Encounters With La Llorona “The Weeping Woman”

The legend of La Llorona which translates to “weeping woman” in English, is a folklore shared among Latin American countries. Though views on the origin of the story vary, most people believe that she drowned her children after discovering that her husband was unfaithful. As the story goes, her spirit now travels the earth wailing at the loss of her children in regret. In tonight’s episode of Kolcha Tuesday, News Five’s Paul Lopez hears from some Belizeans who claim to have had encounters with La Llorona, as well as one folklore author who weighed in. Here is that report.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This tree in the heart of Xaibe Village is believed to be two centuries old. It is also the site of many reported La Llorona sightings.

 

 

 

Jenara Cano, Xaibe Village Resident

“La Llorona is, according to my grandparents, it is a spirit that does not walk on the ground.”

 

 

 

 

Sixty-five-year-old Jenara Cano grew up hearing stories of La Llorona from her grandparents and parents. She describes La Llorona as the spirit of a woman dressed in white garments, floating about a foot above ground.

 

Jenera Cano

“My parents told me that it is a woman who killed her children. But right before someone dies it is guaranteed that she will come around. Fifteen days ago, La Llorona was seen crying from one crossroad to the next crossroad. Right before someone dies La Llorona comes and it  gives you chills and makes you afraid. Last month a lady in front of us died and I heard La Llorona, about two o’clock in the morning.”

 

And when we played this sound for her from a video of a reported sighting,.

 

Jenera Cano

“That is the sound, that is how it sounds.”

She told us without uncertainty that this is the same sound heard in her community.

 

 

 

Paul Lopez

“What do you think would happen if someone comes face to face with La Llorona?”

 

Jenera Cano

“Hmp, you will die.”

 

One hundred and fifty miles away, in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Benigno Coch says he has seen La Llorona’s face.

 

Beningno Coch, Benque Viejo Town Resident

“When I was taking a lady at two in the morning in BECOL basketball court and I was coming by Mr. Cocom and there was a three on the side of the street and something went to me like my body and I said this is not good and I turned around and there was a white lady coming towards the street. I started running and I run and I turned around and she was coming the back of me. So I went straight to the street where the lights are and she was still coming back. So I run hard we reached up to church street and I went beside a house and go around and I stayed there. Then I went back to my house I looked up the post the lady was coming down. I had a deodorant and coffee in a plastic bag which I bought, But I was taking some drinks with the lady. I said this is not good. I threw the things towards her and it fell on the ground and I went running to the back of the house and I went inside. I saw her face. She was having something in front, and it doesn’t have eyes. That was that was the first time I saw her.”

 

According to Adella Vallejo, a cultural activist in Northern Belize, stories of La Llorona originated from the Yucatec Maya culture. She explained that there are different versions of the story across the world, but they all point back to a woman grieving the loss of a loved one.

 

Adella Vallejo, Maya Culture Activist

“I have not had an encounter with La Llorona in Belize, but I told you that I believe there are Llorona type entities in every culture. And, that is why every culture will have their own stories. And I can tell you where I resided, which was the U.S.A my entire family got to hear La Llorona for three consecutive nights and when we heard it the first time it was very alarming, the second time it was very distressing and the third time it was like we got to do something about this. And the third time we said some prayers and eventually she went away. But she actually brought terror to our entire neighborhood and it was not just my household. The people that resided upstairs and my daughter that resided like three hundred feet away was like, did you hear that last night, that was very terrifying.”

 

David Ruiz, a cultural activist from Benque Viejo Del Carmen, writes folklores. He has never had any such encounters, but says he respects the stories and narratives as well as their importance to culture.

 

David Ruiz, Cultural Activist

“Even La Llorona is not seen as such. She is heard. She is heard as a lady, the cry of a woman. And what I have heard people saying is that it is not an ordinary cry. Some people say oh it is cats, because cats when they are mating they sound much like human wails. But people have assured me that it is not the regular cries or screams of cats. It is different. I myself have never heard. I respect the stories and the narratives and  I really would not like to have the experience. But I cannot say I don’t believe in it because I haven’t had the experience, but I do respect it.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.