Christening
Ceremony for the Good Ship Sirena – 21 June 2003
Welcome everyone to the Christening
Ceremony for Sirena, which occurs on the auspicious occasion of the Summer
Solstice. We are happy to have you
here today.
Today we celebrate the giving of this
vessel the name Sirena, which originates from our beloved Island of Guam.
Now, for the origins of this name we ask
Serena Hendrickson to read the story of Sirena:
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Many years ago, on the Island of Guam,
there lived a girl named Sirena. She
loved to swim so much that she often forgot to do her work. One day, her mother sent her to pick up
some things from her God-Mother. On the
way she stopped for a short swim in the river. When Sirena didn’t return her mother went looking for her and
found her swimming. She was so angry
that she put a curse on Sirena when she said these words: “If
Sirena loves to swim so much she should become a fish”.
Sirena’s
God-Mother heard the curse, and she prayed to the Gods “Leave the part of her
that belongs to me” As Sirena was
swimming she felt her legs change into the tail of a fish. She swam away into the Pacific Ocean and
could never return home again. She
would sing a beautiful song and sometimes even today people say they can hear
Sirena’s song.
In Chamorro:
Si
Sirena yana numangu hi halom tasi. Yanggen kumankanta si Sirena todu i guaha na
ga'ga' gi halom tasi manmamatkilu ya ma ekungok si Sirena. Bunitu kumanta si
Sirena.
Means:
Sirena loves to swim in the Ocean.
When the Enchanted Sirena sings all the creatures of the deep will be
silent to listen to her. Sirena sings beautifully.
(Listen to Sirena Song on Tape)
(Distribute Cups and begin ceremony)
For Thousands of Years, we have gone to
the sea. We have crafted vessels to
carry us and we have called them by name.
These ships will nurture and care for us through perilous seas, and we
affectionally call them ‘she’. To them we toast, and ask to celebrate
SIRENA.
(fill cups) “TO THE SAILORS OF OLD, O’SIRENA!”
The moods of the sea are many, from
tranquil to violent. We ask that this
ship be given the strength
to carry on. The keel is strong and she keeps out the pressures of the sea.
(fill cups) “TO THE SEA, TO THE SAILORS OF OLD, TO THE
SEA!”
Today we come to name this lady SIRENA,
and send her to sea to be cared for, and to take care of the Hendrickson
family. We ask the sailors of old, and
the mood of God that is the sea to accept Sirena as her name, to help her
through her passages, and allow her to return with her crew safely
(fill cups) “TO THE SEA, TO THE SAILORS BEFORE US, TO
SIRENA!”
(long sip by all – then pour champagne over the
bow to appease King Neptune, and lay a branch of
green leaves on the deck to ensure safe
returns).
With Thanks to Commander Bob, as much of the ceremony is
borrowed verbatim from his wonderful website:
www.commanderbob.com