THE MEANING OF THE MEUGANG TRADITION IN

ACEH SOCIETY
Ahmad Fahriza1, Kamaruddin Hasan2, Muchlis3, Niswah Nailan Nafisah4*, Shanti
Hardiyatni5
1
Agrotechnology student, Faculty of Agriculture, Ulm, email :
ahmadfahriza0202@gmail.com
2
Lecturer in Communication Sciences, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences,
Unimal, email: kamaruddin@unimal.ac.id
3
Lecturer in Communication Sciences, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences,
Unimal, email: muchlis@unimal.ac.id
4
Psychology student, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Umsida, email:
niswahnailannafisah@gmail.com
5
Elementary school teacher education student, Faculty of Education, Unnes, email :
shantihardiyatni28@students.unnes.ac.id

E-mail Korespondensi : niswahnailannafisah@gmail.com

Abstract
Meugang is a tradition that the people of Aceh have preserved to this day. Meugang is held to
welcome the month of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. What is the tradition of
meugang in Acehnese society? Why is meugang believed to be a culture in the lives of the
Acehnese people? This research answers this by analyzing the form of the meugang
tradition, through direct observation, because the researcher is an active participant as a
native Acehnese and lives among the community. Furthermore, a review of documents
related to the meugang tradition was also carried out. The research results show that
meugang is one of the traditional practices of the Acehnese people. This tradition is used as a
means of gathering and thanksgiving with family.

Keywords : Meaning, Meugang Tradition, Acehnese Culture

1. Latar Belakang
Meugang (Aceh language) is a tradition that is still preserved in Aceh.
Meugang or some call it ma'meugang is a tradition of eating meat before starting the
fast of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. This tradition is believed to be very
important and should not be abandoned by the people of Aceh. The practice of
celebrating meugang is celebrated by all levels of society, both in villages and in
cities. Efforts to create balanced, peaceful and harmonious conditions between
various elements or different parties are one of the things that can be done to build
harmony. Building harmony also requires cooperation from all parties involved,
 whether individuals, groups or the government. This is very important to ensure that
efforts to build harmony can be carried out effectively and sustainably (Murtala,
2023).

This article aims to discuss the values of Islamic communication that must be
applied in the Meugang tradition to build harmony and tolerance between religions and
cultures. In this article, the author will explain the meaning of Meugang, its history and
development, as well as variations in its implementation in Aceh. Apart from that, the
author will also present a definition of Islamic communication and Islamic
communication values which are important in building harmony in Meugang. It is hoped
that this article can provide an overview of how Islamic communication values can help
build harmony and diversity in the Meugang Aceh tradition, as well as increase public
understanding and awareness of the importance of Islamic communication values in
maintaining interreligious and intercultural harmony and tolerance in Aceh. Building
harmony requires cooperation from all parties. Be it from individuals, groups or
governments. This is important to do to ensure that efforts to build harmony can be
carried out effectively and sustainably. (Faizin, 2023).

2. Reasech Methodology
The direct observation method was the choice for this research. Direct
observation, because the researcher is an active participant as a native Acehnese and lives
among the community.
3. Results
3.1 Meugang Tradition In Acehnese Society
The meugang tradition that is carried out now is on H-1 or H-2 of
Ramadhan, as well as H-1 and H-2 of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Basically
meugang is only held one day before the dates of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-
Adha. Why then is there a meugang celebration on D-2? This is because many
civil servants (PNS) or other office employees distribute meat or agree to slaughter
animals such as oxen and buffalo for food the day before.

People's ways of celebrating meugang differ, especially in providing meat

for meugang. There are at least 4 (four) models practiced by the people of Aceh in
procuring meat for meugang.
 First, the meuripee event, where the community agrees to collect a certain
amount of money and buy a slaughtered animal (ox or buffalo), then later the meat
will be distributed according to the number of people who participated in
collecting the money or meuripee. This method is often used by people, most of
whom are well-established and have a steady income, so that some of them can
pay it off several times. This model is also used by teachers and employees in
offices, both public and private, and several organizations and associations also
take this model.

Second, buy from an agent who will slaughter on meugang day, they do a
few weeks before the meugang to carry out sales to homes to offer meat that will
be slaughtered on meugang day. After knowing how many people take the meat, it
is determined how many oxen will be slaughtered. On the day of meugang, people
whose names have been recorded come to the designated place where the
slaughter is carried out, they take the meat according to the order.

The meat is given not in kilograms, but in tumpok sizes. The term tumpok
in Acehnese is meat that is piled up and mixed with meat, bones and skin.
Everyone gets the same share, although there are some who are more or less in the
distribution, but this is not a problem, because the meat is said to be sie tumpok
(stacked meat).

Third, buy at the market, because two days before Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr and
Eid al-Adha, meat traders will flood the markets. Wherever meat is sold, it is
mostly beef and buffalo. In the city, one trader can spend two to three bulls in one
day, but most of them only spend one bull a day, especially in rural markets,
because many people still take piled meat.

Fourth, some people do not choose beef or buffalo for meat, but they only
slaughter chickens or ducks that they raise themselves. Sometimes there are also
people who buy them from neighbors who keep chickens or ducks. Most of them
are poor people, but they still celebrate meugang, even though they don't eat red
meat.

On the other hand, owning and slaughtering chickens and ducks for village
people in Aceh is not a matter of pride, even slaughtering chickens or ducks is an
alternative if there is no fish. Chickens and ducks are mostly permanent pets in
 every villager's house, so those who are less well off choose to just slaughter
chickens or ducks, because they don't have the money to buy red meat. This group
is those who celebrate meugang in a very simple way, this model is carried out
even by those who are classified as poor, they will try to slaughter a chicken or
duck on the day of meugang.

3.2 The Meaning of the Meugang Tradition in Acehnese Society

Meugang is also an important moment for the whole family to gather. Usually
on Meugang day, children and relatives who have migrated or have families and live
far away, they will go home and gather on Meugang day. This value of togetherness is
what the ancestors wanted to instill through the meugang tradition. Thus, to this day,
the meugang tradition continues to be preserved and carried out by various groups of
society in any condition (Iskandar, 2010:49).
4. Result
a) Conclusion
Meugang is one of the traditions of the Acehnese people which is carried out
when welcoming the fasting month, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Meugang has
become a tradition that is inherent and integrated with various groups of people in
Aceh. Meugang is also an important moment for the whole family to gather. Usually
on Meugang day, children and relatives who have migrated or have families and live
far away, they will go home and gather on Meugang day. This value of togetherness
is what the ancestors wanted to instill through the meugang tradition. This is how
the meugang tradition continues to be preserved and carried out by various groups of
society in any condition.
b) Saran
It is best to make direct observations during the holding of the meugang event,
so that more and more varied information can be obtained, and it is necessary to add
other research methods so that more data can be obtained.

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