Legend of La Madre Monte
This legend is typical of Colombia, especially jungle areas and of those with large rivers.
Its origin comes from ancient South American indigenous deities representing "Mother Earth".
The story of the Madre Monte is usually told by the peasants and woodcutters that assure have seen a terrible monster, which has the features of a woman. Physically she is a large, elegant lady, dressed in fresh leaves and green moss, who is partly woman and half a bush, with a hat covered in green leaves and feathers, which does not allow her face to be seen.
As they relate, it appears to all those landowners who, due to their greed, steal land from others.
Some claim to hear their screams and bellows on dark nights and dangerous storms.
She lives in tangled places, with lush trees, away from the noise of civilization and in warm forests, with dangerous animals.
The peasants say that when the Madre montet takes a bath in the rivers these become cloudy and overflow, causing floods, heavy storms as a warning for humans for the pollution and abuse of the Earth.
This legend also exists in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, although they are named: Madreselva, Fantasma del monte y Madre de los Cerros, respectively.
In certain areas of Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Colombia, Madremonte is the terror of infidels, adulterers, drug addicts, usurers, among others.
To avoid being surprised by La Madre Monte, it is necessary to smoke tobacco, while you walk through the area and tie a vine around your waist, The most believing people carry scapulars and blessed medals and entrust themselves to San Isidro Labrador, a lawyer for the mountains and sawmills.
By María Camila Pinzón, Step 10.
