-- New Zealand
Ah,
a nice mid-summer day to celebrate with music and dance!
Did
I say mid-summer? On February 6? Yes!
New Zealand, along with the
rest of the Southern Hemisphere, is enjoying its summer while most of
humanity living north of the equator is experiencing winter.
At
dawn in a place called Waitangi, flags are raised on the grounds
where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840. Typically, there is
a special church service, and shows of song and dance. Several waka
(Maori canoes) and a navy ship re-enact the calling ashore of
Governor Hobson to sign the treaty. At dusk the flags are lowered in
a traditional ceremony. |
| This is the flag of the Maori group that wants a separate, independent Maori nation. |
In
between flag up and flag down, lots of New Zealanders take advantage
of the holiday to go to the beach. Some people attend protests
because there is a lot of controversy about just what the Treaty of
Waitangi said—the Maori version and the English version of the
treaty differ!—and what it means today. Even the name of the
holiday stirs some controversy: some people have suggested (and even
declared and decreed) that the holiday name be changed to New Zealand
Day.
Speaking
of New Zealand...
Peter
Jackson's new movie, The Hobbit, is set in the fantastic
landscapes of New Zealand (just as his Lord of the Rings
trilogy was). Hobbiton has been built so that it can last and can be
a tourist destination, and it looks really charming!
Here is an image gallery, and here and here are videos.
For
more about New Zealand and the Maori people, check out this and
this other earlier posts.
Also
on this date:
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