nature, spend time safely with others during the pandemic and meet like-minded families with whom they could further build a community.
“This was the perfect activity for us. Both adults and kids participated from start to finish: went into the woods, found a dead tree, hauled it out, cut off the branches, dug a hole, made a ‘May Crown’ for the top, cut ribbons and hung them from the crown," she says.
Since then, the group has been practicing traditional maypole dances in preparation for a May Day celebration next week. One of the dances she told me is called “The Spider’s Web” where people move around each other and weave a web of ribbons above their heads. Another is called “The Barbers Pole” where they methodically and joyfully wrap the ribbons around the trunk so it looks similar to an actual barber’s pole.
At the end of our call, Mary pointed out that people can celebrate May Day/Beltane – and any holiday or event for that matter – however they want, as big or as small as they are able and in whatever way works for them.
“You don’t have to go fell a tree in the forest,” says Mary. “Some years I just wrapped crepe paper around a pole in my garage.”
Happy May Day, Merry Beltane to all.
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Molly Snyder Senior Writer @mollysnyderMKE
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
Newborns of the body or imagination conceived on Beltane are “Merry Begots,” full of enough aliveness, love, joy, humor to confound the toughest logic and direst doomsday predictions .
These spirits are believed to ensure abundant harvests and protect the community's well-being. The ceremony begins with a traditional performance known as "magavau." This dance involves rhythmic movements and traditional music played on gongs, bamboo instruments, and drums. The performance is meant to invoke the spirits and seek their blessings for the prosperity of the community. Following the magavau, there is a feast where traditional delicacies are served to the attendees. Some of the popular dishes include hinava (raw fish salad), bambangan (fermented wild mango), and pinasakan (smoked fish in bamboo). These dishes showcase the traditional flavors and culinary practices of the Kadazan-Dusun community. Raya on apgan is not only a religious and cultural event but also an opportunity for the community to display their traditional costumes and attire. Women usually wear the siga, a handwoven dress adorned with intricate beadwork and traditional patterns, while men wear the traditional attire known as the Baju Burung, which consists of a black coat adorned with feathers. Overall, Raya on apgan is a celebration of gratitude, unity, and cultural heritage. It is a time for the Kadazan-Dusun community to reconnect with their roots, honor their ancestors, and express their appreciation for the abundance of nature. This ceremony serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and cherishing indigenous traditions and customs..
Reviews for "Celebrating Raya on Apgan: Festivals and Events"
1. Emily - 2 stars
Raya on Apgan didn't live up to the hype for me. The story felt predictable and lacked originality. The animation was stunning, but the characters fell flat and were not engaging. The humor also felt forced and didn't land for me. Overall, I was disappointed with the film and didn't find it as enjoyable as other animated films.
2. David - 3 stars
While the animation in Raya on Apgan was visually stunning, I found the storyline to be lacking depth. The characters were one-dimensional and didn't captivate me. The pacing of the film also felt off, with certain scenes dragging on while others didn't receive enough development. Additionally, the message of unity and trust felt heavy-handed and didn't resonate with me. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by the film.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
Raya on Apgan had potential, but it failed to deliver a compelling story. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, leaving little room for character development. The voice acting was also lackluster, with some lines feeling flat and uninspired. The ending was predictable and wrapped up too neatly, leaving me wanting more substance. Overall, I was disappointed by the film's execution and felt it missed the mark.