Dominican Republic Myths/ Mitos, Legends/ Leyendas and Folklore/ Folclore

Ciguapa is a magical being, beautiful in appearance to some, horrendous to others. All say they are wild creatures. It is compared to a mermaid. Beautiful and cruel, not quite human and innocent. They are said to have brown skin and black eyes. With smooth glossy hair the length of their bodies, since this is their only clothes. Deceitful and ready to capture the wayward traveler. She was so beautiful that men followed her into the forest even though following her tracks were very difficult as her footprints pointed in the opposite direction. This is found in ancient traditions to signify death, entry into the land of no return. Yet she was followed because of the promise that a beautiful woman was waiting. Children are told if they stand by the shore facing the sea and yell "María la O, María la O, tu madre es puta y la mía no!", a big wave will break and take you to drown in the sea.

So remember, if you do come across a Ciguapa do not look into its eyes. She will bewitch you and you forever will be under her power......

*The 'cigua' is the national bird (cigua palmera) It is a Taino word. 'Ciguatera' is something we get from eating contaminated ('red tide' algae) fish?

See a picture of the Cigua Palmera/ Palm Chat (opens in new window)

Chupacabra/ Goat Sucker or Evil thing.

This is a supposedly living creature that looks like a hunched alien with huge red elongated glowing eyes, grey skin that is part fur and part feather, short arms with claws, legs like a kangaroo and a line of sharp spikes down the middle of it's back exactly where the spine is located. They are supposedly very powerful and some have reported that they can fly. It is said to be about 4 feet tall when standing erect. Such creatures were said to first be spotted in Puerto Rico in the mid-1990s. It is said to be alien in origin and was brought here by a UFO.Very few people have clamed to see one, yet there have been many domestic animals (cattle, goats, etc) that have been found dead with two holes on their neck. Their their blood drained and their organs sucked out as well.

Los Biembiens

The legend of the Biembiens started in the XVIII century. It is said these beings are located in the mountains of Bahoruco. An African slave and some Indians ran from their Spanish enslavers. They transformed into wild beings after a time and became legendary. The Biembiens only language are grunt-like sounds. Their short, deformed and ugly bodies are unclothed and they are not very friendly beings. These creatures are very agile climbers of both trees and mountains. They can attack alone of in groups. After dark they come out of their hiding places to search for food. Like the Ciguapa they also leave backwards tracks to protect them from being discovered. They do eat humans, mainly the entrails and also use humans as sacrifices.

So if you are walking in the mountains and you hear unusual growls and gurgling run, don't walk. Remember, here in Dominican Republic we have no wild animals. If you hear this it can only be a roaming Biembien, looking for it's next victim.....

Bruja-Witch The legend of the Brujas in the Dominican Republic comes from Europe, that even conserves the echoes of the medieval beliefs as an older person die. Our witches are old deformed women, perverse and night dwellers. They do fly on brooms but they prefer changing into large birds so they can fly close to houses and yell with loud squawking sounds. It is said that the witches removes its skin before flying, that puts it in soaking in a tintature. When they take to flight they are said to say "Without God nor Santa Maria!". People say they have heard the Bruja during flight laughing and singing in a hideous voice. When the witches rest they do so under the branches of the platano tree. The witches will suck the blood of the children, either from the navel or the big toe. of the foot. It is said that a Bruja will not attack the children of its friends or twins. The way one can catch a witch is to knock her down. The "tumbadores" are said to be the only ones that can do this because they know the special orations and rituals. When a witch is caught one must wait for dawn, with the rising of the sun the witches enchantment is broken and only then can their identity be discovered.

So be careful, when it rains or when it is a cloudy day, there could be a Bruja hiding in some dark corner...

El Galipote-El Gualipote/ dog-like creature & El Lugaru-El Zangano/ flying creatures

These legendary magical creatures are said to be men who can become animals. Galipote can also become inanimate objects, like tree trunks and stones. He can transfer his desires to animals and in this way can make the animal do his wishes. According to the belief galipotes are cruel and violent, very strong and bullets do not hurt them. It is said they like to cause havoc by frightening people traveling in the night and by not letting them pass and helping them to get lost. It is difficult not to find a Galipote when traveling in the country so it is good to carry a protective amulet and to cross yourself often to protect yourself from these beings. Galipote can become a dog. A Galipote that becomes dog is called a lugaru from the French word that means Man-Wolf. It can also fly like a bird. This high flying, nocturnal bird is called zangano or zancu. It is said that this being sucks the blood of the children during the nights and will also have sexual activities with infants. It can become invisible. The only way to kill one of these beings is to get a branch of palo de cruz/ wooden cross that can only be cut on Good Friday. Others say you must use a knife or machete that has been blessed with water and salt.

There still are Galipotes (also spelt Gualipotes) in existence according to some of the residents of San Juan de la Maguana, in the southern part of the country. Families tell stories of how relatives were known Galipotes. To become a Galipote one must make a pact with the devil himself, selling their soul for the ability to change ones self into another form. There are recent stories coming from the Palma Sola Massacres of 1962 that says the survivors of this massacre were Galipotes. They were able to change themselves into elements of the environment such as rocks, trees, or animals thus the soldiers were not able to see them to eradicate them and thus came about their survival.

Parents to this day scare their children with tales of these people that can change their shape at will. "If you be bad and don't listen a Galipote will get you!"

Los Indios De Las Augas/The Indians of the Waters are the fabulous beings who inhabit in submerged caves of rivers and lakes, and inside the mountain caves as well. It is said that these were groups of escaped Taino Indians who kept up their on traditions and had to hide to do so. These Indians are said to be beautiful, especially the woman because of her dark eyes, smooth black hair, and cinnamon colored skin. Some say they do not bother people and are quite generous. They share their knowledge of natural medicines and possess old and powerful magic. Others say that they are dangerous and fear to bathe in deep waters and unknown areas. They warn children not to sneak off to the "Pools of the Indians" because they may be taken by these Indians. The women leave the waters in the nights of full moon to detangle their long hair with gold combs. Others leave to look for the men who may wander near and take them to their caverns never to be seen again.

VooDoo Curse on the Cincinnati Red's

It was said that pitcher Pedro Borbon (he was into voodoo, curses and cockfighting) of the Cincinnati Red's (said to be one of the finest arms to ever come from Dominican Republic) was so angry at being traded in 1979 that he put a voodoo curse on the Reds that lasted 10 years. When the curse was finally lifted Borbon said "Yeah, I lifted it. I told everybody when they traded me that I was putting a curse on them and they'd never win again. The people who did me wrong are not with the team any more, so now I don't care if they win."

The 1990 Reds finally won their first game. Was this because of the hex that Borbon lifted or just because they played well? We will never know for sure.

EL COMEGENTE/ THE PEOPLE EATER

According to the Dominican Republic history at the end of the 18th century there existed an assassin whose crimes were so blood thirsty he was named the People Eater. He is said to look like an Indian with long black hair and small features. His body is well proportioned according to his size except his feet, which were very small.

For a long time the people were terrified of Comegente because his crimes were so atrocious and horrifying. The story is told that he went to Haiti to learn the ways of witchcraft. He could be in many places at one time. He was able to cross the entire country in a night by using supernatural means. It is said he killed his victims using some sort of club. He was not able to be caught once his feet touched water because he disappeared. He always left a putrid and nauseating scent in his wake.

It is said that finally the people decided to search for this assassin. He was finally trapped by a farmer who lived in the country using a rattan witch basket (bejuco de brujas). He tied up the Comegente and took him to the capital where he was condemned to death and executed.

Today it is said that he still roams the country side with club in hand...

LA JUPIA Jupio or Hupio is an Indian work for dead men come to life. The Jupia is the feminine version of the same. She was a spirit or ghost of the air who only appeared in the night in the form of a human. It resembled a human is all ways except it did not have a navel because it was not born of a woman.

Today this indigenous legend is still said to be seen by farmers and people who live away from civilization. Jupia is a ghost woman who visits, riding on a dark horse. Quietly. In the darkest night. Roaming through the open fields....

EL CUCO is a mythical monster whose origins can be traced to Spain, This legend is used to make children go to sleep, similar to the Boogy Man in USA. There is no real description of this mythical being. It is as if he has no form or shape just a being that is more felt than seen. El Cuco is used through out Spain and Latin America as a fright tool to make children go to sleep. It is said that if the kids don't go to sleep El Cuco will take them if they don't fall asleep fast.

So be careful if you can't sleep and you see a shadow passing near your bed. It could be El Cuco....

*A few artists have used the name. Cuco Valoy, a Dominican salsa and merengue singer makes many references to El Cuco. Tonio Rosario has an album named "La Magia de El Cuco". There is a trip music festival in Puerto Rico that uses the name of this nocturnal faceless creature.

Magnetic Pole/ Polo Magnetico (or Magnetic Hill)

There is an old man in his 90's that seems to have all the "facts" about Polo Magnetico, according to him when he was interviewed by Dominican newspaper El Caribe in 2003. This "expert" says things move up this hill because of the two underground mines that are found here. One is a petroleum mine and the second is a sulfur mine. According to him, and the locals,objects here move uphill.A car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill. A bottle or ball left on the road here will roll up hill.

This place that is magic is located in the Barahona providence of Dominican Republic along the Cabral-Polo highway. The stretch of road is between the towns of the Auyamas and Polo. It is on a hill called La Cueva/ The Cave. The only thing that marks this place where this natural phenomenon takes place is a sigh put there by the Brugal (rum) Company. There are pale remnants of a painted circle with a yellow dot in the center. But this is all that marks the spot. This and people standing around watching the happenings in amazement.

Now you may wonder what causes this to happen.In truth, it has nothing to do with magnetic fields, electricity or unknown mysterious forces. The slope of a magnetic or gravity hill is an optical illusion. Gravity has nothing to do with what happens here. The most important thing contributing to this illusion is an obstructed (or mostly blocked) horizon. If there is no horizon it can make judging the slope of a surface very difficult. There is no reference point. Objects that normally seem to be more-or-less perpendicular to the ground (such as trees) may actually be leaning, thus misconstruing your visual reference. Since we do have a sense of balance to determine the slope of the ground, visual clues can override this sense, especially if the inclination is slight. So whatever name we give it, Magnetic Hill, Gravity Hill, Mystery Hill or Electric Brae it is an optical illusion and there are hundreds of known gravity hill locations around the world.

But for me, I prefer to blame it on folklore, the mysteries of nature and the supernatural. It makes life a little more enjoyable and mysterious....

Duendes or Los Menos, are similar to elves. They are very mischievous creatures that like to play jokes on people. Being both good and bad creatures, depending on their mood. Small but noisy, they can be very bothersome. They are blamed for strange noises in a home. They are known to drop stones on porches just to annoy. They can be heard running in the night and like to giggle and laugh loudly. They are quite the nuisance. Duendes like to make things disappear, move or change them. If a fire in the hearth goes out, gets too high or sparks it is the fault of a duende. They are very mischievous.

They seem to prefer nature and freedom more than being inside but they can live in many places. They like

hidden corners of a home, in the attic, or in warehouses. They like caves, and hidden places. They enjoy dancing by the light of the moon. They are known to play with crickets and torture butterflies.

Duendes are not tall. They are said to be the size of a small boy. It may have the height of the boy but its face is wrinkled like an old man. They usually wear some type of red clothing and usually can be found in groups of five. Even though they travel is small groups they are almost impossible to be seen. They are invisible to humans, unless they want to be seen. Then they make themselves visible only when there is no sun or at dawn. It is said that only children and simple minded people can see them and it usually makes them cry.

They are known to take children that are not baptized. If they do take a child, usually it is a boy. They take the child deep into the mountains or countryside and turn it into one of them. If the child has been baptized and they took it by accident they set it free in the mountains where there is no people to roam and get lost.

So if you feel that there is someone watching you from the darkness. Maybe you see a quick flicker of eyes in the dark. You could be being watched by an unseen Duende, waiting to see what trouble he can cause you....

Sirens (from the group Sirenia in Latin meaning mermaid), , have been around since man started exploring the world by sea. Ancient maps have drawings of sea serpents and mermaids. Cristóbal (Christopher) Columbus men saw Sirens. Now thy are portrayed as being beautiful but in this time they were said to be ugly. Columbus wrote in one of his journals "[A crewman] saw three mermaids, who rose very high from the sea, but they are not so beautiful as they are painted, though to some extent they have a human appearance about the face."

They are said to lead sea men astray with their singing and womanly shapes. This was done by enchanting the mortal if they stopped to listen to the song. If a man listens to the song of a siren they will never return to their family again. It has been said that whole crews were enchanted and this is why they were lost at sea forever. Running ashore and even being suffocated by these mythical creatures of the sea. Spotting a siren is very bad luck.

It is thought that these sirens or mermaids were really Manatees. The tails of mermaids are the same as a manatees. Because of the way manatees hold and suckle their young. Maybe the long hair is attributed to the way manatees rise from the water and have sea weeds hanging off them. For a man to see a woman in a 2000 pound manatee is way out there for sure. From being at sea too long maybe he wanted a woman so bad that he was hallucinating. Men long ago did like a more voluptuous woman, but for them to think a manatee was a woman is pushing it a bit.

So if your a man at sea and yearning for a woman beware when one rises out of the sea and starts singing to you. Don't fall prey, get to a doctor and fast to be treated for hallucinations. Because if you succumb you may never return to life as you know it....

Did you know....Sirenomelia or mermaid syndrome is a rare birth defect where one is born with their legs joined together.

It is said the American Indian tribe Penobscot is said to be descended from a mermaid.

Selkies of Scotish and Irish legend are more seal and mated with man.

Joaquín Amparo Balaguer Ricardo Born September 1, 1906 -- Died July 14, 2002. He was the President of the Dominican Republic from 1960 to 1962, from 1966 to 1978, and from 1986 to 1996. I was said that as long as Balaguer had his hat on that there would never be a major hurricane. The story is told that he made a pact with the Virgen de la Altagracia. During all his times being president there was never a natural disaster that he has to deal with. (the hat on could mean a real hat or maybe the proverbial hat meaning he was still in charge).

There was once when he had a heart attack that the Dominican people really believed he had died and they were not told. They thought this because the island was hit with a small hurricane.

I was told by friends of mine that the people were truly afraid when he died in 2002. Many really believed that soon after there would be a giant catastrophic event in Dominican Republic. It is said that he was buried with his hat on so the island will still be protected until it rots in the grave.

There are a few other mysteries surrounding Balaguer. He wrote poetry and many works of literature. One of these books was called Memorias de un Cortesano. Balaguer, in this book, stated that he knew the truth about the controversial death of the revolutionary journalist Orlando Martínez. This book had a blank page in the center. He said that when he died the page would be filled.

The page is blank to this day...