Hooked by St. John Folklore

When we told people we were coming to St. John on vacation, someone told us to be sure to pick up a St. John Hook bracelet. So, I did. 

The St. John Hook is an adaptation of the first one created, which was introduced on St. Croix. The legend goes like this: 

“Once upon a time in St. Croix, there lived a beautiful maiden who was head-over-heels in love with her betrothed, a handsome seafaring man. This being in the time before airports, resorts and jewelry stores, wedding rings were as scarce on the islands as credit cards. Yet, she desired to present her beloved with a wedding gift that would be a token of their pledged devotion.

Inspiration struck and she raided his tackle box for fishing hooks and heavy leader. The hooks she snipped and smoothed. The wire she wrapped and braided, and the original pair of Island Hook Bracelets were created.

On their wedding day, they each clasped a bracelet around the wrist of their chosen, the open hook toward their hearts. The tradition born that moment survives yet today.

If the open hook is worn facing the heart, you have the good fortune to have found your sweetie. Married or not, you are happily hooked. If worn reversed, good fortune will smile upon your every cast. One of these days, you are sure to reel in your heart’s desire.”

In addition to the gorgeous hook bracelets, you also see a symbol on St. John called a petroglyph, which has become the island's adopted logo. The petroglyphs are said to have been carved in rocks on the island by the Taino Indians more than 3,000 years ago, and the particular carving that was adopted by the island is supposedly God's eyes looking down on it. Sounds good to me... so I bought a pendant with the symbol at an AWESOME little shop called Studio Bamboo. I could spend HOURS in this little place discovering their unique designs, which are definitely island inspired, but OH! ... what I wouldn't do to get them accessible to the states.