Matariki: Maori New Year Celebration

Matariki: Maori New Year

What is Matariki?

• Matariki is the Maori New Year, celebrated by the indigenous people of New Zealand
• It marks the beginning of the Maori calendar year
• Named after the Matariki star cluster, also known as the Pleiades or Subaru in Japanese culture

Significance

• Celebrates the rise of the Matariki star cluster, which appears in the eastern sky in late May or early June
• Marks the end of the harvesting season and the beginning of the new year
• A time for reflection, renewal, and new beginnings
• Honors the dead and acknowledges the ancestors

Traditions and Customs

• Whanau (family) gatherings and reunions
• Traditional foods, such as kumara (sweet potato) and fish
• Storytelling, singing, and performances
• Games and activities, such as weaving and carving
• Paying respects to the dead and ancestors through rituals and ceremonies

Modern Celebrations

• Matariki is now recognized as a public holiday in some parts of New Zealand
• Celebrations often take place over several days, featuring cultural events, exhibitions, and festivals
• Many organizations and institutions, such as museums and libraries, participate in Matariki celebrations
• A time for Maori people to reconnect with their culture and heritage

Matariki: Maori New Year

• Matariki is the celebration of the Maori New Year, marking the beginning of the Maori calendar year.
• The celebration is named after the Matariki star cluster, also known as the Pleiades or Subaru in Japanese culture.

Significance

• Matariki marks the rise of the Matariki star cluster, which appears in the eastern sky in late May or early June.
• The celebration marks the end of the harvesting season and the beginning of the new year.
• It is a time for reflection, renewal, and new beginnings.
• Matariki honors the dead and acknowledges the ancestors.

Traditions and Customs

• Whanau (family) gatherings and reunions are an essential part of Matariki celebrations.
• Traditional foods, such as kumara (sweet potato) and fish, are shared during the celebrations.
• Storytelling, singing, and performances are important cultural practices during Matariki.
• Games and activities, such as weaving and carving, are also part of the celebrations.
• Paying respects to the dead and ancestors through rituals and ceremonies is a significant custom.

Modern Celebrations

• Matariki is recognized as a public holiday in some parts of New Zealand.
• Celebrations often take place over several days, featuring cultural events, exhibitions, and festivals.
• Many organizations and institutions, such as museums and libraries, participate in Matariki celebrations.
• Matariki is a time for Maori people to reconnect with their culture and heritage.