Oceanic Family Traditions

Oceanic Family Traditions

The gentle caress of the ocean sun upon her yellow scales could not have warmed Sola’s heart any more, for it was already glowing with the happiness of being reunited with loved ones. And not just any loved ones ! Her father and mother had come with her younger siblings for the Halawai Festival ! Or, as it was more traditionally known here: the Festival of the Bond Between Sea and Land. What better occasion could there have been for the reunion of a family that embodied that very bond so perfectly ?

As she returned from putting up a little “On Break” sign at her own surfing and diving instruction booth, and taking the opportunity to check with the other participants and organizers to make sure everything was going well, Sola made her way to the center of the craft activities. She was surprised to spot her father browsing around the necklace-making stall. With an amused little smile on her lips, she slipped up behind him and tugged on the tail of the large blue-and-red-furred Shiji, who stood only half a head taller than her.

“ I didn’t know you were interested in trinkets. Have you seen anything that might appeal to Mom ? ”

The male tensed slightly before sighing and returning her teasing smile when he realized it was his daughter.

“ You know this stuff isn’t really my cup of tea. Except when I can watch your mother making it. I figured she’d probably stumble across this stall sooner or later, once she comes back with the little hungry ones. But it reminded me of something while I was looking for you. Something… I should’ve done a long time ago…”

The martial arts master pulled a rather strange grimace. And for good reason: he had just imagined how his own mother would have pulled his whiskers if she’d known how long it had taken him to carry on this tradition… Fortunately, she was no longer around to do so.

His heart tightening slightly at the thought, he pulled from the folds of his lower garment what looked like a necklace made of carefully braided plant fiber and all sorts of other small elements. Without a word, he tied it around his daughter’s neck. The fiber formed a supple loop that fitted perfectly around her neck before meeting again at the front.

Surprised, Sola gave her father a questioning look while he fastened it, then slipped the necklace into the palms of her hands. It was long enough for her to examine it at leisure. Its colors echoed her own, and it was made from natural elements originating from both sea and land, which immediately brought her origins to mind.

The very symmetrical composition was perfectly balanced. That made her think of her father and the doctrine he tried to teach his disciples through the practice of martial arts, bringing a tender smile to her lips. It was then that she realized every element had been chosen with the utmost care. And for someone who had lived on this island for decades, the symbolism of each one immediately jumped out at her.

The opercula symbolized the cycle of life, the yellow agates represented family, and the pearls femininity and wisdom; she laughed inwardly at the thought that this was what her father saw in her. The plant fiber was there to remind her of their bond with the land, while the nautilus, serving as a magnificent central pendant, represented the fact that they came from a family of travelers who always ended up returning to the sea, just like her. As for the colorful beads holding everything together, there were eight of them in total, one for each member of their family. She was certain that the white and red coral were simply aesthetic touches meant to complement her own colors.
The whole piece gave the necklace an unmistakably personal and symbolic appearance. It was clearly not merely an ornament made from materials found in nature and randomly strung together. This necklace represented a piece of history: her history.

Deeply moved, Sola pressed this precious treasure, this beautiful gift, against her heart. What her father was about to tell her, she could already read in his eyes, which seemed every bit as emotional as her own. And it was rather awkwardly that Hao tried to explain the reason behind the gift and his gesture.

“ The nautilus is what best symbolizes our family of travelers… It will be the bond and the promise that we will always find our way back to each other, across the oceans… and it will protect you… As for the rest… well… I know you’re smart, and you’ve probably already figured it out… As your father, I should’ve given you one a long time ago… ”

As he stumbled over his words, nervously scratching the back of his neck, his daughter threw her arms around his neck and hugged him emotionally.

“ Thank you, Dad. I love it, and I’ll wear it proudly. ”

The large male let out a mixture of a grumble and a relieved sigh before wrapping his arms around his daughter in return.

“ We’ll always be with you. I’ll always be with you. And I hope my love will protect you forever. "

The end

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