How do Maori celebrate Matariki? by Dresynn

How do Maori celebrate Matariki?

Matariki is really important because it's the Maori New Year. It is a Maori tradition to have a feast, spend time with whanau, and do arts and craft.

There are even myths and some history about Matariki. Matariki is named after the seven stars also known as the seven sisters. People also believe that Matariki is the mother of the other six stars.

The best thing to do during Matariki is to spend time with whanau and have delicious kai. This includes kaimoana or kumara. Also you can have a hangi, and for your Nan or your family you can get mussels.

When it’s Matariki, people celebrate by doing arts and crafts or dancing like haka. They can make nga whetu out of harakeke or they can make tauria with wood and do whakaira and make a ahimumura.

They go to the tatahi and have a good time and perhaps people can have a BBQ. You can sing with your whaea me te papa and your tuakana teina or your younger siblings. You can have a feed and remember your lost ones and invite some people that you know. They can bring kumara you can even do a haka with taiaha and go back  home and start planting your crops.