INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background of Study
As we know, that Indonesia is a country of Republic. Indonesian has many cultures which different especially Ethnic. Each ethnic has its own cultures, religion,
social system, language and customary norms, which are different one to another. As young generation, the writer also wants to observe one of the Indonesian
cultures, namely Karo Batak culture. One of Karo Batak culture is ceremony of Opening New House Mengket Rumah Mbaru.
The House is place to take shelter from attack other creatures. In traditional, karo society have house who lived by one of family, two family, four family, six family,
eight family, and twelve family. They all live in one built. It is called Rumah Adat in karo society . To implemention ceremony of Opening New House is full with
democration by Sukut, Kalimbubu, and Anak Beru. If one of them disagree then ceremony to Opening New House can’t implemented.
Finally, the writer hope this paper can be useful for the reader who want to enrich culture especially Karo culture.
1.2 The Problems of The Study
a What does the ceremony of Opening New House for Karo people mean?
b How do the Karo People practiced to celebrate the Opening New House?
Universitas Sumatera Utara
1.3 The Scope of The Study
There are many Karo tradition is practiced by Karo society. In this paper and this opportunity it is impossible to write all, therefore the writer limits his problem
discussion, about the ceremony of Opening New House Mengket Rumah.
1.4 The Purpose of The Study a To know the mean of Opening New House Mengket Rumah.
b To give description about Opening New House that doing by Karo society. c To remember Karo culture.
d To fulfill one of the requirements to get the Diploma from D-III English study Programe.
1.5 The Method of the Study
To finish this paper, the writer has done two method of research. They are field research and Library research. The writer also collect this paper by reading some
books an access from internet to get data and also interview the people who know more about culture Karo especially about Opening New House ceremony.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
2. GENERAL REVIEW
Klukhhon 1949:35 says that culture is a pattern for life which is created in
the history of the implied eimplisit or not implicit explicit, rational or irrational that
there is at all times as a potential guideline for human baheviour. Herkovist 1952 says that culture is as a mixed superorganic or are hereditary
from generation fixed continued and sustainable living in it even though human alternated, because the process of birth and death.
Koentjaraningrat 1985:180 says that culture is the whole system of ideas, actions, result of human work in the framework human life that is made human own.
Andreas Eppink 1985 says that culture is containing whole notion of social values, social norms, knowledge, and overall structures social, religious, and etc.
Tylor 1871:1 says that The culture is a complex whole, which it contains
knowledge, beliefe, art, morals, laws, customs, and other skills gained a person as a member of the community.
Selo Soemardjan 1985 says that Culture is the means of work, taste, and the
copyright community. Herritage 1987 Dictionary says that culture is as a whole from the behavior
pattern that is sent through a social life, religious, institutional, and all the work and the human mind of a human group.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
Roucel says that culture is a way of life that was developed by a community to
meet basic needs for survival, his descendants continue, and manage their social experience.
Hassan Shadily 1975 says that culture is the all human result from socialization, contains of actions against and by our fellow human beings as members
of society are intellect, confidence, art, morals, laws, and customs.
Raymond Williams 1961:16 says that culture is all the life, material,
intellectual asn spiritual. Al Krueber 1958:582-583 says that culture is system of ideas, drafts, and
results of human work to fulfill their lifes by learn.
Nostrand 1981:51 says that culture is attitude and belief, the way of think, behavior, and remember together by community members.
Karo is a name of an ethnic who live in Indonesia and manely live in one regency Karo high land Kabupaten Karo. The society of Karo usually do the
ceremony of Opening a New House.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
3. BACKGROUND OF KARO PEOPLE
3.1 The Social Living of Karo Land
Most of the Karo society work as farmer, In agricultural they were planting, corn, rice, coffee, coconut, cotton, pepper, fruits, vegetables and others. Beside that
Karo people also work as rancher, they were maintaining some animals like cows, goats, buffalos, horses, chickens, ducks, and fishs. All the crops from farm and ranch
are not sale but it’s used to fulfill their life needed, for example buffalo. They can useful buffalo to plow their field without outgo their money. This is of livehood
system Karo society. Karo people are like to get on together to celebrate their tradition. They never
change their original culture where they still heading towards for their tradition. Their tradition which is always their celebrating such as wedding ceremony, opening a new
house mengket rumah mbaru ceremony, death ceremony, birth ceremony and some other tradition. Usually this tradition is held to in jambur, a place for Karo people to
get on together. According to Karo society that total day in one month is 30. Everyday hhas the
name that outside day name according to Masehi calendar. Everyday from date 1 until 30 has the mean. This is the name thirty days in one month in Karonese
Calendar. They are: 1.
Aditia is slippery day, a good day to discussion, or to plan activities.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
2. Suma is day two legs, humans and chickens, bad day, and suitable to hunting and
fishing. 3.
Nggara is scorching day, bad day, make medicine, hunting, open farmland, and meet the people.
4. Budaha is day of rice, a good day to make a traditional party, and suitable for
planting. 5.
Beras pati is a slippery day, start building a house, and to make a custom party. 6.
Cukra enem is the settlements day, the day of relaxing, and appliying for the job. 7.
Belah naik is a king day, apply for job, and suitable for all traditional party. 8.
Aditia naik is a good day, good day to celebrate all the party, and deliberation or plan the activities.
9. Sumana siwah is a bad day, hunting , and be careful doing any activities.
10. Nggara sepuluh is a hot day, make medicine, celebrate of opening new house,
wedding, and becareful in talking, 11.
Budaha ngadep is good day, day of relaxing, visit Kalimbubu, ceremony of Wedding, open a business, and apply for jobs.
12. Beras pati tangkep is a good day, delebrate of wedding party,and pray to God.
13. Cukera Dudu is a good day to ceremony of Wedding, visit the parents or
kalimbubu and ceremony of opening a new house, 14.
Belah Purnama raya is day to party the king, and guro-guro aron. 15.
Tula is a bad day, and suitable to plant oil. 16.
Suma cepik is a bad day, and hunting.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
17. Nggara enggo tula is a good day and to make the medicine.
18. Budaha gok is a bad day but it known as a day of rice..
19. Beras pati is a good day to begin open the farmland, cutting trees for home
appliance, fishing, and building hut in the fields. 20.
Cukra si 20 is a good day to make , ceremony of opening new house, and good day to the travel.
21. Belah turun is a good day to dispose of bad luck, make bondage, hunting, and
fishing. 22.
Aditia turun is day to make the medicine, hunt, and fishing. 23.
Sumane mate is a good day to hunt, and fishing. 24.
Nggara simbelin is a good day to make the medicine, and pray to God. 25.
budaha medem is a good day to travelling. 26.
beras pati medem is relaxe day, bring the eat to parent’s house, visit the Kalimbubu, celebrate of wedding, and make medicine.
27. cukrana mate is day to make medicine, hunting, fishing, and open the farmland.
28. mate bulan ngulak is a day to hunting and fishing.
29. Dalan bulan is a bad day.
30. Sami sara is the day of closing, pray to the God.
If Karo people wants plan the something such as: Merdang Merdem, Opening New House, wedding ceremony and etc They are always see the best day which
admit as the best time hold it based on the Karo’s calendar. and ask to the Sibaso
Universitas Sumatera Utara
teacher Guru Sibaso. The Good day to celebrate of opening a new house is Beras Pati day. In Karo’s calendar only there is 30 days .
For their religious In Karo land has found some places of worship, like church, mosque, and etc. They are believe Christ, but some of them also to believe Moslem
and Hinduism as their religion. Karo Regency lies in highland of the Bukit Barisan mountain and it is Upper
River Regiondaerah hulu sungai. This area 2.127.25 square kilometers or 212,725 Ha, which lies in highland with altitude between 600 – 1400 meters above the sea
level. In this highland, we can find magnificient scenery with the mountains, and its cold weather which is recognized by specific area for fruits and vegetables. In this
area, we can also see the beautiful view of Sibayak Mountain, a volcano mountain, 2.172 meters on above the sea level.
The capital city of Karo regency is Kabanjahe that lies about 77 km from Medan. Karo regency has area borders. In the north, border with Langkat and Deli Serdang,
the south border with Dairi and North tapanuli regency, the West, border with Southeast Aceh, and the East, border with Deli Serdang and Simalungun regency.
According to the scientist of geography, Karo regency laid in 2 50 north latitudes, 3 19 south latitudes, 97
east longitude. Karo regency have climate with temperatures ranging about 18,4 – 19,3 C, and average humadity is
90,3 percent.
Universitas Sumatera Utara
Result of populatin cencus in Karo regency in 2000 of 283.713 people. In mid 2009 of 370.619. Number of male at Karo regency is less than female. By 2009 total
the population whose male sex are 182.497 people, while female 188.122 people, and sex ratio of population at Karo Regency is 97.01 percent.
Karo regency have fivteen of district, they are : Barus Jahe, Berastagi, Dolat Rakyat, Juhar, Kabanjahe, Kuta Buluh, Laubaleng, Mardingding, Merdeka, Munthe,
Naman, Payung, Simpang 4, Tiga Binanga, Tiga Panah, and Tiganderket. Karo regency have 269 villages.
3.2 The Characteristic of Karo People
