W.A.L.T
Tell which day it is using the moon and stars.
The Maori lunar calendar is called the Maramataka, which literally means the turning of the moon It marks the phases of the moon in a lunar month.
Why is Maramataka important.
The maramataka was an important marker of time for our tupuna, as it provided information on the best times of the day, month and year for certain activities. As a lunar calendar, the maramataka followed the phases of the moon throughout the month – each day with a different name, holding different information
What do the names of the months of the Maramataka mean
The maramataka divided the traditional Maori year into 12 lunar months. The word marama means both the moon and the lunar month a lunar month is the 29 and a half days between successive new moons, and normally straddles two calendar months. Each month also had its own name, which sometimes varied between tribes.
What does Whiro mean
Whiro is the lord of darkness and character of all evil in Maori myth. He inhabits the underworld and is responsible for the ills of all persons a contrast to his brother and enemy Tane.
Whiro the lord of the under world and one of the phases of our moon.
