- The 5 most outstanding legends of Nariño
- 1- The headless father
- 2- The lake
- 3- The goblin
- 4- The house
- 5- The widow who transforms
- References
The main myths and legends of Nariño are the headless father, the lake, the duende, the house and the widow who is transformed. These fantastic stories have remained for decades and even centuries in the imagination of the people of Nariño.
These narratives, initially transmitted orally, have served to educate and instill fear about moral or behavioral aspects, and even to explain natural phenomena.
Nariño is part of the Pacific and Andean regions of Colombia and its capital is San Juan de Pasto.
The 5 most outstanding legends of Nariño
1- The headless father
It represents one of the most famous legends of Nariño. It is about a Franciscan friar who appears in the wee hours of the morning, scaring off those who meet him.
He is shown as a hideous headless demonic figure, and blood overflows from his neck in large quantities.
According to legend, this ghost or specter usually appears in the surroundings of the church of Santiago, generally to men who are drunk or who walk in bad ways.
2- The lake
This legend has indigenous roots and tells of the love between the chief Pucara and the maiden Tamia. From this union were born the incarnation of the star, the wind and the star.
These five characters lived in the valley currently occupied by Nariño and were in charge of caring for seven huge cities that existed there.
The tragedy touches these characters, almost demigods, when the beautiful princess Tamia decides to abandon her husband Pucara, who retires to live far from the seven cities at the top of the mountain.
Tamia shamelessly begins her romance with Munami, arousing the hatred of the inhabitants of the seven cities.
The contempt on the part of the inhabitants of the seven cities was such that they refused to sell or provide food to the new pair of lovers.
Desperate for hunger, the lovers use the innocence of a child to deceive him and get him to give them a piece of bread and a bowl of water.
From this action comes misfortune. Delivered in an act of love, a mosquito called a gadfly appears, bites Munami and he begins to vomit water at such levels that it floods the seven cities.
This brought death for him, Tamia and all the inhabitants of the region, who are forever submerged in what is now known as Lake Guamuez or Lake de la Cocha.
3- The goblin
The inhabitants of the mountainous and forested areas of Nariño believe in the presence of goblins who steal children and young adolescents.
They recommend that children not bathe when they go to the mountains, in order to repel their evil intentions.
4- The house
There is never a lack of ghost stories around iconic houses. The horror of the house tells of the fateful death of a young lady the day before her marriage.
She appeared dead in her wedding dress and from that moment on, she has been whipping the visitors and inhabitants of what was an old colonial-style house, today a recognized health center in El Pasto.
5- The widow who transforms
She usually appears to drunk men taking the appearance of a beautiful woman. She usually takes them with her spells to the cemetery to lock them inside vaults.
He also leads them towards the river, trying to make them fall into it so that they die by drowning.
References
- J, Ocampo. (2006). Latin American myths and legends. Bogotá: Plaza & Janes. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: books.google.es
- J, Ocampo. (2006). Colombian myths, legends and stories. Bogotá: Plaza & Janes. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: books.google.es
- M, Portilla; M, Benavides; R, Espinosa. (2004). Myths and legends of the Andean region of Nariño for the children's imagination. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: udenar.edu.co
- Or, Peace. (2007). Myths and indigenous art in the Andes. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: books.google.es
- L, Juaspuezán. (2015). Oral tradition of the communities of Nariño. Retrieved on November 17, 2017 from: umanizales.edu.co