Matariki

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Pleiades

Matariki is the name for the star cluster Pleiades in the New Zealand Māori language .

The position of this star constellation during the year was important in the Polynesian Māori culture for determining the correct dates for sowing and planting. It is also believed that they played a role in Polynesian navigation. The word is probably derived from Mata-riki ("small eyes"), an alternative interpretation refers to Mata-ariki ("main (neuter) eyes").

If the rising of the Pleiades and Rigels occurs in the night sky in late May or early June just before sunrise, this means in the Māori calendar that the old year ends and a new one begins. The New Year celebrations that then take place vary in their exact date according to the different customs of the Iwi , the different tribes of the Māori. Some Iwi celebrate it immediately, others wait until the next full moon , and still others do it until the following new moon . It has therefore become common for various private and public institutions in New Zealand to celebrate Matariki for a whole week or even a full month sometime between the beginning of June and late July . There are also Iwi who orientate themselves in a similar way to the times of the rising Rigel.

In ancient times, matariki was a time of celebration and preparing the ground for planting and sowing. Sacrifices of the regional products were offered to the gods, here not least to Rongo , an important deity of agriculture. This time of year was also used particularly to introduce young people to the care of the land and the forests. It was also important for hunting, because certain species of birds and fish were particularly easy to catch during this period.

A related festival in Hawaii is called Makaliʻi .

holiday

Attempts have been made from time to time to give Matariki the status of an official holiday in New Zealand. The Maori Language Commission in particular sees itself as the spearhead of this endeavor, as it assumes that it will be conducive to a revival of the ancient language.

The rule of the first new moon after the rising of the Pleiades serves to determine the proposed holidays. These are June 8, 2005, June 27, 2006, June 16, 2008, June 24, 2009, June 14, 2010, June 4, 2011, June 21, 2012, June 28, 2014, June 18, 2015, June 6 2016, June 25, 2017, June 15, 2018, June 5, 2019, June 22, 2020.

literature

  • Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo, Matariki, Te Whetū o Te Tau: Aotearoa Pacific New Year, 2001.

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