In New Zealand, "Matariki" is the name of the Pleiades star cluster and also for the season of its first rising in late May or early June. This past weekend John and I celebrated Matariki for the first time at Struan Farm.
In Te Reo Maori the word means "eyes of god" or "little eyes." According to myth, Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatuanuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children. Tawhirimatea, the god of winds, angered by this, tore his eyes out and threw them up into the sky. The central star in the cluster is called "Matariki."
Matariki connotes the beginning of the new year, a time to remember those who have passed over the past year, but also a time to celebrate new life and prepare for the next year. So we celebrated the recent birth of our granddaughter Freya, and to whatever the next year might bring given lots of projects at Struan Farm, including the solar powered eco-building John is busy developing down at the river near Jim's Hut (toilet, shower and kitchen facilities).
Also called the "Seven Sisters," the cluster of stars was important for navigation and seasonal transition in many cultures around the world. In addition to Maori, it was important to Aboriginal, Persian, Chinese, Mayan, Aztec, Sioux and Cherokee peoples. It is mentioned in numerous ancient texts, prominent in the winter in the Southern Hemisphere sky in the constellation of Taurus (summer for the Northern Hemisphere).
In Greek mythology the Seven Sisters were nymphs who committed suicide saddened by the fate of their father, Atlas, who was condemned to stand at the edge of the earth, supporting the sky on his shoulders. Zeus, ruler of the gods, immortalized them by placing them up in the sky.
All in all, it was a big weekend in celestial terms and it will be an exciting next year at Struan Farm for sure.
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