Celebrating Matariki

An ancient Māori celebration, Matariki is named after the Pleiades star cluster, a group of stars which shine bright in the night sky each winter and signal the birth of a new year.

Like natural scent, Matariki reminds us of our connection to the environment. And just as Matariki is a time to acknowledge the past, celebrate the present and prepare for the year ahead, scent also connects us to the past, the present and is a conduit for transition into whatever we wish to cultivate in the future.

Here are some beautiful ways to celebrate Matariki

• Take time to reflect and remember – honour loved ones no longer with us, the special times shared and take these beautiful memories with you, into the year ahead
• Celebrate the present – gather your loved ones, share stories, songs, kai, laughter and gratitude
• Look to the future – look forward with love and hope for all that will come to be in the year ahead, perhaps envisaging what you’d like to create or bring to life.
• Matariki is about renewal – the perfect time to connect with nature and recharge your wairua/spirit. Get creative or crafty, learn a new hobby, plant a tree or vege patch, these are all symbols of new life and new beginnings.
• Learn more about Matariki. We’ve linked some of our favourite online resources here and here packed with fun facts and also how you can spot Matariki in the night sky!