CROSS CULTURE UNDERSTANDING

"Batak Toba Culture"

Lecturer : Heni Subagiharti, M.Hum

Name : Rahma Al Syafira (18052006)
Class : 6A English Education Study Program

FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION

ASAHAN UNIVERSITY
2020/2021
 A. BATAK CULTURE
The Batak tribe is one of the tribes in Indonesia which maintains its culture. They uphold
traditions and customs. Until now, customs and culture are still carried out in the social life of
the Batak people and their daily activities.
Ethnic groups categorized as Batak are Angkola, Karo, Mandailing, Pakpak / Dairi,
Simalungun, and Toba. The Batak are a group of tribes that inhabit most of North Sumatra.
However, people often consider the mention of Batak only in the Toba tribe, even though
Batak is not only the Toba tribe.
Currently the Batak people generally adhere to Protestant Christianity, Catholic Christianity,
but some also adhere to Islam.
1. Batak Cultural Life Philosophy The Batak
tribe has several cultural values that reflect the life personality of the Batak tribe
itself. Apart from being a customary value that makes a Batak tribe belief, this
cultural value is also used in social life, especially the Batak community.
2. Batak Sub-Tribes
Although they are almost the same, the Batak tribe actually has several ethnic groups
or sub-tribes respectively. Each Batak sub also has its own characteristics, especially
in the dialogue of the language used. Among them the Batak sub-tribes are the Toba
Batak, the Simalungan Batak, the Karo Batak, the Pakpak Batak, and the Angkola
Batak.
3. Batak Tribe Marriage
When carrying out weddings, the Batak tribe adheres to a social family system. Marga
is an important thing for the Batak tribe, because it becomes the basic reference in
determining their potential partner.
4. Batak Culture Greetings Batak
tribe people are known as the Horas greetings. In fact, the greetings of each Batak sub
are not the same as one another. Although they are different, they basically mean
almost all of them. Broadly speaking, it means praying for each other to always be
healthy. These greetings are usually said in a loud voice. The aim is to show sincerity
and pleasure while strengthening a sense of kinship.
5. Mangulosi Custom of Batak Tribe Mangulosi Tradition of Mangulosi
[Between North Sumatra]
Mangulosi is a traditional custom by giving ulos cloth / typical Batak cloth to
someone. This tradition is usually carried out during a wedding ceremony. You need
to know, not just anyone can carry out the mangulosi custom. Only people who are
referred to as hula-hula or elder people by the Batak tribe.
6. Martarombo Batak Tribe Batak
people uphold the kinship of the clan. Therefore, in the tradition of the Batak tribe,
there is something called Martarombo. Martarombo is looking for sibling
relationships with one another. When Batak people meet each other with the same
clan. They usually look for kinship that connects their kinship ties.
 B. BATAK TOBA
Batak Toba is one of the cultures of the Batak tribe. Batak Toba has several characteristics in
terms of traditional clothing, food, dance.
1. TraditionalClothing
The traditional clothes of North Sumatra Batak Toba are woven cloth or better known
as Ulos. Ulos cloth is indeed a cloth that is often used as a characteristic of the Batak
tribe. In fact, Ulos has become an identity for the name of North Sumatra's traditional
clothing nationally. Generally, Ulos cloth is specially made by weaving it using
traditional tools and silk thread. The colors of the threads for making Ulos are usually
not far from black, white, red, silver and gold.

The traditional clothes of North Sumatra Ulos are not only used in traditional ceremonies but
also in everyday life. The ulos worn by men is called hande-hande for the upper part of the
garment. Meanwhile, the lower part is called the singkot. In addition, there are also Ulos tars
that are used to cover the head which is also called bulang-bulang or sort, detar, or ropes.
Then there is the name single panaluon which means the typical Batak Toba stick. There are
actually various types of Ulos. When viewed from its pattern, Ulos is divided into Ulos
Bintang Maratur, Ulos Antakantak, Ulos Padang Ursa, Ulos Lobo-lobo and others. Each type
of Ulos has a different philosophy. At traditional events, the Batak people usually use ulas by
making it a sash or scarf. They usually use Ulos Ragihotang, Sadum, Jugjaragidup, and
Runjat.

2. Traditional Food
● Naniura in Batak language means fish that is not cooked through fire but is good and
delicious to eat. Naniura is a traditional Batak food that is mostly located in the Toba
area. The raw goldfish is cleaned of its spines and mucus first. Then it is ripened by
soaking it in tamarind water or kaffir lime.

● Mie Gomak is famous as a specialty of the Toba Batak land. The way of serving
culinary is quite unique, the noodles are digomak or in Indonesian, grasped directly
by hand when putting them into the container. The noodles are then doused with the
coconut milk sauce made from Andaliman.

● Na Tinombur is a typical Batak Toba meal originating from North Sumatra.

Nantombur fish means fish that is doused with spices. These preparations usually use
goldfish, catfish or mujahir fish. The fish is grilled and covered with special spices.
This spice is in the form of grilled shallots and garlic, fried candlenuts, chilies,
dressing, and boiled tomatoes. Do not forget the mixture of traditional Batak
andaliman present in this preparation. The goldfish that has been grilled or fried is
placed on a plate and then the fish is smeared with the spices that have been blended
earlier.
● Lapet cake, usually shaped like a pyramid and wrapped in banana leaves. The
manufacturing process is not that complicated, starting with rice flour, grated coconut
which is not too old, and mixed. Plus also grated palm sugar or brown sugar, and
enough water.

● not gurgur different from lapet Gurgur gurgur is made in a very simple way, by
kneading itak, shredded young coconut, sugar, and a little hot water. not gurgur
different from lapet Gurgur gurgur is made in a very simple way, by kneading itak,
shredded young coconut, sugar, and a little hot water. gurgur isdefined as "burning".
The gurgur giver always hopes that the eater will have a burning spirit.

● Arsik is cooked by cooking fish with added andaliman or a type of spice to create a
spicy taste that makes the tongue vibrate, usually served with a soup or a little dry.
3. Traditional Dance
● Tor-Tor
This has been around for hundreds of years and is a dance originating from Batak
Toba, North Sumatra. Artists believe that the name Tor is derived from the dancers
'stomping on the floor with the sound of “tor'. As is well known, the traditional Batak
house uses wood as the floor. This dance becomes a ritual for events such as
ceremonies for death, healing, and others.
 REFERENCES

Tourismasumut2014..Traditionalclothing.https://www.pariwisatasumut.net/2014/11/dalam-
balutan-busana-batak-toba.html March 19, 2021.
AccessedAddpinter. 2018. North Sumatra traditional clothing.
https://tambahpinter.com/pakai-adat-sumatera-utara-batak/. Accessed 19March
2021.2021
Idntimes.2019. traditional batak food. https://www.idntimes.com/food/dining-
guide/gandol/12-makanan-khas-batak-ini-c1c2/9. Accessed March 19, 2021.2021
Jejakmedan.2018.Traditional Dance. https: //jejakmedan.com/tarian-adat-traditional- tribes-
batak-toba/. Retrieved March 19, 2021.