Matariki

today for reading I finished my questions and have started writing notes for my reading. I have done well and know much more about matariki than I thought I did. Here are my answers to the questions.

Matariki is the sign of the Maori new year. It starts in winter, Matariki can end whenever the tribe wants because of its beliefs and how long they want to celebrate. There are 9 stars that all help in matariki, there are a mother, the uncle and the seven sisters. The seven sisters are Tupu-a-nuku,Tupu-a-rangi, Waiti & waiata whom are twins, Waipuna a rangi and Ururangi. The other two stars are matariki herself and her brother Puanga-nui-a-rangi.

Maori celebrate Matariki because they celebrate the new year and also say goodbye to people who has passed in the year before. They also welcome the newborn children into the world.

Traditionally Maori would be celebrated by growing and harvesting crops as well as playing games and staying warm with family. They would get ready for winter by grabbing warm clothes and lighting fireplaces to keep warm.

Matariki should be celebrated in a way that you will always remember even though it is three days long you should always make it seem like the queen is coming to your town.

1 Hauhake - When it is Matariki a lot of people want to make sure  their crops are ready to Hauhake in spring or winter.

2 Whanau- A lot of Maori people spend Matariki with their whanau.

3 Pleiade/Matariki- matariki is a pleiade of stars in the sky in mid winter, it starts in june and the dates change every year.

I think I did well and have completed everything to my personal best. I really like how we had to write what we knew before and after reading.