Chat About Chuuk: Chuukese Love Stick

Nipwepweiaa (nipwepwe) – the Chuukese "love stick". Something now from days gone by, young men would carve two wooden “love sticks” with identical personal designs. A short one would be displayed in his hair. A longer one would be given to the woman of his adoration.

The tradition went that when a man liked a woman he would openly display the short love stick by day so that the woman would become familiar with his stick pattern. Then at night, he would go to her thatch hut and push the carved stick through the wall to snag her hair. The woman could then feel the design of the stick, and if she recognized it as from a man she liked, she could tug on the stick signaling for him to come in. If she did not care for the man, she simply shoved the stick back through the wall.

Another version of the love stick (also referred to as a fenai) noted that the “open display” did not occur (this may vary by regional practice) and that the girl would slip out of the hut, rather than the man coming in. This seems more sensible given the mortal danger the young man faced if caught in the woman’s home.

The stick is made from the wood of the Eengi tree which is known for its strength. The strength and shape of the stick suggests that, in a pinch, the love stick could be used as a defense if the amorous young man was caught by angry brothers or father.

Today, with the advent of concrete-walled homes, the practice of the love stick has gone by the wayside in exchange for texting each other to set up a secret rendezvous. Now the love stick is little more than a curio sold to the tourists.

TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE PRACTICES IN CHUUK

Traditionally, before a man could consider marriage, he needed to prove he had experience in farming, fishing, and boat construction. He also had to be able to build his own house. It was the belief that if a man was incapable of work, he was unlikely to be successful in marriage. When he had accomplished these skills, he would inform his parents that he was ready for marriage. The parents would then search for a suitable young woman to be his wife. When they had decided on a girl, the parents of the young man would visit the girl's parents. They would introduce themselves and state the purpose of their visit was to discuss the possible marriage of their children. If a marriage was agreed upon, the young man would then live with the girl's parents, while the girl would reside with the young man's parents up until the wedding day. Prior to the marriage, both families would prepare a feast which would be attended by the leaders of their respective families. According to custom, the girl's family would provide enough food for the man's family and the man’s family would do the same for the girl's. The abundance of food was an important status symbol.