蘭嶼。小島生活

（照片為2015年11月13日 紅頭八代灣 Mey pazos）

族人在”Mey pazos”(祭祖日)時向祖先獻祭。
”Mey pazos”(祭祖日)是在”Kapitoan”月份的第一天舉行，
有些部落選擇早上進行儀式，有些則是在午後。
傳說”Mey pazos”(祭祖日)起源於朗島部落。

除非太太懷孕無法參加，否則儀式只限部落男性參與；女性是被禁止參加的。

每一戶人家需要準備兩份祭品，
一份帶至部落灘頭，一份留在家。

祭品包含新鮮豬肉、芋頭、地瓜和山藥。
女性族人在祭祖儀式前一兩天開始準備農耕祭品。
男性族人則在儀式前一天先抓豬，並在儀式當天早晨殺豬。

根據傳統，男性族人必須穿著傳統服飾，也包含銀盔、金箔項鍊及禮刀至灘頭。
大家高舉手中的祭品，祈求來年的豐收，也感謝祖先的貢獻。
利用這個場合，不只是世代的傳承，也能討論部落裡的公共事務。

傳說若沒有參與獻祭的族人，在捕魚時較沒有祖靈的庇佑，容易翻船。
但現代，由於有些族人的工作時間無法配合或（基督）信仰上的衝突，參加的人不如以往。

Yami people offer sacrifices to ancestors on “Mey pazos”.
“Mey pazos” is a ceremony which is held on the first day of “Kapitoan Month”.
Some tribes hold the ceremony in the morning, some hold it in the afternoon.
It is said that “Mey pazos” was derived from Jiraraley. (Lang-dao Village).

Only male can attend this ceremony,
unless your wife is pregnant. On the other hand, female are not allowed to. 

Every family has to prepare two sets of sacrifices.
Yami people bring one sacrifice to the beach, and keep the other one at home. 

The sacrifices include fresh pork, taro, sweet potato and yam.
Female clan members help to
prepare the cropper (vegetable) 1-2 days before “Mey pazos”.
Male clan members try to catch the pig one day before “Mey pazos”,
and kill it in the early morning just before “Mey pazos” begins. 

In tradition, male clan members should wear traditional costume,
such as silver hamlet, golden necklace and wooden sword.
They raise the sacrifices and pray for
having abundant harvest in the future and thankful for the ancestors’ contribution.
Male clan members use this opportunity not only pass down the traditional culture,
but also discuss some arrangements in the tribe. 

It is said if you don’t worship the ancestor on “Mey pazos”.
You may not have the blessing upon fishing.
However, nowadays, some Yami people don’t attend the ceremony
because they have full-time job, or their religion. (Christianity)