Sina is excited because today is White Sunday, her favourite day of the year. All the children dress in white and sing and dance in front of the whole church. Afterwards the adults put ‘ulas’, or necklaces made of chocolates and lollies, around our necks.
Sina is having lunch at her Aunt’s house with delicious pineapple pies, green bananas in coconut cream and her Aunty Rosie’s ‘sapasui’. Before lunch all the children play hide and seek, and Sina climb high into the purple flower tree. She thinks no one will find her then realises she is too scared to climb down and now she is hungry. Her family encourage Sina to use her ‘mana’- her courage and strength and slowly and carefully she makes her way down with her family cheering her on. Sina’s family are very proud of her and they celebrate by sharing a delicious lunch.
White Sunday is a national holiday in Samoa and falls on the second Sunday in October. Children, woman and some men traditionally wear white. It is a day for parents and communities to acknowledge and celebrate childhood. There are special church services with singing and dance performances by the children. On that day, the children receive gifts and are allowed privileges normally reserved for elders such as being the first to be served food at mealtimes. The illustrations capture a joyful life with feasts and family gatherings involved in an own-voices story.
NCACL Cultural Diversity Database
