An Analysis of the Cultural Values of the Saprahan Tradition among the Sambas Malays: A Literary-Anthropological Approach

Abstract

This study aims to describe and analyze the cultural values ​​and their representations within the procession and procedural execution of the saprahan tradition in Pelangi Segedong Hamlet, Bengkayang Regency. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method and a literary anthropology approach. The data collected consist of both verbal and non-verbal elements. Data sources include customary leaders, cultural practitioners, the general public, and primary data regarding the saprahan practice itself. Data collection techniques involve participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis. Data analysis follows an interactive model comprising three stages: data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing/verification. Data validity is ensured through source triangulation and theoretical triangulation. The findings indicate that the saprahan tradition embodies three primary cultural values: (1) religious values, (2) social values, and (3) ecological values. These values ​​are concretely represented through four standard elements: the sequence of dish presentation, the symbolic significance of traditional utensils, the circular seating arrangement, and the mechanism for intergenerational transmission of implicit values ​​through the community's direct involvement in every stage of the saprahan procession.