Today is Thanksgiving in the states. While it’s not the first time I’ve “missed” the holiday with my family (working in news will do that to you,) it is my first one being quite literally half a world away, which, surprisingly, is a little difficult for me. In addition to missing my friends and family, I am also missing the “Thanksgiving atmosphere” that tends to fill the States this week. You know what I’m talking about: that festive feeling that the holiday season is upon us.
However, I do want to take a moment to express how thankful I am for all of you reading along and following my experience at the moment. Your input and comments really continue to inspire me to write more, share more, and even just keep going when things get tough. I am amazed at how many of you are interested in my travels and wellbeing; your love and support mean the world to me, and without it, I probably would’ve stopped blogging months ago.
I also want to say how thankful I am for the experience I am having at the moment in New Zealand. I have met so many people here who have supported me through some dark times (and I’m not just talking about the short days!) I also have a wonderful job and a flurry of opportunity ahead thanks to the skills I have learned during my stay here. This experience has also brought me closer to a lot of people back home who I lost contact with and that makes my heart happy.
I do have plans to celebrate the holiday in New Zealand next week, so maybe I’ll write a full post about that at some point, but for now, I just wanted to share a few things I am thankful for with you on this special day.
The beginning of July is just around the corner, a time that for many, marks the start of the second half of the Gregorian calendar year. (That’s the 12-month system we all know and love worldwide.) However, that’s not the case for the native Maori people here in New Zealand.
A shot of the Matariki fireworks from Te Papa
Just like we “ring in the New Year” during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, so is the tradition with the Maori. If you didn’t know about this, don’t worry, I didn’t either before I arrived in New Zealand. In fact, I may have completely missed Matariki altogether if it wasn’t for a calendar of events put together by Te Papa, the Museum of New Zealand. For the first time ever, the museum is marking this passage of time with a number of special events here in Wellington, including a traditional Matariki ritual, which I had the pleasure of taking part in earlier this month.
Just to give you some background: Matariki actually refers to the cluster of stars more commonly known as the Pleiades. Because Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand) is located in the Southern Hemisphere, these stars rise on the cusp of winter, usually around late May or early June. For the Maori, the sight of this star cluster marks the start of the new year.
A look at the set-up for the Matariki Ritual, which also featured traditional Maori music
The museum’s traditional ritual did a really good job summarizing what this time of year is all about for the Maori. It centered around a giant fire pit and started with the host telling us the story of the Matariki. He also opened up the floor for people to speak and talk a bit about themselves, something I am told happens during a majority of Maori rituals. For me, it was especially interesting to hear from people all over the world. I was amazed at just how international the small city of Wellington really is; I think we heard from someone who originated from just about every continent. I also enjoyed hearing people speak in the native Maori tongue.
Next, we moved on to the actual Matariki ritual and taking the time to appreciate the past year. For the Maori, Matariki is a time to say goodbye to the loved ones lost during the year. During the ritual at Te Papa, we symbolized this by lighting a candle and sending it adrift on a nearby pond. I personally didn’t know anyone who passed in the past year, so I actually said goodbye to my career in television news. This was a job that defined who I was for almost a decade. As I let go of my candle, I said farewell to that person and allowing myself to embrace this uncertainty in a new country.
Each candle represents a personal farewell to the last year
Matariki is not just a time to say goodbye though, it is also a time of celebration. Like Thanksgiving in the States, the celebration happens around the time crops are harvested, which means there is a lot of food to be had. This is why the ritual centered around the fire, as traditional Maori food is typically cooked in “hangi” ovens, or underground pits. And yes, it does take around three to four hours to cook. (But if you don’t have that much time you can buy it made for you here in New Zealand for around $10 NZD.)
The ritual’s “traditional” fire pit (It was gas fed)
In addition to the feast, Matariki is also a time to think about what you want to see happen in the coming year, and really look forward to all of the new possibilities ahead. For the museum’s ritual, we did this by writing down our wishes and dreams for the next year. At the end of the night, we then put those messages in baskets. I assume part of the ritual next year will involve reading some of these, but I guess I have to wait to find out! Either way here’s hoping some of mine come true.
My personal wishes for the next year
In all, I really enjoyed taking part in something uniquely New Zealand, as well as taking the time to pause and reflect on where I’ve been and where I’m headed. I’ve always been a fan of New Year celebration, so I find it quite amazing I managed to find a place that will allow me.to celebrate my favorite holiday twice a year.
