Bulan Pengesiseang (The Month of the Gills)

Description

This month coincides with the month of February.

Timing

The strong wind brings heavy rain and blows the flowers off from the trees as well as uproots the trees. The flood waters bring them to the sea.

Logs floating in the sea are pushed ashore by huge waves to the beaches. The strong wind blows the branches and fronds of the coconut and sago palms as well as the leaves of the other trees making them open up to look just like the gills of the fish. As such, this month of strong winds and rain is so named. This marks the end of the year for the Melanau.

Events

no significant event happen in this month.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 12:21 PM

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Bulan Pemalei (The Month of Taboo)

Description

This month coincides with the month of January.

Timing

Legend has it that in ancient times, a great shaman was killed by his wife and his head was chopped off. However, the head disappeared from the house and it became the Taboo Star. This month is named the month of the killing of the great shaman of ancient times. This marks the eleventh month.

Events

All activities of the Melanau is tabooed during this month. Marriage is not allowed and so are the activities of livelihood, such as fishing, planting, house construction and everything else. This month is regarded as a month of ill fortune by the Melanau.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 12:21 PM

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Bulan Penangaih (The Month of Revival)

Photo by : Ahmed El-Araby

Description

This month coincides with the month of December.

Timing

It is a time when the rains come to allow the flowers to blossom and the fruits to bear in the jungle and the forest. This marks the tenth month.

Events

no sigificant event happen in this month.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 12:21 PM

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Bulan Pidai (The Month of the Discoloured Skies)

Photo by: Ma Poupoule

Description

This month coincides with the month of November.

Timing

This is the beginning of the monsoon season (suloh). Strong winds begin to blow, shifting the location of the sun and the moon. The Melanau calls it the South East Moon (Bulan Tenggara). This marks the ninth month.

Events

It is the end of the fishing season for the Melanau. It is the last time that the fishermen can go out to sea for the year and only the brave would dare venture out stealthily to fish.

In the morning, the sea will be calm, but by afternoon, waves will be at its biggest, thus any fishermen who dare venture out will have to return before afternoon.

source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 11:54 AM

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Bulan Suwah (The Month of the Waves)

Description

This month coincides with the month of October.

Timing

During this month, the ground will seem to grow and rise like waves. This marks the eighth month. According to Melanau belief, this is caused by the fish swimming back to the ocean and their fins appear to be like waves swimming out.

Events

This is the third and final fishing season for the year for the Melanau. This is also the time for the Melanau to start planting rice and sago palm as well as other crops. In Melanau tradition, they say that such as the earth grows well so will the crops that they plant.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 11:48 AM

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Bulan Pelepak (Month of Plentiful)

Description

This month coincides with the month of August.

Timing

The Three Star takes over from the Seven Sisters and rise high in the sky. The wind drops and the sea is calm. The fish begin to come out and play. This marks the sixth month.

Events

It is time for the second fishing season where the catch will be bountiful and the fishermen will enjoy fishing and will have plenty of fish to prepare for the forthcoming monsoon season , which will be long and when no work can be done due to the wind and heavy rain.

This plentiful fishing season will last until the beginning of Bulan Pegalan (September).


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 11:48 AM

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Bulan Pegalan (Month of the North Star)

Description

This month coincides with the month of September.

Timing

The sea will be very calm but there will be little fish to catch as it is the time for the fish to spawn. This month is called the month of Pegalan because this is the time when the Pegalan (North) Star is high in the sky at the hour of six at eventide. This marks the seventh month.

Events

Legend has it that this is the month when the Melanau finds it difficult to swallow their saliva i.e. difficult to look for food. During this month, the Melanau would avoid getting married at all cost as the marriage would be cursed in that they will find it difficult to make a living.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 6:57 PM

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Bulan Paka Ayeng (The Month of the Rise of the Greater Stars)

Photo by : EarthSky

Description

This month coincides with July. 

Timing

The Seven Sisters rise high in the sky and the Three Stars appear lower in the sky. The wind is of gale force.This marks the fifth month.

Events

All farming and fishing activities ceases totally for the whole of this month as it is not possible for them to go out to the jungle or to sea due to the strong winds. This will last until the month of Pelepak (August) or the sixth month.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 6:55 PM

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Bulan Paka Umik (The Month of the Rise of the Lesser Stars)

Description

This month coincides with the month of June.

Timing

The Seven Sisters appear in the skies. The West Wind blows strong to arrange the stars in the sky. This marks the fourth month.

Events

It is time for the Melanau to go to the jungle/forest and begin their work for the planting season. They will start to cut the big trees and vines as well as plant their crops. The farmers will continue their jungle clearing work until the beginning of the next month, Bulan Paka Ayeng (July).


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 6:55 PM

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Bulan Pengelawah Ayeng (The month of the Greater Clear Water)

Photo by: Douglas Scortegagna

Description

This month coincides with the month of May.

Timing

The emerald greenish hue reaches the shore. This marks the third month. This is a time for the Melanau fishermen to catch as much fish to send home as well as store their catch.

Events

This is the peak of fishing season. Towards the end of this month, the sea will turn to greenish clear hue and the sea floor will be quite visible from the surface and as such it will be difficult to trap the fish in their nets or catch them with their hooks as the fish is said to be able to see through the fishermen intent during this time.

This marks the end of the first fishing season for them and the beginning of the fourth month, when the winds and rain will hinder all the fishing activities of the people.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 11:35 PM

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Bulan Pengelawah Umik (The Month of the Lesser Clear Water)

Photo by: Douglas Scortegagna

Description

This month coincides with the month of April.

Timing

During this month, it is said all the fish will come down to the sea as the sea will turn a greenish hue which is a call from the sea to the fish that it is time for them to surface. This marks the second month.

Events

For the Melanau, this is the time for the fishermen to go to the sea to catch fish. This marks the first fishing season for them.(During olden times, the Melanau fishermen are known for their ‘barong panau’, a fishing sailboat which could go out to sea for weeks on end.

These boats also double as traveling boats as well as for trading and fishing. Today, the ‘barong panau’ is extinct as there are none left skilled enough to build one. A picture of one can be found on one of the Brooke era postage stamp.)


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 10:49 PM

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Bulan Pengejin (The Month of the Spirits)

Photo by: Douglas Scortegagna

Description

This marks the beginning of the year and coincides with the Gregorian month of March.

Timing

During this month, it is windy and the rain comes down in light showers in the beginning. The wind will gradually become stronger and the sun will move northerly and the moon will replace the original location of the sun.

Fish will be plentiful in the forest and the jungle as they come out to search for food to be eaten and to be stored. After that, they will hide again in their holes.  This is a time when it is difficult for the Melanau to go out to work because of the strong wind, thus they will spend their time cleaning the tools and equipment of their trades.

Events

This is the time that they mark as the beginning of the year, the first month of Pengejin. At the end of this month, they will purify themselves and call the fish out from their lairs, from the beaches and the river mouths. This ceremony is called “Kaul” by the Melanau.

During this ceremony, they would construct the huge swing called “Tibou” and sing the tibou mantra during its construction, seeking the blessings of their guardian ‘gods’ for plentiful flowers, bountiful harvests of fruits and that there be plentiful fish in the sea for them and that illness and afflictions be removed and all evil to be return to their own place.

They will also send offerings called "Serahang" out to the sea to appease them and invite them to partake their feast with them. After the feast, all food and drink is left by the shore for the guardians and spirits to take with them. None is to be taken back for it it the feast for the spirits and guardians.


source: Disappearing culture

Note:
The calendar is a translation from handwritten notes of the ancient calendar given by the late Godfrid Albert Yaman @ Yaman bin Guan, who was also the founder of the Melanau Associations throughout Sarawak.

By: Nativeglot On 10:45 PM

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The Melanau Calendar

Wearing Ipok Balau (Sago Spirit) Mask during Kaul Festival (Melanau New Year)

 The Melanau used a lunar-based calendar where Bulan Pengejin, the first month of the year starts in March. During this month, the Melanau celebrate the Kawul (Kaul) Festival, which constitutes both a thanksgiving for a bountiful year past and a prayer for a bountiful year ahead.

The Melanau calendar comprises 12 months, each month consisting of 30 days. The Melanau calendar is guided by the constellations and the way of nature, as is that of their guardian spirits (‘gods’).

Each month is named after the occurrences during the specific month or after events that is supposed to have occurred during that particular month according to legend. The rise and fall of the sun, the moon and the stars determines their time for planting and harvesting, fishing and building as well as other movements, such as travel, marriages and the like.

The Melanau Calendar ( Bulan Melanau) serves as an important guide for daily activities of livelihood such as fishing, planting, harvesting, house construction and marriage because the calendar is guided by the constellations and the way of nature, the spirits and god. The First month begins in March. Each month consists of 30 days. The names of the Month are as follows:

Gregorian	Melanau Month
March	Pengejin ( The Month of the Spirits)
April	Pengelawah Umik (The Month of the Lesser Clear Water)
May	Pengelawah Ayeng (The month of the Greater Clear Water)
June	Paka Umik (The Month of the Rise of the Lesser Stars)
July	Paka Ayeng (The Month of the Rise of the Greater Stars)
August	Pelepa’ (Month of Plentiful)
September	Pegalan (Month of the North Star)
October	Suwah (The Month of the Waves)
November	Pidai (The Month of the Discoloured Skies)
December	Penangaih (The Month of Revival)
January	Pemalei (The Month of Taboo)
February	Pengesiseng (The Month of the Gills)

Read more about Bulan Melanau here

By: Learn Melanau On 12:56 AM

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