Claire Ryan tells how starwatchers in different parts of the Southern Hemisphere have related to the star cluster we call Matariki.

AS A CHILD I puzzled over the calendar. Why did we celebrate New Year in the middle of summer? Surely it made more sense to do so when spring was on the way, not autumn? Then our teacher told us that people from the north had brought their calendar to us. So, could I now blame my ancestors for the calendar that did not fit our seasons? Before they left their land, their language and their loved ones forever, they celebrated New Year in winter, when the Pleaides rose at night.

It is not surprising that people from the South also developed calendars based on observations of our own skies and our own seasons. It is equally not surprising that the fuzzy blob of stars we know as Matariki, an open star cluster clearly visible on a clear winter’s morning, should play an important part of that calendar since it rises so close to winter solstice.

Peruvian Tradition

In Peru, the seven stars are known as Qullqa (the storehouse). Their rising over Cusco marks the start of the Quechuan religious festival Quyllu Rit’i (bright white snow) associated with the upcoming harvest and the new year. In many Andean cultures, the stars we know as Matariki are associated with abundance because they rise each year at harvest time.

Easter Island Tradition

The discovery of a Rapanui Rock Calendar and archaeological research shows how closely Easter Islanders followed both the Pleiades (which they called Ariki Mau, represented by a turtle) and nearby bright orange star Aldebaran (easy to see here, too). Archeologists found six boulders containing a model of Ariki Mau. There is an old story told of a god, with the assistance of Aldebaran and Sirius, breaking a bright star into six pieces, similar to the stories told by some iwi here.

Rarotongan Story

In Rarotonga, the name Matariki is also used. Given the geographical position of the islands, 21 degrees south, they had the best of both worlds (or is that hemispheres?).

The people marked the winter dawn rising of Matariki as a sign that the spirits of the year were departing.

The summer dusk rising of Matariki was the start of “extravagant rejoicing”. Here, too, is the story of the god Tane, hunting Matariki with his crafty cronies Mere (Sirius) and Aumea (Aldebaran). Matariki hid in a stream. Mere drained it, so Matariki fled. Tane was so frustrated about Matariki’s escape that he threw Aumea at it — smashing Matariki into pieces. That is why Aumea now regretfully follows Matariki.

Samoan Tradition

In Samoa, the cluster is known as Matali’i or Li’i, the eyes of the chiefs. It was a time for fishing the annelid worm, a delicacy known as palolo, which only emerges from coral reefs for two or three days. This was historically marked by great celebrations, a dedicated time for families and feasting. This tended to be in October-November, more of a northern time, perhaps because Samoa is only 13 degrees south of the equator.

Interestingly, however, the traditional Samoan name for June was Palolomanu, July Palolomua, and August Palolomuli, suggesting an old wintry link to the highly-prized food.

Australian Aboriginal Stories

Finally, there are many links to the seven sisters in the indigenous cultures of Australia. While there are variations, the underlying theme is constant: a story of forbidden pursuit, strong desire, a daring escape, magic and the everlasting bonds with family represented by close-knit sisters who stay together and rescue each other.

One dreamtime story is that the seven sisters were sky people who came to earth and were chased by men — but they beat the men with their digging sticks and escaped. In another version, they were pursued by the shape-shifter Yurlu in the form of a snake. The sisters threw the snake away and it flew to the horizon. They escaped to the sky where they became stars.

Māori Stories

Long ago, astronomical knowledge gave rise to all these stories. I shared some of the Matariki stories of Aotearoa in Tui Motu last year.

“Matariki” means “eyes of god” and may refer to the pūrakau or story of Tāwhirimātea, the god of wind and weather, who when he discovered that his siblings had separated his parents Ranginui and Papatūānuku, tore out his eyes and threw them, in rage, into the sky, landing on his father’s chest where they remain, preserved and protected forever.

Another pūrakau is that the brightest star in the cluster is the whaea or mother, surrounded by her family.

As agriculturalists, Māori have planned their years by the rising of stars in the morning. The “heliacal rising” (meaning “becoming visible just before sunrise”) of Matariki heralds the New Year, just as it does in cultures across the Southern Hemisphere, as the time when the short wintry days will start to
become longer.

Not all iwi celebrate at the same time, some beginning on the first new moon or full moon after Matariki rises and some celebrating Puanga (the star Rigel in the constellation Orion) where that star is more visible than Matariki. (See: Claire Ryan “Matariki ABC” TM June 2022).

Remember, Celebrate, Resolve

As we mark Matariki this year, maybe you and your whānau could discover and share the Matariki stories of your tūpuna/ancestors, grandparents, be they from the north or the south.

As you spot these glowing little stars in their watch, shining with gladness, maybe you and your whānau could also ask: “How do we bring the gladness of spring to others?” 

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 283 July 2023: 6-7