In the Southern Hemisphere, at the time of the winter solstice, a cluster of seven stars, called ‘the Pleiades’ in the Northern Hemisphere and ‘Matariki’ in Aotearoa New Zealand, becomes visible on the horizon just before dawn. For Maori, this marks New Year. It is a time to remember those who have died, particularly in the last year, for celebrating with harvested crops, seafood, and birds. Kites are flown close to the stars. And there might be hot-air balloons and fireworks.
Liturgical celebrations of Matariki clearly will use te reo Māori. Solstice threads can be incorporated, as well as traditions drawn from the biblical new year, Rosh Hashanah (Leviticus 23:24) including the blowing of the horn (or possibly appropriately the conch shell).
Some obvious hymns are:
Whakaria mai /How Great Thou Art
E te Atua —Alleluia Aotearoa 31
Where mountains rise to open skies — Alleluia Aotearoa 155
God of all time, all seasons of our living — Alleluia Aotearoa 49
Children’s activities can include making stars, kites,… Click here for ideas from the Rainbow Room Children at St Andrew’s on The Terrace.
During Matariki, we celebrate our unique place in the world. We give respect to the whenua on which we live, and admiration to our mother earth, Papatūānuku.
Throughout Matariki, we learn about those who came before us. Our history, our family, our bones.
Matariki signals growth. It’s a time of change. It’s a time to prepare, and a time of action. During Matariki, we acknowledge what we have and what we have to give.
Matariki celebrates the diversity of life. It’s a celebration of culture, language, spirit and people.
Matariki is our Aotearoa Pacific New Year.
Pope Francis is the first pope born in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a good time to be claiming and creating Southern Hemisphere ways of doing things.
What do you do for Matariki? What ideas do you have for it? How can we connect this with church celebrations? With home celebrations? With other contexts?
For Sunday:
Preaching Resources from DownUnder
Textweek
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I think Matariki was something I wrote about many years ago Bosco, and that’s how we first e-met! I had decided to write a blog, In Good Faith.
Revelation 1:20 is easy to understand, unlike much of that gospel: it relates to ancient culture and a totally different philosophy, as you relate it ‘Matariki is our Aotearoa Pacific New Year.’
I’m not sure the rest of the world knows who that is or know how much the people in the Southern hemisphere can help the world heal now that the rest of us have done our damage!
In the Unitarian Universalist hymnal we sing this:
Go lifted up,
Love bless your way,
moonlight, starlight
guide your journey
into peace
and the brightness of day.
Thanks, Tracy. How cool you remember our first e-meeting. Blessings.