The Saddest Mexican Urban Legend: La Llorona

Introduction:

Urban legends are stories that are passed down from generation to generation, often with a mix of folklore, superstition, and horror. They reflect the culture, history, and fears of the people who tell them. Some urban legends are more famous than others, such as the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, or the Bermuda Triangle. But some urban legends are more obscure, and more tragic, than others.

One of the most sad and terrifying urban legends in Mexico is the story of La Llorona, or the Weeping Woman. This legend tells the tale of a woman named Maria, who was betrayed by her husband, and in a fit of rage and despair, killed her own children and drowned herself in a river. Her spirit is said to wander the banks of the river, crying and searching for her lost children. Anyone who hears her wails should beware, for she might mistake them for her children and drag them into the water.

In this article, we will explore the origin, variations, and influence of this Mexican urban legend, and why it still haunts the imagination of many people today.

The Story of Maria: A Love Turned Sour

The story of La Llorona begins with a woman named Maria, who lived in a rural village in Mexico. She was a beautiful and proud woman, who caught the eye of a noble and wealthy sergeant, who was passing through the village. He was enchanted by her beauty and charm, and asked her to marry him. Maria agreed, and they had a lavish wedding. She moved with him to his mansion in the city, and gave birth to two children, a boy and a girl.

Maria was very happy with her new life, but her happiness was short-lived. Her husband, who was much older than her, soon grew tired of her and started to neglect her. He spent more time away from home, traveling and having affairs with other women. He only came back to see his children, whom he loved dearly. He barely paid any attention to Maria, who felt lonely and betrayed.

The Tragedy of the Children: A Mother’s Despair

One day, Maria decided to take her children to the river, where they could play and have fun. She hoped that this would cheer them up, and maybe even make her husband jealous. She dressed them in their finest clothes, and walked with them to the riverbank. There, she saw a sight that broke her heart: her husband was riding in a carriage with a young and beautiful lady, who was wearing a dress and jewelry that he had bought for Maria.

He stopped the carriage when he saw Maria and the children, and got out to greet them. He kissed his children and told them how much he missed them. He then looked at Maria with cold and disdainful eyes, and told her that he was leaving her for the other woman. He said that he had filed for divorce, and that he would take the children with him. He got back into the carriage, and drove away, leaving Maria in shock and grief.

Maria felt a surge of anger and jealousy, and blamed her children for her husband’s abandonment. She thought that if she didn’t have them, he would still love her and stay with her. She grabbed her children by the arms, and threw them into the river, where they drowned. She then realized what she had done, and screamed in horror. She jumped into the river, hoping to save them, but it was too late. She also drowned, and her body was carried away by the current.

The Riverside Incident: The Birth of a Legend

The villagers, who had witnessed the tragic scene, were shocked and saddened by Maria’s actions. They buried her children in the village cemetery, but they could not find her body. They believed that she had been cursed by God for her sin, and that her soul was doomed to wander the earth. They started to hear her cries at night, near the river, where she would call out for her children: “Ay, mis hijos!” (“Oh, my children!”). They named her La Llorona, the Weeping Woman, and feared her presence.

According to the legend, La Llorona still haunts the rivers and lakes of Mexico, and other parts of Latin America, where she is known by different names. She is said to appear as a ghostly figure, dressed in white, with long black hair and pale skin. She cries and moans, looking for her children, and sometimes asks for help from the living. She is especially active during the night, and during the Day of the Dead, when the veil between the worlds is thinner.

Some versions of the legend say that La Llorona is not only a sad and lonely spirit, but also a dangerous and vengeful one. She preys on children who wander near the water, and tries to drown them, thinking that they are her own. She also targets men who resemble her husband, and tries to seduce them or harm them. She is said to be able to change her appearance, and lure people with her beauty or her voice. Some people believe that if you hear her cries, you should run away, or else you will suffer bad luck, illness, or death.

The Influence of Urban Legends: A Cultural Phenomenon

The story of La Llorona has been told and retold for centuries, and has become a part of the Mexican culture and identity. It has inspired many works of art, literature, music, film, and television, both in Mexico and abroad. Some examples are:

• The opera La Llorona, composed by Marcela Rodriguez in 1996, which combines elements of the legend with the historical figure of Malinche, the indigenous woman who served as a translator and lover for Hernan Cortes, the Spanish conqueror of Mexico.

• The novel The Hummingbird’s Daughter, written by Luis Alberto Urrea in 2005, which features a character named Teresita, who is believed to be the reincarnation of La Llorona, and who has supernatural powers and a connection with the spirit world.

• The song La Llorona, which is a traditional folk song that has been recorded by many artists, such as Chavela Vargas, Lila Downs, Joan Baez, and Natalia Lafourcade. The lyrics vary, but they usually express the sorrow and regret of La Llorona, and her longing for her children and her husband.

• The film The Curse of La Llorona, released in 2019, which is a horror movie that is part of the Conjuring universe, and that depicts La Llorona as a malevolent entity that terrorizes a family in Los Angeles in the 1970s.

• The TV series Grimm, aired from 2011 to 2017, which is a fantasy drama that follows a detective who can see the hidden creatures that live among humans, and who has to deal with various cases involving them. One of the episodes, titled La Llorona, features a woman who kidnaps and drowns children, and who is revealed to be a Wesen, a shapeshifter, that resembles La Llorona.

Conclusion:

La Llorona is one of the most famous and tragic urban legends in Mexico, and in the world. It tells the story of a woman who lost everything, and who became a restless and tormented spirit. It reflects the themes of love, betrayal, jealousy, guilt, and redemption, and it also shows the influence of the colonial history, the Catholic religion, and the indigenous beliefs of Mexico. It is a legend that has survived and evolved over time, and that has captured the imagination and the emotions of many people. It is a legend that will continue to be told, and to haunt us, for generations to come.