Halloween is around the corner so I was thinking that it would be a nice Idea if I share some Dominican Republic myths and legends that I searched up. They are very interesting and some of them might be true, believe it or not
El Dia de La Vispera se acerca y estaba pensando enseñarle unos mitos y legendas de La Republica Dominicana que encontre. Son muy interesantes y algunas de los mitos/legenda pueden ser reales, crea o no.
____________________________________________________________________
The Nimitas/ Fireflies
Nimitas are a very common sight in the country around the open fields in Dominican Republic. Their bright tail light is used to attract their mate. Superstition here 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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chupacabra/ Goat Sucker or Evil thing.
The chupacabra is (supposedly) alien in origin and was brought here by a UFO. It is a living creature that looks like a hunched alien with a line of sharp spikes down the middle of it's back exactly where the spine is located. It has grey skin that is part fur and part feather. It's short arms have long nasty claws and it's legs are like a kangaroos. It is said to be about 4 feet tall when standing erect. This grey being has huge red elongated glowing eyes, the better to see you with. They are said to be very powerful and people have reported seeing the chupacabra fly.
Creatures fitting this description were said to first be spotted in Puerto Rico in the mid-1990s. Also a few years later the chupacabra started showing up in Mexico, South Florida, Central America, and South America including Dominican Republic. Although few people have actually claimed to seeing a real chupacabra many claim to have seen the works of this blood sucking alien being. 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.
Whether such a creature exists is a great topic of debate. Some of the happenings are probably pranks, yet there is a possibility of such a creature living with no humans ever encountering it. Some people think it could be a bat-like creature.It is said that the goat sucker will also pray on sleeping humans. So, try not to sleep to soundly. You never know what type of alien being may be lurking, waiting. Waiting to take your blood.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 themselves 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 knowing it is not your stomach. 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.....
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chupacabra/ Goat Sucker or Evil thing.
The chupacabra is (supposedly) alien in origin and was brought here by a UFO. It is a living creature that looks like a hunched alien with a line of sharp spikes down the middle of it's back exactly where the spine is located. It has grey skin that is part fur and part feather. It's short arms have long nasty claws and it's legs are like a kangaroos. It is said to be about 4 feet tall when standing erect. This grey being has huge red elongated glowing eyes, the better to see you with. They are said to be very powerful and people have reported seeing the chupacabra fly.Creatures fitting this description were said to first be spotted in Puerto Rico in the mid-1990s. Also a few years later the chupacabra started showing up in Mexico, South Florida, Central America, and South America including Dominican Republic. Although few people have actually claimed to seeing a real chupacabra many claim to have seen the works of this blood sucking alien being. 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.
Whether such a creature exists is a great topic of debate. Some of the happenings are probably pranks, yet there is a possibility of such a creature living with no humans ever encountering it. Some people think it could be a bat-like creature.It is said that the goat sucker will also pray on sleeping humans. So, try not to sleep to soundly. You never know what type of alien being may be lurking, waiting. Waiting to take your blood.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 themselves 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 knowing it is not your stomach. 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.....
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 They are very strong and bullets do not hurt them. It is said they like to cause havoc by frightening people traveling in the night. They do not permit the person to pass and helping helping people 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 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. 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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ciguapa
The ciguapa is a magical being, beautiful in appearance to some, horrendous to others. All say they are wild creatures and are compared
to a mermaid. Beautiful and cruel, not quite human yet innocent. They are said to have brown skin and black eyes. With smooth, glossy hair flowing the length of their naked bodies, covering them as if it a long beautiful gown. they are very deceitful and are always waiting in ready to capture the wayward traveler.She is said to be such a spectacular beauty that men followed her into the forest even though following her tracks were very difficult as her footprints pointed in the opposite direction (the backward feet are found in ancient traditions to signify death, entry into the land of no return). Even thought it was difficult 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?
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. Better yet, just don't be traveling in the campo after dark. You may never find your way home.....
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 dies. Our witches are old deformed women, perverse and night dwellers. They do fly on brooms but they prefer changing into large birds. In this form they can fly closer to houses and yell with loud squawking sounds. It is said that the witches removes its skin before flying and keep 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. It is said that a Bruja will not attack the children of its own friends or if they are twins.
The only way one can catch a bruja is to knock her down. The "tumbadores" are said to be the only ones that are able to fall a witch because only they know the special orations and rituals. After a witch is caught one must wait for dawn. Only when the sun rises and the witches enchantment is broken can their true identity be discovered.
So be careful, when it rains or when the day is couldy. There could be a Bruja hiding in some dark corner or maybe even sleeping under your platano tree...
_____________________________________________________________________
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. The children are warned not to sneak off to the "Pools of the Indians" because they may be taken by these Indians also never to be seen again.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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 when this occurred he immediately 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). The farmer 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 and 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.
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
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 make children 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. Parents and grandparents alike tell the children if they do not go to sleep and fast that El Cuco will come and take them.
So be careful if you can't sleep and you see a shadow passing near your bed. It could be El Cuco....
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Duendes or Los Menos
These mythical beings are very similar to elves. 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.
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. They 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. You could be being watched by an unseen Duende, waiting to see what trouble he can cause you....
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sirens (Sirenia in Latin means mermaid)
The Sirens 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. In recent times a mermaid is 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."
Sirens 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 entire ships crews were enchanted and this is why they were lost at sea forever. Ships run ashore and sometimes entire crews are said to have been suffocated by these mythical creatures of the sea. Even spotting a siren is very bad luck.
It is thought that these sirens or mermaids were really Manatees. The tails of mermaids in the drawings are the same as a manatees. Maybe the long hair is attributed to the way manatees rise from the water and have sea weeds hanging off them. They could look like they are trying to embrace a man as they embrace their young in the same way a woman might embrace a man. Yet, for a man to see a woman in a 2000 pound manatee is way out there for sure. Could it be that being at sea too long 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....
So be careful if you can't sleep and you see a shadow passing near your bed. It could be El Cuco....
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Duendes or Los Menos
These mythical beings are very similar to elves. 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.
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. They 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. You could be being watched by an unseen Duende, waiting to see what trouble he can cause you....
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sirens (Sirenia in Latin means mermaid)
The Sirens 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. In recent times a mermaid is 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."Sirens 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 entire ships crews were enchanted and this is why they were lost at sea forever. Ships run ashore and sometimes entire crews are said to have been suffocated by these mythical creatures of the sea. Even spotting a siren is very bad luck.
It is thought that these sirens or mermaids were really Manatees. The tails of mermaids in the drawings are the same as a manatees. Maybe the long hair is attributed to the way manatees rise from the water and have sea weeds hanging off them. They could look like they are trying to embrace a man as they embrace their young in the same way a woman might embrace a man. Yet, for a man to see a woman in a 2000 pound manatee is way out there for sure. Could it be that being at sea too long 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....
