Product Description
Antique Sumatran Batak Calendar 2
Material: Wood
Style: Batak people, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Size: Length 47.5 cm, Width 10.5 cm, Depth 1 cm
Order Number: MHSASBC2
The Batak people are Indonesia’s largest ethnic minority group with over 6 million people. They live around Lake Toba in Sumatra. There are 6 ethnic groups with different languages and customs and they all believe they are descended from a common ancestor called Si Raja Batak.
Their religion centred around Batak datu priests, who had magical powers and held totem pole staffs, curved horns holding magical substances, and folding books full of spells. Their chief duty was to protect the individual, family and village from black magic and malevolent forces through rituals, concoctions, statues and amulets.
In 1866 the Lutheran German missionary Ludwig Nommensen converted most of the Bataks.
The Batak datu priests use calendars. The year is 12 months, each with 30 days. The month is divided into three groups of ten days. Every day has its own name. There are no weeks. The calendar has signs, mostly in a regular pattern, indicating auspicious and dangerous days. The auspicious days indicate a good time for carrying out important matters, such as going on a trip, sowing or harvesting or getting married. The Karo Batak particularly, who did not convert to Christianity or Islam, still consult it.
Map of Sumatra.
Early – mid 20th century.
Please ask for the price (or make an offer).
