Nobia Kahulu' Johnny Sablan (Lyrics + translation)

This song is composed of three Chamorrita verses regarding marriage which happened in several parts in traditional Chamorro culture: Mamaisen saina (Asking for hand in marriage), Ma gutos i Finiho' (Betrothal), Komplimentu (Wedding party), and the Fandanggo (Groom's wedding party). These traditional Chamorrita verses were very well known, being passed down orally through the years and having many different versions. In traditional Chamorro culture, romantic relationships could not freely interact and meet with the person they desired. So, men were tempted to sneak around the houses of their girlfriends often stepping on the plants and flowers found there. If the man was decent, he would have no problem to walk to the front door to talk to the parents first instead of sneaking around. "First, if the man liked you and really wanted you, he had to come to the girl's house and help out with chores like cleaning outside the house or cutting wood for the fire. That's how the parents of the girl knew that he wanted her for a girlfriend. Then he asked if she could become his girlfriend. Then the girl's parents would tell him to bring his parents and relatives to have a meeting on a specific day and time. All the family would gather and set the date for the boyfriend to come back again in six to eight months to set the wedding date. Once the family agreed on the date, the groom's family would prepare. The night before the wedding day they had to throw a big party; then the next morning the groom and bride would walk down the aisle." Memories and Music: The Japanese Era on Rota, 2019 https://www.nmhcouncil.org/wp-content/uplo... Paleric, 2017 http://paleric.blogspot.com/2017/02/ Clement Jr., 2011, Kustumbre, Modernity, and Resistance https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/serv...