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Have yourself a Māori Christmas

Kia Ora!

My name is Beth and I’m on a mission to learn, grow and share my love and understanding of all things Māori.

Related Rauemi

This is my favourite waiata kirihimete… Maisey Rika – Tapu te pō

 

Christmas is not a Māori tradition. But I know alot of people who just love this time of year and I know many Centres like to do some fun activities with the tamariki to celebrate.

What it means to me

Last year I considered what Christmas really meant for us and how we could put a bit of Maori flavour into it!

For some people I know it’s a big affair! Decorations and koha, lights, having a huihui (gathering) with alot of whanau and friends, sharing some kai, inu and koha.

With most of our whanau in other parts of the country, we are a whanau iti at Christmas time and I identified that for me it really is about whanaungatanga (strengthening family connection).

Each year at Christmas time, I try to incorporate things that mean something to us and bring us closer together as a family unit. Things like korero (talking), pukapuka (books), toi (arts and craft) and waiata (songs) are wonderful ways to connect with one another.

 

In 2016 I started a tradition in our whare with my tamāhine.

I got given a free Christmas book at the mall from Santa and I found a few other Christmas ones I had lying around. The idea is to use the books like an advent calendar countdown. The pukapuka are wrapped individually and each night one is opened and read before bed. You count them down until the last one you have is read on Christmas eve.  My kotiro is excited every night in anticipation of what pukapuka she will unwrap! We will be adding E hia ngā moe? this year to our pukapuka kirīhimete bundle!  I will continue to add to this collection each year. 

 

I have put rauemi kirihimete you can buy from me down the left hand side of this blog page and related articles on the right. 🙂 I will add to this page with relevant content as it becomes available. For my full range of products please click on the “Hoko” button.

 

Meri kirīhimete me ngā mihi nui o te tau hou?

Some useful Pānuitanga

Some rauemi I found that I think are fun and interesting… Some links to  kirīhimete kupu me ngā rerenga (Maori words and sentences about Christmas) you might find helpful. This site also provides a place where you can test yourself to see what words you know and which to work on.

Mina Keenan has some free downloadable Christmas crafts on her website, Māori inspired Christmas cardsChristmas decorations and gift tags.

These activities use some easy te reo Māori and have cute pikitia. Take a look around her site if you haven’t already, she has some really pārekareka (fun) activities, for kirihimete and other occassions.

And of course if you just want some rawe Māori gifts for the tamariki check out the full range on my website.

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