Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the official public holiday to recognise Te Ao Māori – Matariki. Although it won’t always fall on the same date each year (just like the Easter holidays) it’ll always fall on a Friday.
Refer to last year’s post that I wrote for more information about some of the specific stars that make up the star cluster known in Aotearoa (New Zealand) as Matariki. The rising of this star cluster which is known around the world by many names, but most commonly Pleiades, signals in the Māori New Year and is made up of several hundred stars.
It’s a common thing to gaze up at the night sky on a clear night and take in the signs and wonders, and even feel as sense of awe when one searches the stars for clusters that we know of. However, only a handful are visible to the naked eye, even though there are millions that we can see, and each star in those clusters has special significance.
Māori believe that the appearance of Matariki in the morning sky in mid-winter signals a time to remember those who have passed, celebrate the present and plan for the future, and it is also a time to reflect.
The public holiday affords us time to do exactly this while we also possibly spend time with our whānau and friends – to consider what it means to be ‘community’ together, enjoying kai (food), waiata (song), and tākaro (games).
So what can you do to celebrate Matariki this year?
Possibly you could get up early in the morning and head outside to view Matariki before sunrise, taking time to remember loved ones who are no longer with us. Some people even like to call out the names of the dead to honour them, or you might like to sit around a fire sharing memories of the people who are no longer with us here on earth.
You may want to say a karakia (prayer) that relates to Matariki and learn about the maramataka (Māori Calendar) and the many phases of the moon, along with identifying as many stars as you can.
You may like to spend some time in solitude, contemplating the world around us, your part in it and give thanks for the year that has passed, sharing your thoughts, words, a scripture, and a karakia to God.
For, “when I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? … Lord, our God, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-4 & 9
(New International Version)
You may even like to organise a Matariki feast (breakfast, lunch or dinner), so that you can spend time with whānau and friends that you haven’t seen for a while.
Possibly you could plan and create some goals for the year ahead, writing them down and posting them somewhere you’ll see on consistent basis, so that they can remind you each day of what you are working towards.
Or maybe you’d like to plan and plant a garden of remembrance so that you can be reminded of the new life that follows as a plant grows and produces more leaves, flowers and fruit etc.
Celebrate in a way that feels right for you and your family 🙂
For other activities and resources that you can do check out what Te Wānanga o Aotearoa have provided for free here.
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