Studi Etnografi Tradisi Marlojong di Desa Tatengger Kecamatan Angkola Muaratais Kabupaten Tapanuli Selatan

Abstract

This paper is entitled Ethnographic Study of the Marlojong Tradition in Tategger Village, Angkola Muara Tais District, South Tapanuli Regency. This study aims to describe an ethnographic form of how a marlojong phenomenon which was initially contrary to custom and was eventually accommodated by custom and became a tradition. This study also aims to describe the comparison dipabuat with marlojong, the process of marlojong, and to find out how the existence of marlojong in the community of Tategger village. This study uses a qualitative approach with an ethnographic method. The technique used in data collection is by making observations in the field and in-depth interviews with informants. In order to obtain more complete data, the authors use field notes, documentation, and literature studies. The results of this study are, marlojong is a common alternative way to get married and is accommodated by custom. Marlojong can occur if there are couples who do not get the permission to get married, the amount of tuhor (dowry) is too high, and because they are pregnant outside of marriage or because they are to avoid demands for marriage expenses. The reasons parents did not give their permission were due to educational factors, economic factors, age factors, ethnic differences, and religious differences. The process for doing marlojong is manyapai boru, mangelehen tanda, and marlojong. The process of completing marlojong is mandokkon ulang agoan, manyapai tuhor, manyantan, marpege-pege, pataru tuhor, marriage agreement, traditional court, mangupa, mangolat boru and martahi. Until now, Marlojong still exists in the midst of the Tategger village community. Almost every year in the village of Tategger there is a married couple. Based on the theory of cultural materialism which says that infrastructure affects the structure and the superstructure, which means that the pattern of human behavior is influenced by the infrastructure. So, it can be concluded, marlojong can occur because it is influenced by aspects of infrastructure. This is supported by the hierarchy of needs theory which states that each person can behave in a certain way in certain situations. This research was conducted in Tategger village, Angkola district, Muara Tais, which is one of the distribution areas of the Batak Angkola. So, in this case, marlojong is not something foreign to the people. For this reason, further research is needed in other areas to see if there are differences between the results of the researchers findings with other researchers in other areas as well. In addition, this research focuses on ethnographic studies, so that other scientific perspectives are needed for further research.