La Jupia is a spirit or ghost of the air who hides in daylight eating guavas and appears after dark in the form of a human. She resembles a human in all ways with one exception; it does not have a navel because it was not born of a woman.
Interpretation of La Jupia by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu
Jupio or Hupio is an Indian word meaning dead men come to life. The Jupia is the feminine version of the same. She was a spirit or ghost of the air who hides eating guavas during the day only appearing after dark in the form of a human. This spirit resembled a human in all ways with one exception; it did not have a navel. The Jupia did not have a navel because it was not born of a woman.
Many men have fallen for these spirit women and made love to them unknowingly. He found that just as they were reaching the loving climax his arms and love nest would be empty. It is very important to remember to always check and see if whoever you decide to make love to has a belly button. If not then you know you have been had by La Jupia.
Today this indigenous legend is still said to be seen by Dominican 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….
Nimitas, or Fireflies, are the souls of the dead watching out for their loved ones still living.
Interpretation of las Nimitas by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu
Nimitas, or Fireflies, are a very common sight in the country around the open fields in the Dominican Republic. The males have a bright tail light that flashes hoping to get a return flash saying that the female is interested in getting to know him.
Las Nimitas, Luciérnagas and Bichos de Luz are known as Fireflies or Lightning Bugs. Dominican superstition says that the Nimitas are the souls of the dead who are watching out for their loved ones still living. They shine their light reminding all who see that they are there always there….watching.
Fireflies are also called Cocuyo which is a Taino Indian word.
Los Indios De Las Aguas/ The Indians of the Waters
According to Dominican legends, these Indians are the fabulous beings who inhabit caves. They can be found in 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 with their old traditions and ways. In order to do this they had to stay hidden.
Interpretation of Los Indios De Las Aguas by Artist-Illustrator Ray Wu
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.
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…
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