I heard a fascinating talk about Santa Muerte a few months ago. I only a know a little bit, if anyone knows more, please share.
Santa Muerte seems to be a syncretic creature. Indigenous death beings presided over various aspects of life; they were often pregnant and gave advice. These combined with the grim reaper introduced alongside (enforced) Spanish Catholicism. By the 18th century, Santa Muerte was her own entity, presented as a skeletal figure.
Women pray to Santa Muerte, and she is often associated with the poor and marginalised groups. She doesn't judge, and anyone can follower her; she has no ordained priesthood.
She was first worshipped in northern Mexico, but now also found in southern Mexican celebrations of Dia de los Muertos. This revival might be connected to an increase in poverty, e.g., following NAFTA.
In one of the Nahua creation myths, “The giant earth monster Tlaltecuhtli (“Earth Lord”), a crocodile-like creature, swam in the sea searching for flesh to eat. The gods turned themselves into serpents, entered the sea, and tore Tlaltecuhtli in half. The upper part of her body became the land, and the lower part was thrown into the sky to become the stars and heavens.” (Michael E. Smith, The Aztecs (Oxford: Blackwell, 1996)
Nagual are shapeshifters, human tricksters born with shamanic powers and familiars they can use for good or evil: the person must choose. Found across Mesoamerica with evidence stretching back millennias, modern Mexican naguals are often associated with brujería. #MythologyMonday
La Llorona is a popular ghost story that is prominent on Día de los Muertos. Having drowned her own sons out of despair over an abusive, cheating husband, or neglecting them and so they drowned by accident, a woman named Maria, aka "La Llorona" --"the weeping woman"-- is forced to wander the Earth searching for her lost sons. La Llorona's siren-like wails are said to lure adults and children to their untimely deaths: “Mis hijos! Mis hijos! ¿Dónde están mis hijos?” (Britannica) #MythologyMonday
Chaneques are child-sized beings that act as protectors of the forest in indigenous Mexican mythology. They are known for being mischievous and frequently play tricks on those that enter their domain, such as leading people astray or hiding their belongings. #MythologyMonday
Originally from Tlaxcala, Mexico, The Thlahuelpuchis are vampiric witches with lycanthropy powers. Her name comes from Nahuatl and means luminous incense burner. She is a type of vampire who lives with her human family, she sucks the blood of infants at night.
Greetings, myth lovers! To celebrate #CincoDeMayo, today's theme is: #Mexican and Mexican-American myths and legends. Write out a story and use the hashtag #MythologyMonday for boosts. See you all soon!
A Lechuza is a type of hag from Mexican folklore that takes the qualities of a seemingly normal woman during the day but transforms during the night into an owl-like monster with a wide array of powers such as mimicking voices, manipulating the weather and even inducing death via her screeching.
A Lechuza is a ravenous predator that is forever seeking out prey, favoring humans - 🧵
Let's dive into Japanese mythology for this #MythologyMonday spotlight on dance! 🌟 Meet Ame-no-Uzume, the spirited kami known for her enchanting dance. Legend has it she danced to coax the sun goddess Amaterasu out of hiding, bringing light back to the world. 🌞 Dance has always held a powerful role in mythology, bridging worlds and inspiring gods and mortals alike! #JapaneseMythology
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: Parthelon and his people invaded #Ireland and fought a magical battle in which they were successful against the Fomori people by using the one-legged crane dance (corrghuineacht) which involved all the warriors standing in positions of power on one leg, with one arm behind their backs and one eye closed.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack https://x.com/MJDougherty33/status/666174804815249408
Poludnitsa is a noon demon in Slavic mythology. She can be referred to in English as "Lady Midday", "Noonwraith" or "Noon Witch". She was usually pictured as a young woman dressed in white that roamed field bounds.She assailed folk working at noon, causing heatstrokes and aches in the neck; sometimes she even caused madness.
Poludnitsa, according to beliefs, loves to dance. If she sees a girl lying down to rest in the field, she will wake her up and begin
The samodiva (Bulgarian: самодива; plural: samodivi, Bulgarian: самодиви), samovila (Bulgarian: самовила; plural: samovili, Bulgarian: самовили) or vila (Bulgarian: вила; plural: vili, Bulgarian: вили), are woodland fairies or nymphs found in South and West Slavic folklore.
Important aspect of the figure of the Samodivas is their love for singing and dancing. They often engage in competitions with each other and with humans, #MythologyMonday 🧵
Kumina, an Afro-Jamaican religion based on communication with the ancestors, has Congolese origins and was brought to Jamaica by indentured Africans in the 1840s-1860s. The ritual dance, along with drumming that summons and controls the spirits, “seems to be the bridge between esoteric and the exotic...” (Olive Lewin, “Jamaica’s Folk Music”)
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: The Morrigan used the one-legged crane dance (corrghuineacht) when she forecast Cormac’s doom in Togail Bruidne Dá Choca.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: The #Irish ritual of the one-legged crane dance curse (corrghuineacht) is a form of magic-working, the power of which is intensified when practised standing on one leg, with one arm outstretched, and with one eye closed like a crane (ir. corr). The ritual position itself is known as glám dícenn (meaning ‘satire which destroys’). It was thought that the open eye was able to look directly into the magical #Otherworld, whilst standing on only one leg indicated being present in neither one world or the other.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
#Celtic#MythologyMonday: Prior to the Second Battle of Moytura, #Lugh, God of Lightning, was heartening the men of #Ireland by the crane dance curse (corrghuineacht). He chanted as he went leftwards round the men of Erin, on one foot and with one eye closed.
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
Located on the Scottish island of Fetlar, the Haltadans is a circle of standing stones that folklore claims were once trows (Shetland's fairy folk). The story goes that they were still dancing in a circle when the sun rose one morning and turned them to stone. #MythologyMonday