Matariki

Matariki


Even though not all tribes celebrate together or not at the same time it usually begins on the first full moon.


Lots of people think that Matariki is a constellation but it is a cluster.


There are about 500 stars of Matariki but without a telescope you can only see six or seven stars.


Matariki has different names in different countries.


Some of the names of the stars are Matariki, Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipunā-ā-rangi and Ururangi.


Matariki is the maori new year.


Matariki comes back in June.


Polynesians celebrate matariki with kites.


Matariki means the new cycle of life.


Matariki is a time to remember the people you have lost.


If the Matariki stars are hard to see it means the next year will be very cold.


Matariki is a time to get ready for learning.


Also if the stars are hard to see it means it is a bad time to grow crops.