The legend of the Weeping Woman: La Llorona
This is a story that the old ones have been telling to children for hundreds of years. It is a sad tale, but it lives strong in the memories of the people, and there are many who swear that it is true.
It can be traced back many miles and three centuries to become a part of the Mexican border folklore. Among the old folk tales told up and down the Rio Grande is the story of Maria Gonzales. Some say she was the most beautiful girl in the world! And because she was so beautiful, Maria thought she was better than everyone else.
As Maria grew older, her pride in her beauty grew too. When she was a young woman, she would not even look at the young men from her village. They weren't good enough for her! "When I marry," Maria would say, "I will marry the most handsome man in the world."
And then one day, into Maria's village rode a man who seemed to be just the one she had been talking about. He was a dashing young ranchero, the son of a wealthy rancher from the southern plains. He could ride like a Comanche! In fact, if he owned a horse, and it grew tame, he would give it away and go rope a wild horse from the plains. He thought it wasn't manly to ride a horse if it wasn't half wild.
He was handsome! And he could play the guitar and sing beautifully. Maria made up her mind-that was, the man for her! She knew just the tricks to win his attention.
If the ranchero spoke when they met on the pathway, she would turn her head away. When he came to her house in the evening to play his guitar and serenade her, she wouldn't even come to the window. She refused all his costly gifts. The young man fell for her tricks. "That haughty girl, Maria, Maria! " he said to himself. "I know I can win her heart. I swear I'll marry that girl."
And so everything turned out as Maria planned. Before long, she and the ranchero became engaged and soon they were married. At first, things were fine. They had two children and they seemed to be a happy family together. But after a few years, the ranchero went back to the wild life of the prairies. He would leave town and be gone for months at a time. And when he returned home, it was only to visit his children. He seemed to care nothing for the beautiful Maria. He even talked of setting Maria aside and marrying a woman of his own wealthy class.
As proud as Maria was, of course she became very angry with the ranchero. She also began to feel anger toward her children, because he paid attention to them, but just ignored her.
One evening, as Maria was strolling with her two children on the shady pathway near the river, the ranchero came by in a carriage. An elegant lady sat on the seat beside him. He stopped and spoke to his children, but he didn't even look at Maria. He whipped the horses on up the street.
When she saw that, a terrible rage filled Maria, and it all turned against her children. And although it is sad to tell, the story says that in her anger Maria seized her two children and threw them into the river! But as they disappeared down the stream, she realized what she had done! She ran down the bank of the river, reaching out her arms to them. But they were long gone.
The next morning, a traveler brought word to the villagers that a beautiful woman lay dead on the bank of the river. That is where they found Maria, and they laid her to rest where she had fallen.
But the first night Maria was in the grave, the villagers heard the sound of crying down by the river. It was not the wind, it was La Llorona crying. Where are my children? And they saw a woman walking up and down the bank of the river, dressed in a long white robe, the way they had dressed Maria for burial. On many a dark night they saw her walk the river bank and cry for her children. And so they no longer spoke of her as Maria. They called her La Llorona, the weeping woman. And by that name she is known to this day. Children are warned not to go out in the dark, for, La Llorona might snatch them and never return them.
La Llorona still cries for her children. She comes in the dark, on the wind, seeking that which is forever lost to her.
La Llorona - from the Mexican folktale.
Don’t go down to the river, child,
Don’t go there alone;
For the sobbing woman, wet and wild,
Might claim you for her own.
She weeps when the sun is murky red;
She wails when the moon is old;
She cries for her babies, still and dead,
Who drowned in the water cold.
Abandoned by a faithless love,
Filled with fear and hate.
She flung them from a cliff above
And left them to their fate.
Day and night, she heard their screams,
Borne on the current’s crest;
Their tortured faces filled her dreams,
And gave her heart no rest.
Crazed by guilt and dazed by pain,
Weary from loss of sleep,
She leaped in the river, lashed by rain,
And drowned in the waters deep.
She seeks her children day and night,
Wandering, lost, and cold;
She weeps and moans in dark and light,
A tortured, restless soul.
Don’t go down to the river, child,
Don’t go there alone;
For the sobbing woman, wet and wild,
Might claim you for her own.
Courtesy Joe Hayes.
What a sad & haunting story! Thanks for sharing this legend.
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The weeping woman is traditional Latin American tale to scare children. This rendition is great. It open up doors to conversing with your children or your students about the bigger issues.
this is a sad story,i feel sorry to hear that.I have learn a lot of things from your article,thank you very much.
This really is a sad story, if people can control his own mind, not to be mental control of mind, I think this tragedy should won't appear!
It is really a sad tale.what a haughty girl maria is,if she not to be so hanghty,i think she will own a very happy life with her kids!
This story is really tragic, how two innocent children, Maria how it will be under the hand.
Thank you for shairng this such interesting stoty.
I like this style of article.
As Maria grew older, her pride in her beauty grew too. When she was a young woman, she would not even look at the young men from her village. They weren't good enough for her! "When I marry," Maria would say, "I will marry the most handsome man in the world."
The Hispanic people believe that the Weeping Woman will always be with them, following the many rivers looking for her children, and for this reason, many of them fear the dark and pass the legend from generation to generation.
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And when he returned home, it was only to visit his children. He seemed to care nothing for the beautiful Maria. He even talked of setting Maria aside and marrying a woman of his own wealthy class.
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I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Thanks for sharing this legend.
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This story is also very touching and sighed by a very sad story
Beautiful picture! The female line is fluent. Although not draw female face, but see women must be a beauty.
Thank you for sharing this post. Hope to see your other post next time. I have learn a lot of things from your article.
The Legend of La Llorona, known by every Mexican, tells the story of a woman that will weep for eternity. Read and find out what's the cause of
He could ride like a Comanche! In fact, if he owned a horse, and it grew tame, he would give it away and go rope a wild horse from the plains. He thought it wasn't manly to ride a horse if it wasn't half wild.
This is a moving story!
It is great to know that your happy with what you have right now.and to know that your thankful of it.
Of all the ghost stories shrouded in mystery, that of La Llorona is probably the best known
what a interesting story.thanks for sharing.
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La Llorona, Tales of Weeping Woman Passed Down ...And that抯 how parents a lot of the time ?it...the exact origin of the legend, the La Llorona
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What a sad story!I hope to see more blogs .thank you .
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'''La Llorona''is Spanish for "The Weeping Woman". Originating in Mexico, La Llorona is a popular legend in Spanish-speaking cultures in the colonies.
It is great to know that your happy with what you have right now.and to know that your thankful of it.
I read the whole story which you posted here. It is a great story of Maria Gonzales. It is so sad story. I was cry at the time of reading. Thanks for sharing with us.
i feel relly sad for the children and for maria
poor maria this is a sad story
this is a sad story,i feel sorry to hear that.I have learn a lot of things from your article.
There are many a dark night. He saw her walk the shoreline and a crying baby. Thus only talked about his Mary. It's called La Llorona, weeping women.
i have been searching for this storie because in a book i was reading called secondhand spirits the lead character had to banish la llorona
Thank you, that was just an awesome post!!!
Thanx for sharing that. It was fun reading it. :-)
That is great to hear, thank you for reading!
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