Public Holiday
Today is Matariki – a new holiday here in New Zealand. Matariki are a cluster of stars that appear this time of year (mid winter) here in New Zealand and it is know as the Māori New Year.
Matariki runs from late May through early July as each iwi celebrates in their own way.
The date of the Matariki public holiday is closest Friday to the Tangaroa lunar calendar period of the correct calendar month. So like Easter it will change each year.
It is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.
The recommended ways to celebrate (for all New Zealanders – not just Māori) are
- Take time to remember loved ones who are no longer with you
- Give thanks for the year that has passed
- Enjoy a Matariki feast together
- Plan for the next year
- Spend time with family and friends
- Write down your wishes for the year
- Plan to grow a garden
New Rituals
I’m beyond thrilled with this new public holiday. I so much miss the quiet inward reflection that December and January evoke in the US.
Celebrating New Years in New Zealand is much more sun and fun filled sort of activity. Planning and reflection are long forgotten when the beach is beckoning.
So now I have the cold dark reflective holiday to create new rituals.
A few weeks ago I spent a couple of days reviewing the past 6 months and planning ahead for the next 9 months. The deep of winter – with the short cold days are such a better time to do this sort of work.
Taking a Day off for the Holiday
Last year I was out of town on the public holiday (selling art at the Christchurch Art Show) so this year is my first year to decide how I want to celebrate.
Generally I work through most holidays. It’s the joy of being self employed. There are no holidays or weekends unless you declare them to be days off.
My plan for today:
First up was my morning sketching – and of course the stars (not even trying to pretend to be positioned like the real stars in the Matariki cluster.)
Then some reflection and journaling. Something I use to do daily but it has fallen a bit by the wayside. Maybe this will inspire me to reignite this incredibly important part of my practice.
I did write down my wishes for the year. I really love this idea much better than making resolutions. Wishes have a
For the rest of the day my plan is to do some of the following
- Order some seeds
- Weed the garden
- Respond to a very large number of old emails (part of connecting with home and also planning for the new year with a clean slate – yes this is kinda like work)
- Spending a heap of time in the studio
- Walk on the beach
- Attending the Matariki celebrations in Wellington in the evening
While I have a new holiday here in New Zealand to build some new traditions – we can really create new traditions at any time. And also take a day off work to reground ourselves.