Happy June solstice everyone!
We’re now in the depths of winter here in the South Pacific, so the June solstice is our seasonal new year. But it’s still common practice in Aotearoa to celebrate the calendar New Year in the middle of our summer, along with those are hunkering down for a northern hemisphere winter.
Recently though, there has been growing interest in mid-winter new year traditions, shared by the indigenous people of these islands. Like new year activities in many cultures around the world, these observances involve coming together to reflect on the events of the last year, joyful and hard. Especially remembering those we've lost during that time. They also include sharing visions of the year to come, and how we might bring them to fruition.
The exact time period for the Aotearoa new year varies from region to region, and from year to year, beginning with the reappearance of the stars known in English as either The Seven Sisters (Matariki) or Rigel (Puaka/ Puanga). But they usually come to an end by late July, and as the days begin to lengthen again, and it's time to get into gear for the year.
Hope it's a good one!
Image:
"Winter in New Zealand" by Shayan (USA), licensed under CC BY 2.0.
