matariki

MATARIKI - The Seven Sisters

Here are the names of the seven stars.

1. Matariki, 

2. Waiti

3. Waita

4. Tupuanuku

5. Tupuarangi,

6. Waipunarangi

7. Ururangi.

The meaning
Matariki is the maori  name given to small group of stars also called the Seven Sisters.  It is a very important date that they celebrate in May to early June every year as it is also the maori new year.   It is an important time to maori as they decide what crops to plant. 

The Legend
The Legend of Matariki is about the sky father Ranginui and the earth mother Papatuanuku and their 7 daughters.  When the mother and father were separated by their children the God of winds became angry, Tāwhirimātea, he pulled out his eyes and threw them of to the sky, they became the seven stars of Matariki.

Review
I think this legend is hard to believe it's true because no one could chuck eyes that far into the sky.

Other names around the world
In Japan Matariki is known as Subaru.

Europe: In Greece ,Pleiades, the Greek name for the cluster, is described as seven sisters, the daughters of Atlas and Pleone.