merry matariki!

the maori refer to a bunch of stars that appear low upon the morning horizon in late may as matariki. in other parts of the world these stars are called pleiades and subaru. down here they're significant as their arrival brings on the new year. in ancient times the maori believed the brighter the stars, the better the harvest. traditionally the period of time between the sighting of matariki and the following new moon was the time to connect with your family, tell tales, feast, and to prepare the garden for the following season.

last week we were busying ourselves in the garden in preparation for matariki. we finished making the raised beds, put in fence posts, dug, moved and raked soil. our garden was readied for the celebrations, for the new moon plantings and the oncoming spring.

in the republic we celebrated many cultures- yule's simple lighting of faerie lights on a tree and leaving little bundles of food for the faeries; we feasted with friends, told tales and shared wine; and on the morning of the shortest day the citizens of the republic busied themselves planting garlic and collecting seaweed.

today is the new moon, the beginning of the new year.

we wish you all good luck, love and happiness a plenty for the next year!

kia ora
xx
mama b
ps. so, it may not come as much of a surprise, but i didn't manage to rise in time to see the matariki. maybe next year, eh.