What does the Matariki star represent?
Matariki is the star that signifies reflection, hope, our connection to the environment, and the gathering of people. Matariki is also connected to the health and wellbeing of people.
How did the Matariki stars get their names?
It is one of the brightest clusters in the sky, containing hundreds of member stars. Matariki has different names around the world. In English, it is called by its ancient Greek name, Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. In Hawaiian it is Makali’i, ‘eyes of royalty’, and in Japan it is Subaru, meaning ‘gathered together’.
Why is there 9 stars in Matariki?
Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars. This year, from July 6 to 9, Matariki will re-appear in the dawn sky – signalling the start of the Māori New Year. It is a time to celebrate new life, to remember those who’ve passed and to plan for the future.
How did Matariki begin?
According to Māori tradition, the god of the wind, Tāwhirimātea, was so angry when his siblings separated their parents, Ranginui the sky father and Papatūānuku the earth mother, that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.
What year did Matariki start?
Te Rangi Huata of Ngāti Kahungunu began in 2000 an annual Matariki celebration in Hastings, which attracted 500 people, which reached 15,000 in 2001. In 2001, the Māori Language Commission began a move to “reclaim Matariki, or Aotearoa Pacific New Year, as an important focus for Māori language regeneration”.
What is the Matariki story?
Matariki – The Eyes of God tells the story of Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother who were separated by their children. It is a tale of renewal, opportunity and reflection on who we are and our connection to our whanau.
Is Matariki in the Milky Way?
Matariki rises in mid-winter and for many Māori, it is the start of a new year. In Aotearoa New Zealand it comes into view low on the north-eastern horizon. It appears in the tail of the Milky Way in the last days of May or in early June, just before dawn.
Are the Matariki stars male or female?
The Nine Stars The six other stars are sometimes named as Matariki’s daughters; it has been suggested that the idea of Matariki as a group of seven female stars was influenced by the concept of the Pleiades’ “seven sisters”.
How long is Matariki celebrated for?
3 days
The Matariki new moon happens some time in June or July each year. Some people celebrate the New Year on the day the new moon rises, and others celebrate on the day after the new moon. Celebrations can last for up to 3 days.
What food do you eat on Matariki?
Matariki is traditionally a time to get together to share kai harvested from past seasons. Cook a mid-winter feast for friends and whānau using traditional Māori vegetables such as kumara, kamo kamo, taro, puha and uwhi. There are many other delicious foods you could cook as well.
Is Matariki male or female?
The Nine Stars
| Māori | Greek | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Matariki | Alcyone | Female |
| Tupu-ā-rangi | Atlas | Male |
| Tupu-ā-nuku | Pleione | Female |
| Ururangi | Merope | Male |
Who are Matariki parents?
In Maori, Matariki means ‘tiny eyes’ or ‘eyes of God’. The children of the earth mother Papatuanuku and sky father, Ranginui, were divided over whether to separate them and bring light and life to the earth. Eventually, Tane Mahuta, the god of the forest, laid on his back and used his feet to force them apart.
Is Matariki a zodiac?
The brightness of the stars early on in Matariki is used to help predict the new year. “Basically what tohunga or Māori astronomers have done is they would look at the brightness of each star and they would kind of predict the year ahead.
How long is Matariki?
Celebrations can last for up to 3 days. The modern option for the Maori New Year is to pick a day between the new and full moons, and this has become the more traditional date. Upcoming dates: In 2022, Matariki will begin on 21 June, with the public holiday recognised on 24 June 2022.