Myths and Legends Chocó

In many villages of Choco, especially in rural regions, it is believed, nearly blind and widespread myths of different male and female anthropomorphic. Who has not heard of the Madremonte, for example, the Patasola, the Madreagua and Viudita, the Mohan, La Llorona, the Wandering Jew, Black Dog, the Anima Sola, the Mule Lent and Tunda or Foot grinder. Some myths are evil and vengeful, others joking and playful. Some simply scared, others are even cannibals, some are harmless and others, although they produce shock, arouse compassion. For us, the myths are not only a reality if not told a living reality, in one form or another, belong to our folklore, that have penetrated deeply into the soul of the people and part of the inventory of things that called "Lore?. In short, the collective folk myths are made, because they are common to a cluster that the usufruct and transmitted from generation to generation. Here is the great role of oral tradition as an effective way to sustain and preserve the collective and individual memory of the past. We must recognize that our peasant wit and verbal virtuosity to convey the ideas and thoughts.

His natural audience, characterized by the spontaneity of their gatherings, remain almost caught up to gnosis, by the magic of learning to count and transmit beliefs and things that spring from its emotional core, expressed through a special set of images and symbols that capture the attention of listeners, the shifts in time and space and makes fantastic characters and gruesome drama. This is only natural to understand if we consider that he has narrated transmit or create an environment in the receiver with the ability to use imagination, sensitivity and feel and get involved in the story itself or the story, through the power of the floor so that your message reaches fullness with life energy. The myth as we conceive and understand our world and influence our destiny, hence we have said that this is not told but a reality lived. It is difficult to convince a peasant farmer and the longer, more difficult, the troll, for instance, does not cause storms, caring and destroy the fields and crops, is in the form of a dwarf or child, has straw hat huge wings, plays flute and soprano, is hidden in the roofs of the houses, throwing stones, chasing girls of marriageable age, which are creatures that roam who died unbaptized.

It is also impossible to change his mind about the witches are not witches women who have pact with the devil, who travel at night, especially on Mondays and Fridays, broom handles, baskets or egg shells, which are flaps on the roofs of the houses, and laughter loud laugh, that never sleep, they have long noses and hair messy, let them suck the blood of newborns and it is stolen, they do spells and to lift people out there to put a broom behind the door, make four crosses on the ground, two machetes to cross or praying the creed backwards. In Chocó there are many myths related to other myths of Colombia and, if you will, with myths of Europe? Africa, obviously with regional connotations of its own. The permanent contact between social and cultural elements that make up the Colombian and Latin American ethnicity resulted in racial and cultural hybridity, and the emergence of a people undeniably mestizo. From this derives the similarity of myths Chocoanos with other myths, their survival and continuity. Specifically, the myths are thus closely related to other myths, in fact, have roots in ancient peoples and distant continents, but with adaptations that are seen as authentic our own reality, in our own environment, with an idiosyncrasy that belongs to us.

Of them are good signs here in the belief that they are not arbitrary inventions of our society, because their origins linked to the germs themselves of our thinking and our language. The elf is one of the most popular and widespread myths in America. According to belief, there are two types of duende, one playful and one evil. Usually, the leprechaun is short and stocky, with youthful and bright costumes or uses brightly colored to attract attention. Often protects his face with a broad-brimmed hat of straw. This type of elf lives in the thick forests of trees. When you want to bother appealing to idleness, hiding the thimble to housewives, thread and needle, and the laborer, hiding her hoe, machete, Barreton, or paddle. In the kitchen hides the grinder, grinding hand, drops the water pots, living soup. In the rooms hide the shoes, socks, clothing, or turn off the light destiende the bed sheets and throw pillows on the floor. Playful elf said to laughs in the ceilings and plays flute leaning against the trunks of trees.

When evil elf likes to do unusual noises that cause terror or fright, takes possession of people's homes and haunts, throw stones, real stone rain against their roofs and walls. Soiled with manure meals, breaks the plates, boot or bend spoons, chasing teenage girls, the pinch, they touch the bottom, they grab the breasts and squeezes them until they mourn, the bites, pushes and makes fall. Children suck the blood during sleep, hit them and watering them in the face. This type of elf is dangerous when in love and is not returned, or when a rival. If this occurs, we split the clothes to her suitor, as the frightening night, Chuza with pins, makes it fall out of bed and hits. When scares contender when he visits, like a toad presentándosele huge snake or a giant midway. If the bride gives a cool, pour it on the shirt, if you light a cigarette, burning mouth, if you try to sit him off the seat to fall and if you're standing knee strikes to overthrow it.

Finally, if none of this happens does the bride carry it across the counter until terminated the relationship. In many regions it is believed that the leprechaun is a soul who left this world without being baptized. The Witches' That is, there are, but we must not believe them?, The saying goes. Of these women stated that they are witches who are deal with the devil and that tend to travel at night flew through her breasts to become wings, or just traveling on broomsticks and baskets, because during the day they are prohibited. In order to fly we must not eat salt, since they do run the risk of collapse of the heights. Witches can appear in different forms: a very common is transformed into a bat and sucking the blood of newborns, too, can do so chicken, cat, or snake. A pose like witches on the roofs of houses and laughter. Scared both young and old, but have a preference for children who kiss night, leaving in their tender cheeks, the hallmark of his mouth and sucking purple effect.

A few times they do not take them away to the mountains, where their parents or relatives have to be removed. To keep them out of the house must place a broom behind the door of the house. To do no harm, it is customary to bring a flower of rue in your pockets or put garlic under the pillows, too, water the bed with mustard greens or grains of rice mixed with barley. Children scapulars and medals will put them far from their influence. To catch them, the most effective is salt water in the house. Some tend to mix it with pepper, and it is said that when they die they scream a cat or a toad in the stomach. Witches are anthropomorphic myth most feared by our peasant societies. Usually, women of a certain age, looks bleak, and red eyes wide with permanent and late-night that they are subjected. Disheveled hair and clothes look frayed, have long noses and pointed, and walking bent by the weight and over the years, not forgive. For supposedly better in the dark eyes lend the cat, the owl or the owl.

The Devil is the epitome of evil, takes the names of the whores, the Devil, the Mandingo, the Pardieu, the? Angel Malo, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Biruñas, Cantuña, Satan and the Spirit of Evil universal mythology The devil is represented by a black man, gross and ugly, with horns, tail and legs, candle that casts the eyes, armed with a long fork, protruding fangs and framed by a fearful laugh, fueled by the flames that issued and nauseating smoke around it. The devil tempts both men and women, has a high power over material nature to work and often make ways to get away with. Can transform into a dog, mule, owl, tiger, bat, cat, bull, chicken or duck, in short, on what you want to cause evil. Only a crucifix, the expression "Ave Maria Purisima?, Water vendita, the scapular with the image of the Virgen del Carmen, or it may alienate the Holy Rosary. It is worth remembering that the Old Testament refers to Lucifer and the angels who rebelled against God, and their expulsion to hell. This tradition spread to the whole of Christianity and became the greatest expression of evil and sin.

By extension, the word "Devil? usually applied to children quite naughty, unruly and restless, just very ugly people, is also used as an interjection. The Mohan Some describe him as an old Indian, covered with mosses, long nails, spear-shaped, who lives in the mountains, the flats of the rivers, on rocks near streams and in swamps. Her body is hairy and thick with hair that falls over the back. His eyes are bright red, with a gloss, which give the appearance of two coals. It has a big mouth, big teeth, complexion burned by sun exposure, huge bushy beard and head. In general, offers a demonic aspect. This mythical being, so called, is considered by almost all farmers like the male deity of rivers. It's playful and libertine, say fishermen, whom he entangles the hook or cast net, they damage the cup, they started the stakes, he cuts the thread of the tola or sloop. Usually, when the day is warming, take the sun near the rocks around the pools or care where he keeps treasures consisting of precious stones, for this reason, the washerwomen, who like to pursue, be up early to his office to avoid meeting .

The Mohan, say, the growing influence and how it feels to own the rivers, streams, creeks and streams, attacks hair or take as a warning to those who invade their domain, for it is the fishermen in their view, who not only makes jokes but, in many cases, they turned the canoe, drowns and eats when they persist in invading their property. Besides being in love and obsequious with adolescents, which seeks at all costs, the Mohan know of witchcraft and is great snuff smoker, hence, to entertain or soothe him in his dominions leave cigarette packets and butts of salt , which also pleases. The Mohan can be transformed into a bear, lion or tiger, under the circumstances. The Icho Mohan is said that in this village lived two witches compadres at first opportunity, they tried to compete on knowledge. One was transformed into one in turkey hen, one in turtle and the other dog, and so on. The scene of his boasts and demonstrations was the stretch of road Quibdo - Tutunendo. Once one of the godparents was found half-way, a curious turtle picked it up and threw it over his shoulder, but as we progressed noted that that grew in size and, obviously, by weight, unable to endure until further dropped to the ground.

Imagine his surprise to see his friend turned into a rival, who cunningly managed to say "Thank you, compadre to load, but today was too lazy to walk? and disappeared mysteriously in Tutunendo wait, laughing. When my friend did not like the game and vowed revenge somehow. It was another day and went hunting in the vicinity of Icho, when a few feet away was found in front of a huge tiger with a human appearance. The animal was planted in an attitude of attack and rushed to devour him, but defended friend with the same ability of the cat. "This is my friend?, He said to himself, and without loss of time backwards recited the creed, prayer appropriate to render it harmless and not to recover its anthropomorphic. And it was. The compadre was finally transformed into a tiger and turned to wipe piggeries and poultry, devour and kill cows as pet in its path. The Mohan had caused panic in the town of Icho, for the end of travel indiscriminately attacking children, youth and adults. It was then that Mr. Marcial Gamboa, a veteran of the War of a Thousand Days, old expert on the region and its mysteries, prepare his rifle with two bullets in cross and was devoted to stalking the beast.

Shoot on sight was enough for a single charge, mortally wounded, giving loud bellowing and throwing bullets, crashed spectacularly into the trees and undergrowth of the forest, as if it were an extermination operation of nature. Now dying, an Indian through the heart with a spear of palm, with the danger that, like the phoenix, the beast rise from the ruins. Those who had the chance to see him say Mohan predator measuring about three meters long by two tall and weighed more than eight hundred (800) kilos; had enormous claws, as a harpoon, and confirmed vision of their appearance humana.La Mohana (Muana) Mohan is the female. Is said to be quite similar to the Mother of Waters, but differs from it because it is more aggressive. Pursues the children to drown and eat them, especially when swimming in the river water dirty. A swimmers and fishermen would flip the canoe sinks and devours the beheading of a single blow. It allows you stir the water where it floats peacefully. The Mohana, as already noted, is violent and there's nothing playful or deceitful as Mohan.

Do not know of witchcraft like this, snuff or smoke, does not like salt, nor is transformed into a tiger, bear or lion, is presented offensive, loud shouting before attacking his victim. It is a bitter woman, old, skeletal, bristling hair and very long, sharp teeth, nails and sharp curved claw-like, face enormous and disproportionate, square head and large eyes bulging sizzling in the distance. The Indio Water This myth is represented by an Indian long thick hair covering her face and reaches to the shoulders. It has large eyes that seem exorbitant pop out of their deep sockets. These are intense reddish glow, which serve to light in the bottom of rivers and streams where dwells. Is said to be the best custodian or guardian of the fish, in general, small fauna. That is why when from deep sights a fishing tool, unusual and rapidly emerging, immediately pronounced hooks tangling, breaking or matted cast nets, hammocks and goblets; disarticulating trenches and cutting the thread of the tolas and buoys until its objective, which is free from the clutches of fish the fisherman intruder, its number one enemy, who attacked and drowned without mercy when it persists in invading their domains and ruin aquatic species, which monitors carefully.

To prevent the action of the fisherman, not infrequently grows rivers and causes flooding, which some have seen him walk, by magic, his eyes vigilant tellers. The Indio Water, according to oral tradition, something looks like a harmless Mohan type that inhabits the shores of rivers and streams around. This is a playfulness Mohan, mischievous, restless and tramador, unlike Mohan libertine and cannibal. The Madremonte is considered by farmers in almost every region of Chocó as a kind of tutelary deity of the mountains and jungles, is dressed in straw tied, vines, leaves and branches of trees and is rooted in the swamps. She is tall and stout, wide-eyed, which brings out the sparks of fire. It has sharp teeth like those of peccary, tatabro or shark. Is always covered with moss and protects your hair with a large hat that hid his stubble face. Those who know say it is half woman and half forest and swamp. The Madremonte is in the birth of rivers and streams, and near the rocks.

Appears in the areas where tangles and thickets, among abundant trees. Its mission is to care for the forests, jungles and general nature. Therefore fiercely attacking when wind, storms and floods that kill crops and crops. Similarly, and hellish cries out loud, angry cries preceded when loggers and hunters invade their land. It is said to attract, with ease, the loggers who seek their support on the trails, paths, then, to hear their deafening screams, it seems that a hypnotic force ordered them to follow their steps in the bush and nature, where makes them lose their course, days, weeks and months. There the butchers and finally eat them, leaving only a pile of waste deformed bones. When storms and the rivers grow dragging sticks, tree trunks, branches and leaves, regularly says that this is because the Madremonte is doing cleaning. It is also said that when the water becomes cloudy or dirty, because the lady is half woman and half forest and swamp, is taking a bath, which is why it is recommended that these days no one drink from the river or swim in it, his body rotting leaves that spread a foul odor producing shingles, character, buba, scabies, or sunstroke.

To avoid Madremonte, farmers let you snuff in its landscapes, as she is good smoker or simply carry seeds of calabalonga, medals and scapulars blessed, and ridge poles. The Madremonte also discussed, strongly defends the daughters of the rapists and chases the homeless dying husbands and domestic partners when they go fishing or walk in the woods, farms or ranches. The Madremonte also called Honeysuckle or Marimonda. The Mother of Mother Water Water (Marediagua) is, according to belief, a woman whose body is slim, attractive, beautiful, blonde hair and long, with a good voice for singing. When you want to attract someone just sing a song chosen especially for the right time. The listener is fascinated with the rhythm and cadence of his melodious voice, with which it manages to hypnotize their victims and make up to automatically follow a river or a creek to drown after taking them to the depths of the waters, where it has his palace. The Mother of Water, they say, has a preference for children who easily draws his musical voice sweetness and sticky.

That is why the inhabitants of the area do not leave their children alone on the banks of rivers, as they leave to fulfill their daily tasks, as the danger of the Madre de Agua take them is imminent. Children shot by the Mother of Water sick, dream of it, and crave the call. As stated before, just to hear his voice to follow blindly, mechanically. This statuesque woman and symmetrical, according to the belief, also commonly presents with moss and slime suit, camouflages charcales between the banks of rivers, creeks and streams to catch fishermen, take them to stay underwater and devour them. La Llorona Depending on the version of the peasants, La Llorona is a single woman who had a son and I drowned in a creek to erase their shame, and God's punishment condemning his crime to spy on all the streams of the world you take your son between their skeletal arms. It is said that never ceases to mourn piteously, imploring compassion. Her crying is gloomy, desperate, deep and heartbreaking. La Llorona is a thin woman with sprouted eyes and haggard face and wear corpse by the tears and suffering.

The unfortunate woman not only has a presence in streams but also on the banks of rivers, creeks and on the banks of the mountains. Those who have seen and heard their cries say the drama is ineffable blood run cold, make your hair stand on end and petrified. It is, therefore, La Llorona, the image of the mother mourning the misfortune of having caused the death of her son and cries lethal, harrowing and poignant and bitter tears pay the debt of mortal sin. Some societies relate to a nun after having sexual slip with a priest, desperate and suicidal, as a replica of the Wandering Jew, appears late at night in towns where there are monasteries and convents, shedding tears and shouting loud, and uttering words of regret and repentance. The Muelona This myth is represented by a beautiful woman and provocative rather sharp fangs. They say it is coquettish and easily seduce men with her captivating smile and gracious. Symmetrical bearing her body and her beautiful hair to attract good-looking gentlemen, who, at first fall in love with her.

To achieve its mission takes him by the hand, embraces unusual wanderings, and brings them pleasant conversation with her seductive words takes them around lonely and dark. The problem arises when you have time the coveted kiss. This is devastating and tragic, with its wheels crushed ax fiercely in love with the moment. The Muelona against a scapular of the Virgin del Carmen or a medal of San Isidro Labrador. The idea is that, to hypnotize his victims with his electrifying eyes, the intricate internal jungle paths known only to the farmers because of their usual office, and they are, precisely, who hearing the grim grind of its molars, come to the aid of the needy. The Muelona, ​​they say, do not attack members of a respectable family, well established, with small children, infants or pregnant women. This woman with feline fangs, some farmers also called "binge? that when hungry ground with greed as a tiger, a cow, a donkey or a horse. The widow is a woman presented sixties dressed in costume like that worn by widows in the past: black clothes, skirt to the ankles and a kind of the same color veil covering her face and body part.

Walk quickly. From Viudita is said to only see the shadows and when you visit the home of a patient is sure death announcement. Family members are resigned to sign and have no more than prepare the patient for the journey to the afterlife, bring to a priest for confession and give him the holy oils, sent to the box, buy Syrians and prepare the room for the wake. Some mourners tend the sick lay in bed, give a glass of water in the presence of a crucifix to die in peace, and ask him to express his last wish. The bed and the front will make the sign of the cross with holy water and began to recite the final prayer. If any candidate or belongings of the deceased is in disorder, sorted and stored in a locked wooden box. So the dead do not return home to pick their steps or bother, nor scare anyone. Those who have seen about the widow confess that it is toothless and has a cadaverous appearance. It also says it has the mission of leading the drunk who finds his way to the cemetery and leave them there scared to death.

In other cases content to scare them, is a dolled up woman makes a lot of noise with their petticoats and fire throws deformed orbits of his eyes watery. The? Nima Sola is a myth that has seating in many regions of western Colombia, including the department of Chocó. Worth remembering that the month of November is for the dead and pray to get used rosaries to the Virgin of Carmen, in the home and in churches. To get them out of pain and put to rest. At other times there was, in many villages in Colombia, the custom of offering "demands? the Blessed? NIMAS of Purgatory, at least one known as the "? nima Sola? which is doomed to stay there until doomsday, but the peasant, nevertheless, it is devotion. As has been purged so much of her punishment, considered to be a purified soul has the power of the miracle. Some say they've felt your company in difficult times in life and have seen their protective light. Those who have doubted his favor, says the belief, they appeared enveloped in the flames of suffering in purgatory and have been faint and private speech fright, for hours and days.

The? Nima Sola has two special days for his devotion: Good Friday, after the first cockcrow, and the November 2, the day of the spirits or the dead. Paw Paw Sola Sola is a myth of the forests, which manifests as a figure with one leg that ends in a big hoof of a donkey or horse, pork or goat. An old woman is harsh and messy hair, red eyes and sprouted, naked, with one breast, large mouth, hooked nose, long arms, thick lips and fangs of a tiger. With one leg and deadly giant jumps, and moves with surprising speed. She is the mother of wild animals in charge of erasing fingerprints or traces of animals hunted by others, but for this operation to be fulfilled to walk backwards is, then, being one-legged Patasola. A leg is the only link the two thighs. Is said to be friends with almost all wild animals, who defends tooth and nail other animals and humans, especially hunters, hikers and settlers. The Patasola, depending on the version of the peasantry, is transformed into a beautiful woman, motivates and captivates men, and takes them to the wilderness of the mountains where the leaves, sometimes without offending them, others with their sharp fangs shredding.

They also tend to become dog hunter, big ears, or a cow, according to circumstances. It is said also that steals children to suck their blood and abandoned in the bush. The popular version says that the Patasola was a beautiful woman, but who had a leg amputated libertine with an ax and thrown into a fire made from corn cobs, hence, can not see the ax, the candle nor the cobs corn. To guard against the Patasola dogs are hunters, because this is the only animal who feels his steps and sees a distance, who best knows the intricate ways of the jungle, given his office of "hunter? pet and more afraid that he knows his footsteps and his secret. The Old binge is a common myth in the Atrato Down. It makes its presence in outdoor locations where food is usually prepared the day to farm workers and day laborers in wood stoves. Can not be neglected for a moment pots of rice and roasted banana especially because in a blink of an eye appears sneak this old mad with hunger, with the stomach attached to the back, long hair, fangs protruding, very sharp and huge mouth.

Simply on the stove and in less than a jiffy, just with how much food is within reach, but his specialty is the roasted banana. This tuber is said that can devour a full ration in one sitting and as your stomach is bottomless, never full. The Old feast goes from place to frisk another new stove, guided by the smoke trail left by brands and by the sounds of axes, machetes and hoes for cultivation. This character is quiet and harmless. His only reaction is violent with ashes and embers stir food when you are denied. The three-legged mule Those who have found, say they have seen in the Carmen del Atrato. It is believed that only appears in the regions of Colombia where breeding cattle and horses, and where there are dirt roads. According to testimony, this mule appears after twelve o'clock, blowing strongly in the cobbled their shoes. It says it is a big and very heavy mule prefers dark lonely paths to light candles with their eyes and fire chisparoso of his mouth.

If someone sees it and wants to avoid it, it is advisable to pass up, because what is said is that the curious who wanted to follow up have never reached their destination and have been found dead on the road, burning with brimstone.