Haumia
From ENWiki
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Domains: Animal, Earth, Plant
Favored Weapon: Sickle
Symbol: a fern leaf
Haumia (pronounced “how-MEE-uh”) is the God of Wild Foods, who has dominion over all foods that are hunted and gathered from the wild forests of the Fire Islands, from mushrooms and bananas to rabbits and honeybees. In particular, he is associated with aruhe (pronounced “ar-ROO-hee”), the starchy rhizome of the braken fern which is cooked and eaten like potatoes, or dried and powdered to make flour. Aruhe is an important food among the people of the Fire Islands, appreciated for its ready availability and the ease with which it can be stored.
Haumia is one of the sons of Rangi and Papa, who agreed to the forced separation of his parents. Because of this, he was subjected to the fury of his brother Tāwhiri the God of Storms, who would have killed him if their mother had not hidden him in her body (the ground). When he escaped from Tāwhiri, he was later discovered by mankind, who saw Haumia’s hair (the ferns) sticking up out of the earth.
Haumia’s mask is green, decorated with black spirals (which represent the bracken fiddleheads) and topped with fern leaves for hair. During rituals and ceremonies, his presence is signified by a tassle of fresh fern leaves gathered that morning. It is said that he visits the islands every day, coming in on the morning mist and walking the forest paths to tend his ferns and mushrooms, feed his rabbits, make honey for his bees, and cause his bananas and coconuts to ripen. In appreciation, the people of the Fire Islands leave small offerings of aruhe bread and honey near the forest paths.
Haumia belongs to the Fire Islands Pantheon.
