Matariki
2026-07-10
Matariki is the Māori New Year in New Zealand, based on the rising of the Matariki star cluster (Pleiades). It is a time of remembrance, celebration, and renewal, officially recognized as a public holiday since 2022.
When is Matariki?
Matariki is celebrated on the first Monday in June every year.
The following is the list of Matariki from 2020 to 2049.

HolidayDateWeekday

Matariki DayJun 24, 2022Friday

Matariki DayJul 14, 2023Friday

Matariki DayJun 28, 2024Friday

Matariki DayJun 20, 2025Friday

Matariki DayJul 10, 2026Friday

Matariki DayJun 25, 2027Friday

Matariki DayJul 14, 2028Friday

Matariki DayJul 06, 2029Friday

Matariki DayJun 21, 2030Friday

Matariki DayJul 11, 2031Friday

Matariki DayJul 02, 2032Friday

Matariki DayJun 24, 2033Friday

Matariki DayJul 07, 2034Friday

Matariki DayJun 29, 2035Friday

Matariki DayJul 18, 2036Friday

Matariki DayJul 10, 2037Friday

Matariki DayJun 25, 2038Friday

Matariki DayJul 15, 2039Friday

Matariki DayJul 06, 2040Friday

Matariki DayJul 19, 2041Friday

Matariki DayJul 11, 2042Friday

Matariki DayJul 03, 2043Friday

Matariki DayJun 24, 2044Friday

Matariki DayJul 07, 2045Friday

Matariki DayJun 29, 2046Friday

Matariki DayJul 19, 2047Friday

Matariki DayJul 03, 2048Friday

Matariki DayJun 25, 2049Friday

The History of Matariki?
Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster, which reappears in the mid-winter sky (June–July). For Māori communities, the first sighting of Matariki each year marked the beginning of the new year in the traditional Māori lunar calendar.
The festival was a time for harvesting and food storage at the end of the growing season, honoring ancestors who had passed away, and celebrating new life and planning for the year ahead.
Different tribes had their own customs, but all linked the stars to seasonal cycles, agriculture, and spirituality.
With the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century, Western calendars and traditions became dominant. By the late 19th and much of the 20th century, Matariki celebrations had faded, surviving only in some iwi and rural communities. For generations, it was largely overlooked in national culture.
From the 1970s onward, interest in Māori culture and traditions grew as part of a wider cultural renaissance.
Scholars, elders, and community leaders promoted the significance of Matariki, leading to local celebrations and school programs.
By the early 2000s, Matariki festivals were becoming common across the country, emphasizing cultural pride, astronomy, and community gatherings.
In 2022, Matariki was officially recognized as a public holiday in New Zealand, the first holiday to honor Māori culture specifically.
The date shifts each year, based on the lunar calendar and the appearance of the Matariki cluster, but it always falls in winter (late June or early July).

Marine Day (Japan)
2026-07-20
Marine Day honors the ocean's importance to Japan as an island nation, recognizing its role in providing food, transportation and prosperity. The holiday encourages appreciation for the sea and maritime culture. Many people visit beaches, participate in ocean-related events, and enjoy fireworks or festivals celebrating Japan's close connection to the sea.
When is Marine Day?
Marine Day is celebrated in Japan on the third Monday of July each year.
The following is the list of Marine Day from 2020 to 2049.

HolidayDateWeekday

Marine DayJul 23, 2020Thursday

Marine DayJul 22, 2021Thursday

Marine DayJul 18, 2022Monday

Marine DayJul 17, 2023Monday

Marine DayJul 15, 2024Monday

Marine DayJul 21, 2025Monday

Marine DayJul 20, 2026Monday

Marine DayJul 19, 2027Monday

Marine DayJul 17, 2028Monday

Marine DayJul 16, 2029Monday

Marine DayJul 15, 2030Monday

Marine DayJul 21, 2031Monday

Marine DayJul 19, 2032Monday

Marine DayJul 18, 2033Monday

Marine DayJul 17, 2034Monday

Marine DayJul 16, 2035Monday

Marine DayJul 21, 2036Monday

Marine DayJul 20, 2037Monday

Marine DayJul 19, 2038Monday

Marine DayJul 18, 2039Monday

Marine DayJul 16, 2040Monday

Marine DayJul 15, 2041Monday

Marine DayJul 21, 2042Monday

Marine DayJul 20, 2043Monday

Marine DayJul 18, 2044Monday

Marine DayJul 17, 2045Monday

Marine DayJul 16, 2046Monday

Marine DayJul 15, 2047Monday

Marine DayJul 20, 2048Monday

Marine DayJul 19, 2049Monday

The History of Marine Day?
Marine Day is one of Japan's newer national holidays, established to celebrate the ocean's bounty and Japan's deep maritime heritage.
The origins of the holiday trace back to July 20, 1876, when Emperor Meiji returned safely to Yokohama aboard the steamship Meiji Maru after a voyage to the Tōhoku region. This event symbolized Japan's modernization and growing relationship with the sea. To commemorate that journey, "Marine Memorial Day" (Umi no Kinenbi) was introduced in 1941, though it was not a public holiday at the time.
In 1995, the Japanese government officially designated Marine Day as a national holiday, first celebrated on July 20, 1996. The purpose was to express gratitude for the ocean's gifts, reflect on Japan's maritime history, and promote awareness of ocean conservation.
As part of the Happy Monday System reform in 2003, Marine Day was moved to the third Monday of July, creating a long weekend and encouraging citizens to enjoy seaside recreation.
Today, Marine Day is celebrated across Japan with beach festivals, sailing events, and ocean conservation activities. In coastal cities like Yokohama and Kobe, ports and aquariums host public events to honor Japan's enduring connection with the sea, an essential part of its culture, economy and identity.
