La Llorona means the Weeping Lady. In addition to being a Woman in White – a lady ghost who wanders by lonely roadways at night – La Llorona is also considered by some communities to be a demon or even a tulpa.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
La Llorona, also known as the Weeping Lady, is a prominent figure in Mexican folklore, often portrayed as a ghostly woman in white who weeps for her lost children along riverbanks and canals.
This tragic spirit has variations in other cultures, such as the Banshee in Irish folklore, emphasizing the universal theme of mourning women and lost souls.
In Mexican folklore, the legend of La Llorona serves as a cautionary tale, warning children against disobedience and wandering near dangerous bodies of water, instilling a sense of cultural and moral lessons.
The origin of La Llorona dates back centuries and has inspired countless stories, books, movies, and even annual festivals in Mexico, showcasing the enduring power of this haunting tale.
Folklore
In most communities, La Llorona is thought to be the ghost of a woman who was betrayed by her lover, who murdered her children for revenge. In Texas, she is thought by some to be the ghost of La Malinche. In life, La Malinche was an Aztec woman who served as a translator for the Spanish colonizing Mexico in the time of Hernan Cortes.
Tradition has it that she was Cortes’ mistress who bore a son for him, but was abandoned by Cortez in favor of a highborn Spanish wife.
Children in Miami know La Llorona as a demon feared even by Satan. She feeds on the fear of children and rejoices in their death. Her curse can be caught by glancing into a mirror by accident in a darkened room and seeing her face. Once La Llorona has seen the face of a person, she can always find them.
Other similar spirits
Another wandering spirit lady in Miami is the Blue Lady, related to Yemana, who exists to give hope to children.
La Llorona and all of the other stories of predatory roadside women relate to Hecate, witch goddess of the crossroads, and to the demonic version of Mustang Sally as entities that know secrets, are filled with malice, and whose images are similar among several cultures.
The myth of Medea in Greek mythology is similar to the stories of La Llorona. There is something very primal about a woman who slays her family in a fit of passion and is cast out of society to wander the world forever.
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