Thanksgiving: Dynamics of Interaction Studies in Inter-Religious Life in Amurang, South Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi

Maryam Lamadirisi

doi:10.19026/crjss.7.5219

Abstract

This study aims at elaborating the dynamic of interaction of inter-religious life in Amurang, North Sulawesi during thanksgiving. The People of North Sulawesi who called themselves “Manado People” consist of different ethnics and religions. Their daily life is based on respect for each other. One of the celebration that catch the interest of many Manado and Minahasa people is the thanksgiving celebration (<em>pengucapan</em>). The conclusion related to the focus of this research, are: First, The background of thanksgiving that became a habit of the Amurang, South Minahasa Regency people that lasted until today is based on imitation from what was done by their ancestors that was passed down generation after generation. Thanksgiving has been held since Minahasa People’s ancestors as a manifestation of faith in God in accordance to the people’s comprehension at that time. After Christianity comes, then the faith to God as the almighty shifted to Christian thought that is Jesus Christ. Thus, the meaning of thanksgivingstill the same which is giving gratitude for what God has bestowed, but the foundation itself has shifted. Blessing in the past was focused on crops. Nowadays, blessing is every good thing that was bestowed by God. Second, Thanksgiving ritual in Amurang, South Minahasa Regency, North Celebes Province, is the thanksgiving ritual that held by the Christian Community in Minahasa, but the guest to the meal reception can come from different ethnics and religions. The thanksgiving celebration has two different dimensions. The vertical dimension is the interaction between individuals with their God, in the form of Sunday prayer according to the schedule set, while the horizontal dimension is the interaction between local individuals and their guests who came to celebrate the thanksgiving that marked with meal reception. Third, The social meanings that contained in thanksgiving ritual in Amurang, South Minahasa Regency, North North Sulawesi Indonesia, is a symbol of social interaction between people from different ethnics and religions in friendly atmosphere that symbolize the slogan: “<em>torang samua basudara, baku-baku bae deng baku-baku sayang</em>”.

Highlights

North Sulawesi people that call themselves as "the Manado" consist of various ethnic and religious
This study describes the group that became the subject of research, namely the religious leaders, the people who carry out the celebration, as well as guests who come at the time of the celebration of thanksgiving
Concluding remarks: From the above descriptions, some findings were obtained as follows: time resulted in a paradigm shift of thanksgiving

Summary

Introduction

North Sulawesi people that call themselves as "the Manado" consist of various ethnic and religious. Their everyday life is guided by mutual respect for one another. The celebration of thanksgiving (pengucapan) was formerly held by the Minahasa ethnic communities when farmers finish harvesting once a year. The ceremony was held on Sunday, beginning with worship at the church and after that each family bring food, perfunctory to the Church. The celebration of thanksgiving in Manado and Minahasa region is still held every year at about the middle of the year (between July and August). In Amurang region (South Minahasa), thanksgiving day is done at the end of the school holidays, before comencing a new school year

Objectives

Results

Conclusion