Narii's Christmas.

This is a Tahitian folk tale.

It was the day before Christmas in Tahiti.  Narii, a young boy, was feeling sad because his parents could not afford to get him a gift.  All he wanted was a pair of shoes to wear to school.  On his way back from school, he met a family friend who asked him why he looked so unhappy.  With a sigh, Narii confided in him how he wished that Santa would bring him a gift.  And he also wished for snow.  Since the houses in Polynesia did not have a chimney, Narii thought that Santa did not stop by. 

That night, in his sleep, Narii dreamed that Santa came to his house.  And when he woke up on Christmas morning, to his surprise, he saw a new bike under the Christmas tree!  And a pair of wooden shoes made by his friend! Narii could not believe the sight in front of him.  Tahitian gardenia flowers were scattered on the floor, making it look like snow!

About the Tahitian gardenia:

• The Tahitian gardenia is the emblem of French Polynesia.
• It grows on an evergreen tropical shrub.
• Is creamy white and shaped like a pinwheel.
• Has a sweet fragrance.
• Has between 5 and 9 petals.
• Native to the South Pacific.
• The plant is from Melanesia and Western Polynesia.
• Each person arriving at the airport of Tahiti is greeted with a Tahitian gardenia flower. 
• Strung together to make necklaces, called hei or lei in Hawaiian and head wreaths.
• It's macerated in coconut oil to make monoi, an ointment used as skin moisturizer.
• Wearing it on the left ear means that the person is taken or already in a relationship.  Wearing it on the right ear means that the person is available.