Sirena of Guam

Lore

Sirena (Mermaid) - Guam - A girl cursed by her mother for loving to swim; she became a half-fish, half-human who lives in the ocean off Guam.

The girl whose mother cursed her for loving to swim—and who became a half-fish, half-human living in the ocean off Guam

The Legend of the Sirena of Guam tells of a young, beautiful, kind-hearted girl who lived near the deep waters of Hagåtña Springs. She adored swimming, and no one on all Guam could match her speed or stay underwater as long as she could. Yet her mother was constantly angry that Sirena neglected her chores and spent every waking moment in the water.

One day, after calling for help again and getting no answer, the mother lost her temper and cried out a curse: “I hope you turn into a fish—and soon! Then you can swim forever.”

The dreadful part is that, as those words left her mouth, Sirena began to change—starting from her feet.

Her godmother, who loved Sirena dearly, overheard the curse and rushed to intervene. “I cannot allow this to happen,” she declared. “Part of her belongs to me, and I will not let her become a fish.” With those enchanted words, the spell halted—yet the lower half of Sirena’s body had already transformed.

Sirena leapt into the water. From the waist down she now had a fish’s tail, covered in scales and fins. Her mother instantly regretted her words, but it was far too late to restore her daughter’s fate.

For all that, Sirena was happy: she could swim faster than ever and remain underwater longer than any human. She slipped away into the open ocean and was never again seen by her mother or godmother. Fishermen around Guam, however, still glimpse her near the shore, singing her songs. Legend says she can be caught only in a net woven from human hair.