The is the lunar calendar of the Māori people.
The is traditionally used to assist in the cycles of food gathering, such as fishing, eeling, and planting.
Etymology in the Māori language means "the turning of the moon."
Following the arrival of Christian missionaries in the early 19th century, the Māori adopted phonetic variants of the English names for the days of the week and the months of the year. Since about 1990, the has promoted traditional sets reflecting the original Māori language before anglicisation.
Calendar
The is a 12-month calendar, though the two months following the harvest month of are unremarkable periods of little activity and may be customarily removed from the calendar.
+Māori days of the week Day AnglicisationOfficialMonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
+ Māori lunar calendar Month AnglicisationOfficialDescriptionDecember–January "Fruits are now ripe, and man eats of the new food of the season."January–February "The foot of Rūhī (a summer star) now rests upon the earth."February–March The crops are now harvested.March–April "All straw is now stacked at the borders of the plantations."April–May "Crops are now stored in pits. The tasks of man are finished."May–June "All things on earth are contracted because of the cold; likewise man."June–July "Man is now extremely cold and kindles fires before which he basks."July–August "The scorching effect of fire is seen on the knees of man."August–September "The earth has now acquired warmth, as have vegetation and trees."September–October "The earth has now become quite warm."October–November "It has now become summer, and the sun has acquired strength."November–December "Birds are now sitting in their nests."
See also Matariki Rapa Nui calendar
References