Momisok - Kadazan-Dusun celebration for the dead.

I know that my knowledge in Dusun language is limited, but that doesn't mean that I don't know my own culture and traditions. I know many things about Dusun culture, from Tapai, to Tagung & Kulintangan Music, to Tinggaton, to dress/costume style and many more things.

For example, I can tell you this; The flower on the sirung(hat) of the Kadazan Papar costume represents the marital status of the lady who wears it. If the sirung happens to have flowers on top of it, it symbolizes that the wearer isn't married yet *single or not single, that you have to ask the wearer herself. Lol!*. This means, if a lady is wearing a sirung without any flower on top of it, she's telling you that she's married. :)

Another thing I can share with you about Dusun and Kadazan custom is about momisok. Momisok is the last celebration for the dead... not the happy kind of celebration of course. It is usually held 7 days after the death of someone. What happens during momisok are, the family of the departed ones gather all the belongings of the departed ones, and make the last "call" to the departed person. It is believed that the soul of the departed ones will pay their last visit, and take all of their possessions away before moving on to the other side of the world.

Momisok is usually held in the dark, and in the house of course. All lights will be switched off before the "call" was made. During the dark moment, everybody will be asked to be in complete silence for about 7-10 minutes before the lights are switched back on *that's what makes the Momisok session creepy and scary...*. There are also different ways to do the "call"; which are aggressive and passive. The passive "call" is just a normal talk or speech by the head of the family, calling to the soul of their recently departed family member. This passive call is done in the house, and heard by everybody who attends the Momisok.

The aggressive call, which is not advisable to be done due to it's "soft emotional disturbance" to the caller later, was done by picking up the bravest and closest family member to do the call. Later, this brave caller will have to wear the favorite shirt of the departed ones. After that, this brave caller will walk away from the house, for about 100-200 meters, and call the departed soul and asked the soul to pay their last visit at the house and take away their belongings. Most of the time, the brave aggressive caller will fall ill on the next day, and people usually say that the caller were somehow "greeted" by the departed soul, and causes the soul of the caller themselves to be in major shock state that eventually causes them to fall ill.

People say, sometimes the visiting souls can be feel, smell or even seen by the naked eyes. Some people pour out baby powder on the floor, hoping to see foot prints of the visiting soul after the momisok. Most people say it worked, and real foot prints can actually be seen on the powder, but how true is that? Nobody really knows. The Kadazan-Dusun people held momisok for three reasons. 1, to allow the departed soul to go in peace. 2, to let the departed soul take away their belongings with them. 3, to let the departed soul know that they are already dead. This is for the case when someone died in their sleep, which most people say that their soul thinks that they are still alive.

This custom has been in controversial debate among the Kadazan-Dusun people due to it's paranormal understanding that is against the Christian religion views and belief. Some say, it's unnecessary to held a Momisok because it was "invented" by our pagan ancestors which suits only to pagans nowadays. Some other people say that it doesn't have anything to do with religion, because it's a custom and tradition of the Kadazan-Dusun people.

Woo!!! This has become a long post! I think I should stop here. Maybe I'll continue sharing about kadazan-dusun culture again next time ok! Ciao!!

Ps: By the way, I have my own opinion based on my real experience which is personal for me to share here. Now...I have presentation slides to type and print.... uh-oh! and assignments! Waaa!!!!