Smoking ceremony are an ancient custom of some aborigines in Australia. The aborigines will burn various native plants to produce smoke in some particular events, which has purifying effects.[1]
- Use of material
Eermophila longifolia is one of the traditional medicines most respected by the Australian aborigines. The most common use is to smolder leaves on the embers of a fire to produce pungent smoke. Studies have shown that this smoke has a therapeutic effect roughly consistent with antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory abilities. (Sadgrove& Jones, 2015).
- Ceremonial occasions
Smoking ceremony have similarities across Australia. In some areas, this is a ceremony attended only by women, while in other areas, it will involve all family members.
-Associated with death
After the aboriginals of the Northern Territory died, the formal etiquette practice is the smoking ceremony, which is particularly important to the indigenous people. The principle of the smoking ceremony is to dispel the spirit of the deceased, release the deceased from the place of residence and return the name of deceased to his country. The smoking ceremony is related to the space where the deceased lived. Different communities will vary, smoking ceremony are usually held in the house of deceased. However, it also held in the car or other places. In some places, the clothing of the deceased is burned. The implementation process is to burn eucalyptus leaves and building a fire into the house, then the smoke can fill the room. The other way is that put burning coal barrels into the house. (Mcgrath & Phillips, 2008).
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- ^ Mcgrath, P., & Phillips, E. (2008). Insights on end-of-life ceremonial practices of Australian Aboriginal peoples. Collegian (Royal College of Nursing, Australia), 15(4), 125–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2008.03.002