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Next Friday (June 28, 2024) is Matariki. It is a Māori holiday to celebrate the New Year. Since 2022, Matariki has been an official holiday for the Māori in New Zealand.
In this article, you will learn more about the origin and meaning of Matariki.
What is Matariki?
Matariki is an abbreviation of ‘Ngā Mata o te Ariki Tāwhirimātea’ (‘The eyes of the god Tāwhirimātea’) and refers to the Pleiades star cluster of 500 starts. The word Matariki is the cluster of seven stars, including the star Matariki.
According to Māori legend, the god of the wind, Tāwhirimātea, was so angry when his siblings tore apart their parents, Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the sky.
I once heard that Matariki is the ancient homeland of the Māori. I don’t know how this is any different from Haiwaiki, where the Māori originally come from and return after death.
Matariki is a time to be thankful and to show respect to the earth (Whenua). It is a time of growth and change. It is a time to prepare and for action. During Matariki, you celebrate what you have and what you must give.
When is Matariki celebrated?
Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand in the middle of winter, following the position of the stars and the moon.
In the old Māori culture, there was a lot of knowledge about astronomy. The constellations and the moon cycle were used to navigate the sea, plant, and harvest crops, distinguish the seasons, and determine the spawning time and migration of fish.
You can see the Matariki constellation in New Zealand almost all year round. Except in winter, when the constellation sets on an evening in May.
When the Matariki constellation finally rises and is visible again, the celebration of Matariki begins. This is in the last or fourth quarter until the new moon. It is usually in late June or July because the Māori calendar has 354 days. Last year, Matariki was on July 14, this year on June 28, and in 2025, it will be on June 20.
How is Matariki celebrated?
Matariki is celebrated at dawn. Traditionally, the people who died in the past year are remembered. The present is celebrated, and preparations are made for the upcoming year. It is a time to reflect, to connect, and to take action.
The celebration has three parts:
The first is to look at the stars. The stars’ brightness, sparkle, and color predict the weather and the coming year’s harvest.
The second part of the celebration is to remember the deceased. The names of the people who have passed on to the afterlife are recited.
The third part of the celebration involves offering food to the stars. In an underground oven (hāngī), potatoes (kūmara), birds, freshwater fish, or shellfish are prepared. When the hāngī is opened, fumes are released into the air. This is the food for the stars. It is the last part of the celebration and lasts until the sun rises.
After this ceremony, days of celebration with song and dance follow to celebrate the prosperity and promise of the coming year.
In the past, young Māori were given instructions about the land and the forest during Matariki.
Traditionally, kites are made in the shape of a human being on Matariki. It is a way to communicate with the deceased while flying the kite.
Celebrate Matariki in your area
Matariki is celebrated in New Zealand and other countries where Māori and their iwi (tribes) live.
In The Netherlands, Matariki will be celebrated on Saturday, 22 June, at the Wereldmuseum in Leiden. It starts outside at 11:00 at the Wharewaka (the boathouse) with a traditional Pōwhiri.
!!Reading tip: The Haka: Different Types and their Meaning
During the day, you can also paddle in a real Māori canoe (Waka), learn more about Matariki, dance a Haka, or make a Poi ball. More information can be found here.
Of course, you can also go to the Matariki Festival in New Zealand. This year it takes place from 15 to 30 June at several locations. Go to the official website of the Matariki Festival for more information.
I am convinced that Iwis celebrate Matariki in several places around the world. I encourage you to look it up.
How do you take action and prepare for the upcoming year? Let me know in the comment box below. I, and other readers of this article, look forward to read from you!
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Have you seen an error in this article? Let me know, and I am grateful! It is not my intention to offend the Māori.
Sources:
– Matariki-on Wikipedia
– Matariki – Te Tau Hou Māori
– Matariki
