Puerto
Rican Legends
The
folktales of Puerto Rico reflect the culture of the people who have lived or
influenced the lifestyle of those people living there, the Tainos, the
Spaniards, and the Africans.
One
of the first legends retold in Puerto Rico is that of Guanina by
Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste. Once the Taino Indians had proven that the Spaniards
were not immortal through the death of Diego Salcedo, they rebelled. The legend
of Guanina tells of that rebellion.
Guanina
was a Taino Indian princess in love with Don Cristobal de Sotomayor, a Spanish
officer who had come to Boriquen to conquer and colonize. Her brother,
Guaybana, was the principal chief of the Tainos who hated the Spaniards because
of the way they had mistreated and betrayed the Tainos. He swore revenge
against the Spaniards. Juan Gonzalez, Sotomayor’s aide, found out about the
plan to kill his captain and tried to warn him. Sotomayor would not hear of the
planned uprising. He sent for Guaybana and for some of his men to carry his
baggage, since he was going to Caparra, the capital.
Guanina
begged him not to go because she knew that he was going to die and that it
would be her own brother who would kill him. Sotomayor did not change his
plans, and the next morning set out with Guaybana and his men to the city. On
the way, he and five other Spaniards were attacked by the Tainos, and Sotomayor
was killed. When Guanina was given the news of her lover’s death, she tried to
bring him back to life through her kisses and caresses.
The
Taino elders considered Guanina a traitor, and decided to offer her as a
sacrifice to the gods as a sign of their gratitude in succeeding in their
attack. When they went to get Guanina, they found her dead with her head
resting on Sotomayor’s bloody chest. The two were buried together near a
giant ceiba tree and on their tomb red hibiscus and white
lilies appeared as if by magic. These flowers represent the true and passionate
love these two souls felt for each other. The legend has it that on occasion,
the huge ceiba tree casts a shadow over the land, a soft breeze gently moves
the leaves and whispering sounds are heard, then Guanina and Sotomayor come out
of the tomb to look at the evening star and kiss each other under the light of
the moon.
Other
Puerto Rican Legends:
La
Llorona
La
Llorona (The Weeping Woman) is another spooky female spirit, widespread
throughout Latin America: Puerto Rico, Mexico, the American Southwest, and
South and Central America. There are as many versions of the La Llorona story
as there are Latin American countries, but the most common tale involves a
woman named Maria. She drowned her children so she could be with the man she
loved. But he rejected her – so she killed herself. Because of her sins, she's
forced to wander the earth, weeping as she searches for her murdered children.
The legend of La Llorona is often told as a cautionary tale to Latin American children. If they misbehave – or wander too close to the water at night – La Llorona will steal them.
El Chupacabra, pozo
de Jacinto, La Gárgola
Other legends:
Santa
Claus, based on the historical character of Nykolaos of Myra, a catholic priest
who was said to give gifts to those in need. The legend goes that Santa Claus
lives in the north pole and every December 25 goes around the world on a sleigh
dropping gifts to all the kids in the world.
Loch
Ness Monster, Big Foot, mermaids
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