- The 15 main legends and myths of Costa Rica
- 1- The Virgin of the sea
- 2- La Cegua
- 3- The Blue Scarecrow
- 4- The procession of souls
- 5- The Micomalo
- 6- The Durán sanatorium
- 7- La Yegüita
- 8- The waterfall of the bride
- 9- The Witch Rock
- 10- The Muerras
- 11- The owner of the mountain
- 12- The legend of the Poás volcano
- 13- The stone bridge
- 14- The ghost of the savannah
- 15- The Devil Chingo
- References
The most outstanding legends and myths of Costa Rica always expose characteristics of the culture or the Costa Rican, through cheerful and terrifying characters, such as Cegua, a female spectrum; or the Micomalo, an evil mythological creature.
Costa Rica brings together a large number of traditions and stories that make up its mythology, from which a large number of myths and legends are born, such as that of the Witch Rock (portrayed in the following image), which have marked the identity and the Costa Rican folklore.
Like other Latin American nations, Costa Rica's historical burden has influenced the creation and subsistence of its mythology.
The legends and myths of Costa Rica are stories originally told orally that over time have spread to other media. They are wonderful and unreal stories, but with great verisimilitude.
The myths of Costa Rica also address the ancestral values of the nation and its people, as well as the civilizations that preceded modern society. Creatures and guardians that protect the past, its people and the natural sanctuary that continues to represent Costa Rica worldwide.
Costa Rican myths and legends have been classified according to the character and direction of their contents: stories of the land, magic, and religion.
These categories show the millenary roots of a people and show the European influence that the Spanish conquest brought with it.
The 15 main legends and myths of Costa Rica
1- The Virgin of the sea
This legend arises in homage to the Virgen del Carmen, who made an appearance at the beginning of the 20th century to fulfill a miracle.
A ship had been wrecked along with its entire crew; This was the reason for the prayers of an entire town in front of the temple of Puntarenas.
These prayers were heard and a few days later the sailors were found safe and sound.
This rescue and is attributed to the Virgin and since then this miracle performed has been celebrated annually.
2- La Cegua
It is a female spectrum that claims to roam the sidewalks. She has the appearance of a charming woman who seduces lonely and nocturnal travelers.
If they decide to take her with them, the woman reveals her true form: a body with a decomposing horse skull and eyes engulfed in flames. Kill libertine men; if you let them live, they are left in a state of madness.
3- The Blue Scarecrow
It is an appearance of evil character. It is said that he roams the roads between Paraíso and Cártago. Its shape is strange and the color of its body is blue.
It expels fire and flames around it permanently. It is said that he was a man of evil who managed to escape from hell and now whips those who have done as evil as he on the roads.
4- The procession of souls
It is a popular legend from particular regions of Costa Rica. It revolves around the appearance at midnight of a slow wandering procession of wraiths, praying and carrying candles and crosses.
They can appear in the fields, but there are also those who say that they appear in closed churches. They are not evil in character; they are deceased who are in Purgatory.
5- The Micomalo
Certain regions have given this mythological creature particular qualities. All agree that it is an infernal beast that can take the form of different animals, such as felines or apes.
This beast is said to be guided by a bird and lashes out at troubled marriages, devouring and murdering spouses.
6- The Durán sanatorium
This is a 20th century hospital where tuberculosis was treated. It has been deteriorated after its abandonment and its remains have been the target of superstitions and apparitions.
From its walls you can hear the laments of patients and children, as well as the coming and going of doctors and nurses. These inexplicable demonstrations have brought the place great popularity, and have created fear.
7- La Yegüita
This religious legend dates back to the times of the conquest. The fight for no reason between two indigenous people led a young woman to pray to the Virgin of Guadalupe to stop that conflict.
When the men were about to die, the Virgin manifested her response through a mare that burst from the forest to separate the opponents and then disappear.
8- The waterfall of the bride
The legend behind this waterfall tells the story of two young lovers and newlyweds who organize a journey around the area of the waterfall, with the intention of celebrating.
On the way back, passing near the waterfall, the horse that was carrying the bride suddenly loses its senses and throws itself into the abyss together with the young woman. It has been said that the ghost of a young woman in a wedding dress can be seen haunting the waterfall.
9- The Witch Rock
The Witch Rock is a large rock located in the sea. The legend behind this mysterious rock recounts the daring of an indigenous man to navigate from the beach to the rock.
Upon arrival, the Indian finds three beautiful women who have been enchanted in a small cave, each with a guardian.
The native agrees to return to rescue the maidens and they ask him not to tell anyone about his encounter.
Once on land, the man begins to recount his adventure, prolonging the spell and causing the women trapped in the rock to disappear forever.
10- The Muerras
They are mythological giants that give rise to one of the most important legends of Costa Rica.
Their evil character led them to devour men and raze villages, until one day they kidnapped a princess to whom they paid tribute, sacrificing other creatures in her honor.
One night the princess escapes and returns to her village. She meets her prince, who was willing to give revenge to the Muerras.
The young woman dies and her body is deposited in the river. Once there, her spirit reappears and endows the prince with the strength to destroy the Muerras.
11- The owner of the mountain
It is a ghost that in life was a ruthless hunter who killed every animal he encountered, without contemplation.
When he died, his atrocities could not be forgiven by God; however, and as a form of redemption, he left him wandering in the forests and mountains in order to take care of the animals from the aggressiveness of man.
It is shaped like a gigantic man who emits horrible howls to scare travelers and has the ability to transform animals into more aggressive ones when they are in danger of death.
12- The legend of the Poás volcano
It is said that in the tribe settled at the foot of the volcano there lived a beautiful maiden who one day adopted a bird, an orphan like her. They both stayed together.
One day the volcano began to threaten to erupt, and the tribe found no other solution than to make a sacrifice to appease it.
They decided to sacrifice the little maiden; however, the rualdo wanted to prevent it and began to sing to the volcano to appease it with its trill.
It is said that the volcano calmed down and quenched its vapors, allowing the young maiden to live. The rualdo, however, could never sing again.
13- The stone bridge
This natural bridge is on the way to a town called Grecia. Around its creation there is a legend: every day a peasant had to skirt a wide canyon and the river to reach his destination.
Weary, one night he invokes the devil and promised him his soul in exchange for the construction of a bridge, on the condition that he must finish it before a rooster crowed. The devil accepts.
Just before placing the last stone of the bridge, the man takes out a sack that he had in his cart and kicks it, making a rooster crowing inside and, therefore, saving his soul. It is said that for this reason the bridge has a large hole in the middle.
14- The ghost of the savannah
This spectrum may have similarities to the ghost of the plains. He is a peasant expert in herding cattle; a tamer of beasts.
This peasant dies when he cannot lasso a bull. Since then, he has wandered the haciendas, scaring and maddening cattle and other farm animals.
15- The Devil Chingo
Although of regional origin, this legend is considered one of the most popular in all of Costa Rica.
El Chingo is the manifestation of the devil himself in the form of an indomitable bull, without a tail, with eyes engulfed in flames and enormous horns. It is said that it appears to scare away animals and people alike.
The story behind this appearance revolves around the failed attempt of a foreman who tried to tame the shit, who escaped into the mountains, dragging the tamer behind him.
The foreman was not seen again. It is claimed that, in the distance, the eternal screams of the man can be heard behind the bellowing of a burning bull.
References
- Legends of Costa Rica. (sf). Obtained from Myths and legends: mitosyleyendascr.com
- Lizano, V. (1941). Legends of Costa Rica. San José: Editorial Soley y Valverde.
- Rojas, M., & Ovares, F. (1995). 100 years of Costa Rican literature. San José: FARBEN Editions.
- Soto, Á. Q. (2002). One and the others: identity and literature in Costa Rica 1890-1940. San José: Editorial of the University of Costa Rica.
- Zeledón, E. (1998). Costa Rican legends. San José: Editorial Universidad Nacional.