Mexico is a land of myths and legends and each region has its own history. However, the most well-known and popular throughout the country is the Legend of La Llorona, the crying woman. La Llorona was seen crying inconsolably in the streets at night – mourning and searching for her children – “Oh, my children, where are my children?” A ghost walking around shouting is a ghost.

Although there are many variations of the story, some details remain the same for everyone who tells the story. She is described as a woman who wears a long white dress that hides her feet or has no feet, with a veil that covers her face, and is very attractive if coming from a distance. , it’s too close and you should start running. It is said that no one sees him “up close” because doing so means certain death. Seeing La Llorona is known to be an omen of misfortune and death for you, your family or your community.

Different versions of the legend

There are three basic versions of the legend. La Llorona first appeared in Mexican culture in the 16th century.This It is a story from the 16th century BC and involves the god Cihuacóatl, who is associated with pregnant women, water, and life. Missionary Fray Bernardino de Sahagún He mentioned eight signs that Mexico experienced before the conquest.

One omen describes a female presence walking from Lake Texcoco and wandering the streets of Tenochtitlan in the dark of night. According to Sahagún, Moctezuma witnessed Cihuacóatl just before invaders came to conquer his empire. “Oh my children, where will I take you? “My little children, we must go far away.”

Miguel León Portilla, author Vision of the Defeated, Local Relations of the Conquest, He writes that there is a record of the prophecies interpreted by the priests for Moctezuma. One of these predictions says that strange men will come from the East. Your people will shed many tears, experience great sorrow, and your race will perish. They say that this is why the goddess Cihuacóatl wanders the streets crying and warning that disasters will soon befall the empire.

Another version from 16This features of the century Nahua woman MalincheOne of 20 slave women gifted to the Spanish. Hernán Cortés chose her as his wife, but she also became his translator, advisor, and linchpin in his liaison with and eventual conquest of Mexico. Malinche has a mixed reputation, seen today as the symbolic mother of the new Mexican people that emerged from the unification of the Spanish and Mexico – she had a son named Martín by Cortés – but she is also seen as a traitor to her people.

He was said to wander the streets of Tenochtitlan, distraught over his betrayal and grieving the loss of his son, whom Cortés had taken with him to Spain.

The most famous Llorona is called María

However, the most famous and well-known version of the legend is the story of María. María was a native woman of incomparable beauty She caught the eye of a rich and handsome Spanish nobleman. He fell madly in love with her and they had three children. She was committed to the man and their children, and he had said many times that they would marry one day, but she avoided him in public, afraid of what people might say about their relationship.

One day, he suddenly left her to marry a prestigious upper-class Spanish lady. María was completely out of her mind, consumed by anger and despair at being betrayed. He decided to take his revenge in an incredible way. He gathered his children and took them to Lake Texcoco, hugged them tightly, told them he loved them, and then drowned them in the lake. He immediately realized what he had done and became so distraught that he took his own life.

It is said that the woman’s soul was uncomfortable, she was cursed, and she was condemned to wander the streets forever in search of her children. Every night, she walks the streets in a long white dress that she probably prepared for her wedding, in deep remorse and despair, lamenting what she has done with screams and cries of “Oh my children”.

The floating gardens of Xochimilco in Mexico City are one of the places where people hear La Llorona cry and are occasionally seen.

Tomb of La Llorona is said to be in Dolores Hidalgo

But ghostly apparitions aren’t just seen and heard regularly in Mexico City. The legend is most popular in Guanajuato and Puebla. La Llorona is said to be buried in a cemetery in the town of Dolores Hidalgo in Guanajuato, four hours outside of Mexico City.

According to some accounts, the authorities sent priests to spend the night there to investigate the situation and verify the events. The priests were also surprised and afraid when they heard the crying and sobbing. They notified the Vatican that they would place a plaque identifying it as the tomb of “La Llorona,” hoping to give her a resting place and bring some peace to her wandering spirit.

However, Dolores continued to appear in Hidalgo so frequently that the people once again begged the Vatican to help them. Emissaries were sent to exorcise the ghostly presence in a desperate attempt to stop the torment of the area’s inhabitants, but the apparitions and shrieks continued.

In another attempt to eliminate his presence, the owner of the land where the crypt was located placed a large cross over his grave. Perhaps it could be a sign that during a severe storm, lightning along with thunder struck the cross, splitting it in half and damaging the crypt.

The Legend of La Llorona has its roots in Mexican culture. The story is often told to children to prevent them from wandering around in the dark near bodies of water such as rivers or lakes.

On the Day of the Dead, at least one lonely woman always sings the haunting and sad song of La Llorona. The song originates from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca. It has more than 500 different versions and is internationally recognized. La Llorona has been recorded by too many singers, musicians and bands to list. If you’ve seen the animated movie Coco, you may remember hearing about this. Books were written; Films and theatrical presentations were made on the legend of La Llorona.

Every year since 1993, to coincide with the Day of the Dead, a beach performance of La Llorona has been held on the canals of Mexico City’s Xochimilco district.