The children are warned not to sneak off to the "Pools of the Indians" because these Indians may take them never to be seen again. The "Mano Negra" will reach up from the dark waters and drag them into the water never to be seen again.
Do you think this is a way for parents to keep their children home at night and away from dangerous waters or could it really be that there is a dark hand waiting to pull them down forever to be lost...
If you found my web site useful consider making a donation through Pay Pal.
Thanks!
|
|
Custom Search
Gracias a coinmill.com
The Myths, Legends and Lore of Dominican Republic
Home | Dining & Night Life | Hotel | Sights | Pictures | Music | Colonial Zone Map | Hot Spots! Directory | Site Search
site map Copyright © 2005 - 2016 All Rights Reserved. Colonial Zone-Dominican Republic (DR)
Our complete exchange rate tool.
Home | Calendar | Night Life/Dining | Sight Seeing | Pictures | Businesses | Artists | Food | Helps | History | Language | Music | Media | Pastimes | Products | Tradition/Legend | Links | About Us | Buy Mamajuana | News Blog | DR Gringa's Life Blog | Dominican Dog Blog | Web Designer
[TOP]
Los Indios De Las Augas/ The Indians of the Waters
These Indians are the fabulous beings who inhabit caves. Be they the submerged caves of rivers and lakes or inside the mountain caves. It is said that these were groups of escaped Taino Indians who kept up their old traditions and ways. In order to do this they had to stay hidden. These Indians are said to be very beautiful, especially the woman, because of her dark eyes, smooth black hair, and cinnamon colored skin. These beautiful women leave the waters on the nights of the full moon to detangle their long hair with gold combs.
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. Some say the indios de las aguas leave their caves to look for the men who may wander near. These men are taken to their caverns never to be seen again.
El Cuco / El Coco (El Cucuy)
El Cuco is a mythical monster whose origins can be traced to Spain. The legend of El Cuco is used through out Spain and Latin America as a fright tool to keep the children off the streets late at night and to make them go to sleep. It is very 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. It is just a being that is more felt than seen. It is said he is able to shape-shift into all sorts of creatures. He can be your favorite animal or a nondescript shadow moving across the floor. El Cuco can become a horrible monster or make him self so small that he can slip through a crack, hide under the bed or in the closet.
In Dominican Republic El Cuco roams the streets and alleys looking for kids to take away in his sack. He can take the form of a hobo or homeless man Parents and grandparents alike tell the children if they do not go to sleep and fast that El Cuco will come and take them. Even worse if they are out roaming the streets unsupervised El Cuco will stuff them in his sack and take them away.
So be careful if you can't sleep and you see a shadow with eyes glowing passing near your bed. Also remember to never roam the empty streets alone. If you see a faceless man with a big sack 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.
Duendes or Los Menos
These mythical beings are very similar to elves, gnomes, sprites or goblins. They are very mischievous creatures that like to play jokes on people. They can be both good and bad creatures all depending on their moods. Small but noisy, they can be very bothersome. They are many times blamed for strange noises in a home. Duendes 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. Duendes like to make things disappear, move things around or change them completely. If a fire in the hearth goes out, gets too high or sparks it is always the fault of a duende. They are just a big nuisance.
Los Menos seem to prefer nature and freedom more than being inside but they can live in many places. They like caves, old tree trunks and hidden places under stones. They like hidden corners of a home, in the attic, or in warehouses. They are known to play with crickets and torture butterflies. Always they enjoy dancing by the light of the moon.
El Galipote - El Gualipote/ Dog-like Creature & El Lugaru - El Zangano/ Flying Creatures
Both of these legendary magical creatures are said to be men who can become animals and become men again. 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. They are very strong. Bullets do not hurt these creatures. It is said they like to cause havoc by frightening people traveling in the night. They do not permit the person to pass and also can help people to get hopelessly 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. This dog-galipote is called a Lugaru from the French word that means Man-Wolf. It can also fly like a bird. These high-flying, nocturnal birds are
called zangano or zancu. It is said that this legendary being sucks the blood of the children during the nights and will also have sexual activities with infants. It can also become invisible.
The only way to kill one of these beings is to get a branch and make a palo de cruz/ wooden cross. This wood can only be cut on Good Friday. Some 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 located 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. A witch doctor is also able to help transform a human into this evil creature.
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. In this way 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!"
So, when you are roaming in the campo at night, be sure to carry your wooden cross with you at all times. Better yet, just don't be traveling in the campo after dark. You may never find your way home.....
+click image to enlarge
Interpretation of El Lugaru by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu
Culture, Traditions and More
Traditions | Myths and Legends | Superstitions | Religious Beliefs | Celebrations of Patron Saints |
Continue to Myths and Legends Page 3
[TOP]
+click image to enlarge
Interpretation of El Cuco by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu with a little political humor to lighten the mood of this faceless child snatching creature
+click image to enlarge
Interpretation of Duenes by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu. Watch out, here they come!
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 no more than five. Even though they travel in groups they are almost impossible to be seen. These fun loving little imps are invisible to humans only unless they want to be seen. They make themselves visible usually only when there is no sun or at dawn. It is said that only children and simple minded people can see them and when they do it usually makes them cry.
Los Menos are known to take children that are not baptized. If they do take a child, usually it is a boy. They will take the child deep into the mountains or countryside and turn this child into one of them. If the child has been baptized and they took it by accident, they will set it free in the mountains where there are no people. Here the child will 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 or hear a little giggle and feet scampering. You could be being stalked by the mischievous unseen Duende, waiting to see what turmoil he can cause....
El Comegente/ The People Eater
According to the República Dominicana 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 could not be caught once his feet touched water because when this occurred he immediately disappeared. He always left a putrid and nauseating scent in his wake.
It is said that finally the people were tired of being afraid and they decided ban together and search for this assassin. He was finally trapped by a farmer who lived in the country using a rattan witch basket called bejuco de brujas. The farmer tied up the Comegente and took him to the capital where he was condemned to death and executed.
This is not the humorous One-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater creature from the song that Sheb Wooly made famous in 1958. This People Eater is what legends are made of and it is said that he still roams the country side with club in hand...
+click image to enlarge
Interpretation of Come Hombre / Comegente by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu
Folclore de la República Dominicana/ Folklore of the Dominican Republic
El Bacà | Los Biembiens | Bruja | Ciguapa | Chupacabra | El Comegente | El Cuco | Duendes | El Galipote - El Lugaru - El Zangano | Los Indios De Las Augas | Nimitas | La Jupia | Ratoncito Pérez | Sirens | Lolito Flochón | Abad Alfau and the Skull | Balaguer and his Hat | Magnetic Pole/ Polo Magnetico (or Magnetic Hill) | VooDoo Curse on the Cincinnati Red's |
+click image to enlarge
Interpretation of Los Indios De Las Augas by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu
Learn English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and more on line when you have time. Be part of a global language learning community.
Get 12 Boutique Premium Cigars for only $24.99 (a $73 value). Every Boutique Premium Cigar is handmade with Cuban-seed tobacco. Made in small batches by skilled cigar artisans, they have uniquely smooth tastes and always burn great.
Hilton Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic overlooks the tranquil waters of the Caribbean Sea.