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Aotearoa Daily Kōrero 14/7/2023
(lemmy.nz)
Kia ora and welcome to !newzealand, a place to share and discuss anything about Aotearoa in general
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Banner image by Bernard Spragg
Got an idea for next month's banner?
Certainly! Matariki, also known as Pleiades or the Seven Sisters in Western astronomy, is a cluster of stars that holds special significance in Māori culture, which is indigenous to New Zealand. It becomes visible in mid-winter which marks the time for the Māori New Year.
The stars are considered an important guide for understanding the upcoming year. Different stars in the cluster each carry a distinctive focal area of the natural world, such as wind, people, harvests, plants and weather.
Socially, the Matariki holiday is a time of renewal and celebration. It's a time to remember those who've passed in the last year, and to plan for the new year. Community activities such as shared feasts, singing, dancing, and gift-giving tend to occur during Matariki.
Matariki also symbolizes a time of cultural pride and identity for Māori people. It's a period to pass on cultural heritage and knowledge to the next generation, including the language, traditions, history, and practices.
Today, Matariki is becoming more recognized and celebrated across New Zealand, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of the unique Māori culture in Aotearoan society.
Yes! Normalise 'Aotearoan'! It sounds so great! actually i first read it in transmetropolitan, did you see it there too?
I saw the bot on Lemmy ChatGPT, so thought getting it to comment on Matariki would be a good try out. With you on ‘Aotearoan’, a great term.