Matariki
Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars known as the Seven Sisters. Matariki translates to ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). According to Māori legend, when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their son Tane Mahuta, the god of the forest. But the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became so upset with his brother for separating their parents that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens. They have looked down over man ever since.
The stars that make up Matariki are:
Alcyone (Matariki, eyes of Tāwhirimātea)
Atlas (Tupu-ā-rangi, sky tohunga)
Electra (Waipuna-ā-rangi, sky spring)
Taygeta (Waitī, sweet water)
Pleione (Tupu-ā-nuku, Earth tohunga)
Merope (Ururangi, entry to the heavens)
Maia (Waitā, sprinkle of water)
Matariki disappears every year around April or May and then reappears in June or July. The date of Matariki will change every year according to maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). In Aotearoa, New Zealand it can best be seen at the end of the Milky Way just before dawn (4am onwards). The Māori believe that just before dawn is a spiritual time when your incantations and wishes are the most powerful.
Matariki is the Māori New Year. When the star cluster appears in the sky the Māori knew it was time to harvest. It was believed that the brighter and clearer Matariki appeared the warmer the coming growing season would be. And that a warm-season would produce a good harvest. The Māori would harvest traditional crops such as kūmara and pikopiko, as well as collect seafood and birds. When the harvest was complete and the storehouses were full it was time to sing, dance, and celebrate with an abundant feast. Then the people would sit by the fire, share kai and prepare for a new gardening year in the spring. Nowadays we see Matariki as a time to celebrate our ancestors. It’s a time of reflection, planning for the future, and connecting with our loved ones. Matariki celebrations are currently going on all around New Zealand. From next year, Friday 24 June 2022 Matariki will become an official national holiday in New Zealand.
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