Aceh Ethnic – This time we will learn about the Acehnese who inhabit the western part of Indonesia. The term Acehnese ethnicity refers to the indigenous people of Aceh Darussalam, namely Indonesians who live in the westernmost part of the island of Sumatra or the westernmost part of Indonesia.
Most or even 100% of Acehnese ethnic are Muslims who are rich in culture and history in the past. Talking about Aceh does not escape the long history of the Acehnese people. A nation that is rich in culture, rich in natural resources and rich in historical values. As proof that the rich people of Aceh are able to work hand in hand and help out their assets for the benefit of the Indonesian nation, namely buying aircraft for the benefit of President Soekarno in leading Indonesia.
Acehnese ethnic ancestors came from various areas outside Indonesia such as Arab, India, the Malay peninsula and others. The ancestors of the Acehnese came from traders who stopped in Aceh because previously Aceh was an area that was visited by many nations around the world in doing business and trade.
According to history long in the past before the teachings of Islam came. Most of the people living in Aceh are Hindu, which is marked by the existence of Acehnese culture which is similar to Hindu culture. However, with the entry of Islam in the 7th century AD the culture was then in accordance with Islamic teachings.
Aceh Ethnic Culture
Since Islam was grounded in the land of Aceh, until now various cultures and customs have continued to be adapted to Islamic teachings which are based on ahlussunah wal jamaah. The characteristics of the Acehnese people cannot be separated from the past history, customs and Islam which merge in it. The following are models and types of culture in Aceh.
1. Traditional House of Aceh
The Aceh traditional house is a house on stilts which has a pole height of about 2.5 to 3 meters from the ground. The traditional house of Aceh is called Krong Bade, and the characteristic of Acehnese houses is that all the materials are made from wood from the roof to the pillars.
Also see: East Java Traditional House
Meanwhile, the roof of the Aceh house is made of woven thatch or enau leaves which are arranged in such a way that it is very resistant to rain and sun. The roofs of the Aceh houses are said to last for decades.
There is something unique about the side of the Aceh house, where the under or the edge of the Aceh house on the left or right is used as a storage place for food and various other necessities.
At the top of the Aceh house (the part that is rather high compared to the food storage area) is used as a place to rest from some of the spaces that are distributed, as a place for deliberation and as a place to receive guests.
2. Traditional clothing of Aceh
As a cultured nation, the Acehnese also have traditional Acehnese clothes that are specially worn on certain occasions such as weddings and others. Acehnese traditional clothing is divided into two models, namely traditional clothes for men and traditional clothes for women, both of which have their own differences and names.
men wear traditional clothes with Meukasah clothes, and Ceukak Musang pants. Meukasah clothes are all black clothes with knick-knacks that are removed from the clothes with golden colors like a king. Meanwhile, Ceukak Musang pants are a wide trousers with Malay and Islamic characteristics.
While Aceh’s traditional clothes for women, they also wear two styles of clothing. They wore loose, Malay long brackets with checkered Weasel pants as well. The use of these brackets is usually combined and equipped with a headscarf or veil so that it is in accordance with Islamic teachings.
3. Traditional Aceh Ceremony
The tradition that applies in the Aceh community environment is the custom ceremony. Traditional ceremonies are usually carried out when there is a marriage and every marriage, starting from the marriage ceremony and others, is colored by Acehnese customs.
Marriage is carried out in several stages, starting from proposing or proposing to marry, marriage to marriage parties. The wedding party is held twice, once on the bride’s side, namely the ceremony to pick up the groom. Furthermore, the wedding party on the groom’s side is called picking up the bride.
Also see: Jaipong Dance: All About Jaipong or Jaipongan
Apart from marriage, there is also the implementation of plain flour, namely by sprinkling water on the bride and groom during a marriage ceremony, or plain flour to a wife who is pregnant for the first time in the seventh month or in various other events such as plain flour or peusijuk to prospective pilgrims, peusijuk to children who are pregnant. will carry out circumcision and others. Peusijuk is not actually a custom, but there is a basis for the Shari’a, as the Prophet SAW sprinkled water on Sayyidina Ali and Sayyidah Fatimah RA. when they both carry out marriage.
4. Traditional dance
In the Acehnese ethnic environment there are also traditional dances that are performed, one of the most famous dances is the Seudati Dance. Seudati dance is characterized by an energetic, straightforward and precise leg movement. This dance relies on hand and leg movements in a very fast manner resulting in a harmonious rhythm.
Apart from the Seudati Dance, there is also another dance that is very famous even to foreign countries, namely the saman dance. Dance is a dance that relies on very fast hand movements accompanied by songs sung by the Saman leader.
This hand movement is done by tapping the hands and chest very quickly and simultaneously so that it produces an art that often even seduces many audiences.
Not only these two dances are Aceh’s custom, but there are also other dances such as the Aceh Laweut Dance, Didong Dance, Tarek Pukat Dance, Aceh Ratok Duek Dance, and several other classical dances.
5. Traditional Weapons of the Aceh Community
Aceh also has a distinctive and traditional weapon, namely the Aceh rencong (Aceh rencong), almost the same as the keris, only the rencong does not twist like a keris. This traditional weapon is a weapon against colonialism in the past. This weapon is now a symbol in various traditional ceremonies including weddings where the bride or groom wears a rencong around her waist.
Rencong Aceh is divided into several types, namely Rincong Meupucok, Rincong Meucugek, Rincong Meukuree, and Rincong Pudoi. But it is not only rencong that is the weapon of the Acehnese people, there are other weapons such as siwah and sword. This includes the weapons used against colonialism in the past.
6. Indigenous Food
Acehnese traditional food is a type of Acehnese food which consists of several kinds such as Eungkot Paya, there is also food that is similar to Indian food, namely Kerambi Kering.
Also read: 100+ Ethnic Groups in Indonesia
Apart from these traditional foods, in Acehnese ethnicity there are also other Acehnese specialties such as Eungkot Keumamah, Teukarah, Kuah PLiek Ue and others.
7. Aceh Regional Songs
Acehnese ethnic or people also have regional songs so that it adds to the complete cultural wealth of this Islamic country.
The most famous Acehnese songs are Bungong Jeumpa and Piso Surit. In addition to the two regional songs there are also other distinctive icons of Acehnese culture, namely the song Tawar Sedenge, Sepakat Segenap, Aceh Lon Sayang, Lembah Alas and the song Aneuk Yatim.
That is our review of Acehnese ethnicities and Acehnese cultures which are closely related to Islamic values. Aceh is an area that can accept Islam completely and completely, so it can be said that 100% of Acehnese are various Muslims. That is why Islamic values are integrated into Acehnese cultures and customs.