Mermaid Myth History, Mermaid Day March 29

International Mermaid Day is a celebration of all things Mermaid on March 29th. Regardless of the spot on our planet, if the ocean is nearby you will hear tales of mermaids. From the myths of Mesopotamia to the vibrant folklore of the Caribbean, mermaids symbolize an enduring fascination with the mysteries of the sea and how we interact with it.

Mermaid myths can be traced back to 5000 years, where we find the first written tale from Mesopotamia about Oannes, a male fish god. We can fast forward to Syria in 1000 BC and read about the goddess Atargatis. She dove into a lake to become a fish. Fearing her beauty would be lost, the other gods would not let her fully transform. Her upper half retained the image of the goddess while the lower half became the tail of a fish.

In Japan, the legend of the ningyo, or "human fish," possessed mystical powers and could bestow good luck. In some versions of the myth the Ningyo were the cause or harbinger of war and bad luck. It was said that if you consumed the flesh of the ningyo you would gain a long life. This belief is reflected in the myth of a woman who was fed ningyo by her father and went on to live 1000 years as a Buddhist monk.

In Ireland and Scotland, tales of selkies blur the boundaries between humans and seals with shape shifting. They were known as the seal people, sea people, mermaid, or maiden of the sea. Only able to transform from seal to human on certain nights, such as the full moon or Beltane. Captivating coastal villages with stories of love, loss, and transformation they were beautiful and mischievous with the ability to control the ocean and weather.. The variations from around the world highlight the universal appeal of mermaids as untamed elements of nature with a face like our own.

The Caribbean has its own rich mermaid myths, with legends of La Sirene as part of Vodou. La Sirene, often depicted as a guardian of the sea, reproduces the two sides of the ocean the islanders would have seen on a daily basis, danger and beauty. The myths of today are a blend of Indigenous, European mythology, and African myths.

In Africa, the Mami Wata (Mother Water) mermaids are powerful spirits who can appear as a man or as a woman. They warded off natural disasters and were known for their beauty , healling, and wisdom. Mami Wata kidnapped people and brought them to an underwater spirit realm. When they returned they would be dry but it was thought that their gaze now reflected a deeper understanding of the spiritual. As time went on this person would become better looking, wealthier, and more easy going.

International Mermaid Day is a reminder of the enduring connection between humans and the sea. Embrace the dark and light of mermaid myths throughout our history as we struggled to make sense of the world around us.

To make sure you can celebrate Mermaid Day with as much fun as possible I have put together a list of ideas for you including recipes and crafts.

Mermaid Water Rum Punch: https://wishesndishes.com/mermaid-water-rum-punch-cocktail/

Seaweed Salad: https://www.japancentre.com/en/recipe/1113-seaweed-salad

Mermaid Fudge: https://amagicalmess.com/mermaid-candy-fudge/

Mermaid Punch (no alcohol): https://werethejoneses.com/mermaid-party-punch-ocean-water-recipe/

Mermaid Meringue Cookies: https://www.sweetambs.com/recipe/mermaid-meringue-cookies/

Mermaid Ice Cream (You do not need an ice cream maker): https://www.homemadeinterest.com/no-churn-mermaid-ice-cream/

Bacon wrapped shrimp (I’m sure this would be mermaid approved): https://thegoodheartedwoman.com/bacon-wrapped-shrimp/

Oven Baked Shrimp Skewers: https://moribyan.com/oven-baked-shrimp-skewers/

Make your own mermaid sneakers: https://www.dreamalittlebigger.com/post/mermaid-sneakers.html

Macrame Mermaid keychain (scroll down about ¼ of the way): https://www.marchingnorth.com/macrame-mermaid-tail-keychain/

Mermaid Embroidery: https://cutesycrafts.com/2017/11/mermaid-embroidery-hoop-pattern.html