Waruga

Waruga is a tomb or grave of Minahasa ancestors made of stone and consists of two parts. The top of the triangle-shaped like a ridge of the house and the bottom square in the middle there is room.

At first Minahasa tribe if burying the dead before planting first woka wrapped in leaves (a type of coconut). Gradually, there is a change in the habit of using leaf woka. Leaf habit is changed by replacing the container cavity trees or dead Nibung then inserted into the cavities of trees and then planted in soil.

Recently around the ninth century Minahasa tribe began using waruga. People who have died are placed in a position facing north and seated with the heel of the foot attached to the buttocks and kissed the head of the knee. The purpose is faced to the north indicating that the Spare Minahasa ancestors came from the North. Around 1860 there began a ban from the Dutch Government in waruga bury their dead.

Then in 1870, Minahasa tribe began making coffins instead waruga, since time began outbreaks of various diseases, including typhoid and cholera. It is feared, he died transmit typhus and cholera germs through a slit located between the body and the cupola waruga waruga. Along with that, the Christian religion requires that bodies be buried in the ground began to spread in Minahasa. Waruga which has carvings and reliefs are generally found in Tonsea. Carvings and reliefs that illustrate how the bodies are stored in waruga concerned as well as describe the livelihood or the person's lifetime work.

In Minahasa the north, initially waruga-waruga that there is finally dispersed gathered in one place. Currently waruga spread is collected in the village of Sawangan, North Minahasa regency, which is a village located between Tondano (capital of Minahasa regency) with Airmadidi (capital of North Minahasa regency). Now the location in the Village waruga-waruga Sawangan became one of history tourist destination in North Sulawesi.