MYTHS AND LEGENDS

INTRODUCTION
TO PANAMENIAN MYTHOLOGY

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Here you will get to know the rich mythical and legendary heritage that is preserved in the Panamanian isthmus. Gradually, we will unravel characters, tales, myths, and legends that span the isthmus from coast to coast and from border to border.

The legends that are best known in Panama are usually rooted in the local culture and therefore have a significant European and Christian influence. However, the cultural and ethnic richness of our country allows us to find many other myths and legends throughout its geography, from each of the seven indigenous ethnic groups that live in the isthmus: Emberá, Wounaan, Guna, Ngäbe, Buglé, Tjerdi, and Bribri.

Salto del Pilon, Los Santos Province. This is where the «enchanted girl» appears.

Although some of these latter ones may not be as well-known, when we delve into their origin myths, we are amazed by the wealth of fascinating symbolic elements they contain. Despite the quantity of testimonies and legends we find about them, perhaps the most relevant legendary beings in Panama are the witches, who are always associated with the figure of the Devil in Panamanian folklore. The Devil is a mythical-religious character who has many other entities or relatives under his influence, such as the Black Dog, the Black Cat, the Chivato, or the Black Cadejo. We will discuss all of them in this section.

In terms of importance, if we consider the number of appearances, it is no surprise that the Tulivieja is often present around us. This is a penitent female figure that, in one way or another, can be found widely distributed throughout the world.

Typical «three-stone» cooking fire where it is said that the pavita de tierra (a mythical creature) hides under one of the stones.

While all phenomena related to spirits or restless souls have a Christian background, we also find in Panama certain legendary beings that trace back to indigenous cosmogonic origins. Among them, we could highlight the Pavita de Tierra, the Cegua, the Jujuná, the Ceñil, and the Mother of Water.

These myths and legends, perhaps not as well-known or recognized as the local ones, are waiting for us to transport us to their own space-time dimension, to prompt reflection, to make us think about them and consider delving into their realms… or not. And we will tell you about all of them in Panama ‘Onde Uno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksIHvf8MT0I

DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? Share it:

Here you will get to know the rich mythical and legendary heritage that is preserved in the Panamanian isthmus. Gradually, we will unravel characters, tales, myths, and legends that span the isthmus from coast to coast and from border to border.

The legends that are best known in Panama are usually rooted in the local culture and therefore have a significant European and Christian influence. However, the cultural and ethnic richness of our country allows us to find many other myths and legends throughout its geography, from each of the seven indigenous ethnic groups that live in the isthmus: Emberá, Wounaan, Guna, Ngäbe, Buglé, Tjerdi, and Bribri.

Salto del Pilon, Los Santos Province. This is where the «enchanted girl» appears.

Although some of these latter ones may not be as well-known, when we delve into their origin myths, we are amazed by the wealth of fascinating symbolic elements they contain. Despite the quantity of testimonies and legends we find about them, perhaps the most relevant legendary beings in Panama are the witches, who are always associated with the figure of the Devil in Panamanian folklore. The Devil is a mythical-religious character who has many other entities or relatives under his influence, such as the Black Dog, the Black Cat, the Chivato, or the Black Cadejo. We will discuss all of them in this section.

In terms of importance, if we consider the number of appearances, it is no surprise that the Tulivieja is often present around us. This is a penitent female figure that, in one way or another, can be found widely distributed throughout the world.

Typical «three-stone» cooking fire where it is said that the pavita de tierra (a mythical creature) hides under one of the stones.

While all phenomena related to spirits or restless souls have a Christian background, we also find in Panama certain legendary beings that trace back to indigenous cosmogonic origins. Among them, we could highlight the Pavita de Tierra, the Cegua, the Jujuná, the Ceñil, and the Mother of Water.

These myths and legends, perhaps not as well-known or recognized as the local ones, are waiting for us to transport us to their own space-time dimension, to prompt reflection, to make us think about them and consider delving into their realms… or not. And we will tell you about all of them in Panama ‘Onde Uno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksIHvf8MT0I

DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? Share it:

Here you will get to know the rich mythical and legendary heritage that is preserved in the Panamanian isthmus. Gradually, we will unravel characters, tales, myths, and legends that span the isthmus from coast to coast and from border to border.

The legends that are best known in Panama are usually rooted in the local culture and therefore have a significant European and Christian influence. However, the cultural and ethnic richness of our country allows us to find many other myths and legends throughout its geography, from each of the seven indigenous ethnic groups that live in the isthmus: Emberá, Wounaan, Guna, Ngäbe, Buglé, Tjerdi, and Bribri.

Although some of these latter ones may not be as well-known, when we delve into their origin myths, we are amazed by the wealth of fascinating symbolic elements they contain.

Despite the quantity of testimonies and legends we find about them, perhaps the most relevant legendary beings in Panama are the witches, who are always associated with the figure of the Devil in Panamanian folklore. The Devil is a mythical-religious character who has many other entities or relatives under his influence, such as the Black Dog, the Black Cat, the Chivato, or the Black Cadejo. We will discuss all of them in this section.

Salto del Pilon, Los Santos Province. This is where the «enchanted girl» appears.

Typical «three-stone» cooking fire where it is said that the pavita de tierra (a mythical creature) hides under one of the stones.

In terms of importance, if we consider the number of appearances, it is no surprise that the Tulivieja is often present around us. This is a penitent female figure that, in one way or another, can be found widely distributed throughout the world.

While all phenomena related to spirits or restless souls have a Christian background, we also find in Panama certain legendary beings that trace back to indigenous cosmogonic origins. Among them, we could highlight the Pavita de Tierra, the Cegua, the Jujuná, the Ceñil, and the Mother of Water.

These myths and legends, perhaps not as well-known or recognized as the local ones, are waiting for us to transport us to their own space-time dimension, to prompt reflection, to make us think about them and consider delving into their realms… or not. Y de todos ellos les contaremos en Panamá ‘onde uno.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksIHvf8MT0I

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