“Legend of La Llorona”
“Ay, mis hijos! Donde estan mis hijos! Ay, mis hijos!” "Where are my children?"
Maria’s wailing and desperate cries could be heard up and down the river through the length of the town.
The beautiful Maria had married a handsome young Norteño traveling through her small village. She felt honored that he had given her his attention. Within two years she had given birth to two children. Her husband continued to travel, often leaving for months at a time while Maria cared for the children on her own as well as tend to the small farm she called home.
On one of his travels back to the village, the handsome Norteño told Maria that he was leaving her and never coming back. He told her that she had become too tired looking and unattractive from taking care of the children and that he needed someone young and beautiful and worthy of his attention. Having said this, he mounted his horse and rode away into the night.
Maria became so distraught that she turned and looked at her two young ones with so much disdain and blamed them for being left alone by their father. In her agony, she grabbed them and dragged them to the river where she pushed them into the water. The river currents were so strong that it wasn’t long before the children were pulled under the surface and drowned. Seeing their tiny heads disappear below the water, Maria immediately realized what she had done, but it was too late. The children were gone. She fell on her knees and pulled at her hair, screaming, “Ay mis hijos!”
The next morning, Maria was found dead along the riverbank. No one could determine how she had died, other than because of the sorrow and grieving at the loss of her children. She was buried that same day.
That evening, families walking by the river could hear a faint crying. As they came closer to the water, the crying became a wailing, and words could be heard, “Ay mis hijos! Donde estan mis hijos!” A faint white mist appeared to float above the riverbank, close to where Maria’s body had been found. It resembled the long white dress in which she had been buried.
To this day, mothers and grandmothers warn their children not to be out at night because La Llorona is still looking for her children and she might snatch them up, believing them to be her own.
Legend? You won't catch me walking by the river at night. If you listen on a quite, gloomy night, you can still her cries. Watch-out! Don't get caught!
“Ay, mis hijos! Donde estan mis hijos! Ay, mis hijos!” "Where are my children?"
Maria’s wailing and desperate cries could be heard up and down the river through the length of the town.
The beautiful Maria had married a handsome young Norteño traveling through her small village. She felt honored that he had given her his attention. Within two years she had given birth to two children. Her husband continued to travel, often leaving for months at a time while Maria cared for the children on her own as well as tend to the small farm she called home.
On one of his travels back to the village, the handsome Norteño told Maria that he was leaving her and never coming back. He told her that she had become too tired looking and unattractive from taking care of the children and that he needed someone young and beautiful and worthy of his attention. Having said this, he mounted his horse and rode away into the night.
Maria became so distraught that she turned and looked at her two young ones with so much disdain and blamed them for being left alone by their father. In her agony, she grabbed them and dragged them to the river where she pushed them into the water. The river currents were so strong that it wasn’t long before the children were pulled under the surface and drowned. Seeing their tiny heads disappear below the water, Maria immediately realized what she had done, but it was too late. The children were gone. She fell on her knees and pulled at her hair, screaming, “Ay mis hijos!”
The next morning, Maria was found dead along the riverbank. No one could determine how she had died, other than because of the sorrow and grieving at the loss of her children. She was buried that same day.
That evening, families walking by the river could hear a faint crying. As they came closer to the water, the crying became a wailing, and words could be heard, “Ay mis hijos! Donde estan mis hijos!” A faint white mist appeared to float above the riverbank, close to where Maria’s body had been found. It resembled the long white dress in which she had been buried.
To this day, mothers and grandmothers warn their children not to be out at night because La Llorona is still looking for her children and she might snatch them up, believing them to be her own.
Legend? You won't catch me walking by the river at night. If you listen on a quite, gloomy night, you can still her cries. Watch-out! Don't get caught!
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In honor of La Llorona, here are two drinks to imbibe this month. This is a time when two worlds cross over into one another. A time when legends become reality and reality becomes....lost.
In honor of La Llorona, here are two drinks to imbibe this month. This is a time when two worlds cross over into one another. A time when legends become reality and reality becomes....lost.
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Murky Water
1/4 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1/4 oz Peach Schnapps
1/4 oz Coconut Rum
1/4 oz pineapple Rum
1/4 oz Grenadine syrup
1/4 oz Apple-juice or Pineapple juice
Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a shot glass, and serve.
Murky Water1/4 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1/4 oz Peach Schnapps
1/4 oz Coconut Rum
1/4 oz pineapple Rum
1/4 oz Grenadine syrup
1/4 oz Apple-juice or Pineapple juice
Pour all ingredients into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a shot glass, and serve.
La Llorona Punch
1 package (.22 ounce) Berry Blue Kool-Aid
1 (2 liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled
1 (64 ounce) bottle white grape juice, chilled
8 scoops of vanilla ice cream
1 cup sugar, or to taste
In a large punch bowl, stir together kool aid, ginger ale, and white grape juice. Taste and stir in sugar as needed. Float ice scream scoops on top right before serving.
**La Llorona is portrayed by my daughter, Lily.
**La Llorona by the punch bowl is portayed by ..BARBIE!
14 comments:
very clever.
sure, why not!
thats amazing story.
I love your halloween decorations, very spooky inspired :) Neat story too, man what a jerk that handsome dude was. He gets to travel all over and then leaves them. He should of saw that Maria was close to the edge :)
I love that post. I live in San Antonio and last year my husband and I went on a "haunted tour" of downtown by the riverwalk and they told us of that story. Now we joking wail about our mijos when we see a river! I love it!
I should take the children to the riverwalk around Halloween night and share this spooky legend. Wouldn't that be fun? Hahahahahaaaa!
Legends are born from truths. You won't catch me by the river at night either! Great post!
Thanks for the lore Teresa. I am learning so much of mexican american culture from your blog. Keep it up....
PS: I enjoy the drinks at your blog too...hic!
Fantastic story - you tell it beautifully. I am sitting in the sun and I still have shivers down my spine!
what a great story Teresa! I'd never heard it before. I love stories that are steeped in tradition.
And I love what you did with Barbie!
Me again Teresa...pls come over and collect your award from my blog, ya.
Your blog is so informative ... and entertaining. And the drinks look very good too -- my husband's birthday is on Halloween and this should be a good drink to serve up to guests then! Thanks!
I just had to stop by and tell you...I bought your cookbook today, Aprovecho. I can't wait for it to come in the mail!!!!
Great story and spooky pictures--sets a great tone for Halloween!
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