Folklore - Blog Posts

Nat Lamina 🎨🖌@lasarasu

Maria Makiling, 2023, oil on canvas, 24" × 36".

"Maria Makiling in Philippine mythology is a diwata (fairy) associated with Mount Makiling in Laguna, Philippines. She is the most widely known diwata in Philippine mythology and was venerated in pre-colonial Philippines as a goddess known as Dayang Masalanta who was invoked to stop deluges, storms, and earthquakes."

[image described in captions]

Maria Makiling is a diwata or lambana (faerie or forest nymph) in Philippine mythology associated with Mount Makiling, Philippines. She is said to be the benefactor of the townspeople who depend on the mountain, as she is responsible for its bounties. It is said that the mountain resembles the profile of a woman, an image of Maria herself.

She is often depicted as one of three characters: a fierce protector of the forest surrounding the mountains, a provider known to give ginger that turns into gold to poor villagers, and a spurned lover afraid to love a mortal once more. Even today there are still reported sightings of her presence, from lost hikers, disappearances attributed to her presences, and students who go to the university at the foot of the mountain, University of the Philippines in Los Baños.

Translations (Filipino to English):

they are maria makiling

part, n./adj.: this is a part of my love, that I can never wholly receive anything from you - whether it be answers, time, or shelter - and that’s okay. [source of original text]

FILIPINO MYTHOLOGY: TRES MARIAS (Mountain Goddesses/Fairies)

Maria Cacao, Maria Makiling, and Maria Sinukuan are mountain goddesses (or fairies) with their own separate jurisdictions. The most famous of the three, Maria Makiling, is the guardian of Mount Makiling, located in Laguna. The mountain is said to resemble the profile of a woman, perhaps of Maria herself. Maria Cacao watches over Mount Lantoy in Cebu, and it is said that her domain houses the Cacao plants, a useful ingredient in most Filipino chocolate delicacies. Lastly, Maria Sinukuan holds dominion over Mount Arayat in Pampanga. There, she is said to bring forth bountiful harvests from the mountain’s fruit trees.

Maria Makiling Aesthetic

Si Maria ay kaisang-isang anak nina Dayang Makiling at Gat Panahon, na para-parang bathala o engkantado kung sa ngayong pakahulugan. Tanging-tanging mutya ang nabanggit na lakambini sa kanilang tahanan pagka’t siyay'y bugtong na aliw ng kanyang ama’t ina. Siya ang liwanag ng kanilang paningin; siya ang galak ng kanilang puso; anupa’t sa biglang pangungusap, siya ang kayamanang impok ng kanilang buhay. Sa kanilang katandaan, si Maria ang bango at kulay ng mga araw nilang unti-unting nawawalan ng sigla’t lakas.

Alamat ni Maria Makiling [x]

@fyeahmyths two weeks event: day twelve.

asian creature: [philippine] m a r i a  m a k i l i n g

in philippines, it is believed that there is a forest nymph who is the guardian spirit of the mountain - and a benefactor of the townspeople who depend upon the mountain’s resources. people claim that the mount makiling in philippines is itself shaped like the spirit - her face and two breasts being discernible in its various peaks.

Filipino Mythology Week → Day 4: Myths/Folk Tales

The “Maria” Diwatas

Tres Marias: The Mountain Diwatafolk of Las Islas

Maria Sinukuan The eldest of the Three Diwata sisters and protector of her domain, Mount Arayat. One of her legend tells that she had a demon suitor who desired her hand. She gave him a test to prove his worth – to build a stone bridge without any support overnight. When the demon has almost accomplished his task, Sinukuan sabotaged the test by telling the rooster to crow early before dawn. The demon gave up, thinking that he failed.

Maria Cacao

The second of the Diwata sisters and protector of the Visayan dark woods where Chocolate Trees grow. It was believed that when the river overflows, Cacao is travelling through the river on a golden barge to personally deliver dark fruits to the river gods.

Maria Makiling The protector of her domain, Mount Makiling and the youngest among the Diwata sisters. She was also the most popular because she was more benevolent and curious of people than her sisters. She once fell in love with a hunter that caused wrath from Sinukuan. Her eldest sister reminded her of their duty as a Diwata and falling in love means leaving their mountain domains vulnerable. After realizing that the mountain needs her more, she appeared to the hunter one night – to break his heart. The unbearable pain in her heart caused her to vanish and never appeared to anyone from then on.

5/6

Kot Bajun.

4/6 Vasilisa the Beautiful.

3/6 Leshy.

Another one. This is the part of my small folklore serie, that inspired by Art Nouveau artists. 2/6

Don't mind me, just flexing my country.

See, I personally find this quest to find pagan/pre-Christian elements in Welsh/Irish literature quite unnerving - I don't know about anyone else.

There's something to be said about genuinely discovering pre-Christian elements in a narrative or story and that being where evidence and study has led you. But I see some people on this fruitless quest to find pagan elements in very Christian texts and sometimes it feels like if no pagan elements can be found, people start making stuff up out of whole cloth - and that can be very dangerous for already not-well known texts in minoritised languages!

There's already so much misinformation out there about Irish/Welsh texts and literature in general - so it hurts to see people carelessly adding to the misinformation either out of ignorance or lack of respect for the source material.

I promise you the source material being Christian doesn't ruin it - you can in fact, enjoy these myths without making them into something they're not!

Almost forgot the last creature I made for the cryptid artbook project: the Chugaister from Ukrainian mythology. Described as a large bear-like man, naked and super hairy (with almost animal-like fur), that roams the Carpathian mountains. Despite his appearance, he is a benevolent creature and doesn’t seem attack humans unless provoked. In fact, according to tales, he’s quite friendly towards people. He doesn’t speak like humans, but if he encounters you camping in the forest, he will gladly join you to dance around a bonfire, engaging in a sort of friendly dance battle. He’s super chill overall, especially if you share your food.

Additionally, the Chugaister protects humans from evil spirits and dangers, including NIAVKAS.

You might have heard of "Mavka" from the cartoon "Mavka, the Forest Song." BUT Mavkas and Niavkas are separate beings in folklore (though there is some overlap). I remember reading these different interpretations of the same entity come from different regions (can`t find right now) , but generally:

Mavkas are benevolent, playful forest spirits, almost like forest nymphs with green hair. Niavkas, on the other hand, are described as having transparent skin on their backs through which you can see their organs, usually covered with long hair. They are considered extremely dangerous, akin to skinwalkers or certain types of Fae (if you’re familiar with Fae/Fey mythology).

As another Monstober send off, here they are. Every single card in one big deck piece, thank you so much again! Here's to monsters and ghouls 🥂

Day 22 - Large

Day 19 - Omen

Day 16 - Reptile

Whilst there has been tales of a beast living in the Loch, it wasnt until 1933 when the famous Loch Ness Monster truly took off and sparked curiosity and wonder. When a couple found a giant dragon or prehistoric like monster climbing out of the lake which led to a hunt following severy zoologists and hunters alike to uncover the truth. The descriptions closely resemble a plesiosaur, a long extinct aquatic dinosaur. All evidence found, one way or another have been discredited or thought to be a hoax and indecisive enough to be proof. Despite this, scotland will always hold 'Nessie' to heart as people to this day still travel across the globe to see the Loch in hopes of catching a glimpse.

Day 8 - Fungus The Kayeri are a folklore found in Colombia and Venezuela, much taller, larger and faster than the average human they are capable of swiping the local cattle in their arms to feast on soon later as prey. Despite their fungi appearance, they are far more vicious in the stories than you'd realise with an alarming amount of misdeeds within their tales. In this sense, you can categorise them equivalent to Ogres with many comparisions to be made. Never judge a beast by its appearance, we've learned today.

Interesting how many of these stories follow the pattern of "monster terrorizes town, townsfolk reach accommodation with monster, epic pagan hero or mythical Christendom saint slays or banishes monster." It's fun to headcanon that this is the story as told by the victor, and actually these monsters were symbiotic, providing a defense against transient monsters (Les kaiju, ils se battent).

Maybe even the non-human foods they were fed was a refinement of the original accommodation, and the monsters weren't even eating people at all, by the time Ser Pointyhelmet comes along.

Could be a fun thing to work into a modern narrative: hero comes to town, hero hears about monster, town begs hero not to slay monster, hero slays monster, hero moves on, town gets destroyed by wandering monsters. Or maybe the town forces the hero to stay around and defend them against the transient monster population...

Dragons & Folklore de France

Translation below

The Tarasque dwells in the waters of the Rhone river near the town of Tarascon, where it devours travelers and destroys dikes and dams to flood the Camargue. Saint Martha chained it, and the people of Tarascon killed it.

The ruins of the amphitheaters of Metz were infested by hundreds of snakes. The largest of them, the Graoully, had a venomous breath, a mouth bigger than its body and devoured men. Saint Clement chased it away into the Seille River.

King of serpents, the Basilisk takes many forms throughout history and appears in many tales. One of them takes place at the Gate of Saint-Eloi in Bordeaux, known today for its Big Bell, where a well was occupied by a Basilisk. It petrified with its gaze anyone who went there to fetch water. It was defeated by a man returning from the Egyptian crusade, who petrified the beast with its own gaze using a mirail (mirror).

The Cocatrix is born from a rooster's egg incubated by a toad. The egg has magical properties but must not be broken. People who cross its gaze die immediatly.

Made of wicker and covered in flowers, the Grand Bailla wanders the streets of Reims three days a year and feeds on gold and sweets. It was banished by Archbishop Charles Maurice le Tellier.

The Grand'Goule haunts the marshes of Poitou, the waters of the Clain and the flooded cellars of the abbey of Sainte Croix. It feeds on nuns and casse-museaux (snout-breakers, cakes). Saint Radegonde chased it away with holy water.

In the rivers of the Jura and the Alps there is a group of diverse dragons, the Vouivres. They are generally flying serpents covered in fire and guardians of treasures. Many have for a single eye a gigantic carbuncle with extraordinary powers, desired by those in search of wealth and power.

Hidden in the caves of la Pointe du Roux near La Rochelle, the Rô Beast traps and devours travelers in the coastal marshes. It was impaled by seven heroic pagans from the seas.

Mythical dragon of the Basque Country, Herensuge gave birth to the Sun and the Moon, swallowed all of Creation in ten days then regurgitated it in flames. Now asleep in the mountains, it sucks up flocks and shepherds in his sleep. When it wakes up, it will destroy the world in flames and blood. (illustration)

Durandal is the mythical sword that Charlemagne gave to the knight Roland. Some claim that it was inherited from Hector, the warrior of the Trojan War. At war with the Saracens in the Pyrenées, Roland wanted to break the sword so that it would not fall into the hands of the enemy but Durandal split the mountain. So he threw the sword, which went to stick miles away, in the rock of the town of Rocamadour.

The belief in the Tooth Fairy is widespread in several countries in Europe, and is sometimes amalgamated with La Petite Souris (little mouse). It exchanges baby teeth for money. No one knows what it does with all these teeth.

The Camecruse is a bogeyman that haunts the moors and marshes of Gascony. It is agile, can jump and hide in the night to better devour lost children. No one knows exactly how it feeds.

The caves under the hill of the town of Hastingues are home to Lou Carcolh, a monstrous snail, long, slimy and hairy. Its shell is as big as a house. With the help of its tentacles, it grips people to devour them.

The Questing Beast is hunted by kings and heroes in Arthurian legends. It symbolizes evil, incest, violence and chaos, and takes it name from the loud noises that come out of its stomach, similar to the barking of dozens of dogs.

The fairy Mélusine, cursed princess of Albania, was condemned to change into a snake below the waist every Saturday. She married Raymondin de Lusignan with whom they had 10 prodigious children. But Raymondin broke his promise never to see Mélusine on Saturday : he surprised her in her monstrous form, and she left her family forever.

Kroj z Podještědí.

Není zrovna šťastná, že na ni hledíte.

(🇬🇧 Folk dress from the Podještědí region.

She's not very thrilled about being looked at.)

DID YOU KNOW THIS IN BRAZILIAN FOLKLORE?

There's a history in Brazilian Folklore called Zé Malandro, one of the histories compiled in the book "Contos de Enganar a Morte" (tales to deceive Death), a book that tells histories about People who tried to cheat on Death.

On the final of the book, there's the history of Zé Malandro, a man who is known of being a very smart and tricky bastard. In the history he is visited by Saint Peter, who wants to save his soul, so he gives to Zé 3 Wishes. Zé then spends the 3 Witches in 3 magical Itens:

1-A Mango Tree wich anyone who climb it will be stuck until he lets The person leaves;

2-A Bench wich anyone who Sit on it will be unable to get up until he lets The Person leaves;

3-A Bag big enough to trap 2 People inside of it, and anyone inside of it wont be able to get out until he lets The Person leaves.

So he lived his life normally, and Death arrived. So he asked for his last wish, wich was a mango from The tree in his Garden. When death climbed The Tree, she got stuck in there for days, until she promised to give to Zé Malandro more years of Life. And only then he let her go.

Years passed, Death decided not to come in fear of falling in another trick, so who she asked for help?

Exactly. The Devil. She asked The Devil to go talk to Zé Malandro and take him to Hell, but Zé Malandro asked for a last card game before going to hell. When The Devil sat on the bench to play The card game, he got stuck and stayed in there for months until he promised to let Zé Malandro Live for some more years. And only then Zé Malandro let him go. So when The Devil Went back to Hell, he met a very angry woman awaiting for him.

His WIFE.

She was angry not only that he left for months but also that he let a human get the best on him. So she said that now they both would get Zé Malandro and drag him to Hell.

However, Zé Malandro left a trap for them both: an open Window, where they Fell inside...

The BAG.

Both the Devil and his Wife got trapped inside The Bag and Zé Malandro beat them with a stick for days until they decided to leave him Alone. So when Zé Malandro opened The bag both The Devil and his wife fled to Hell running to Never came back.

One day then, Zé Malandro decided to die. But when he Went to heaven, Saint Peter kicked him out saying he rejected salvation and a place in heaven just for 3 magical itens. When he went to hell, The Devil closed The Door on his face and both him and his wife screamed:

FUCK OFF!

So with no place to go, Zé Malandro came back to Life and just spend his days with his 3 magical itens, playing cards, drinking booze and Making friends. Like an Immortal Grandpa.

I just love this history because its so fucking funny. An old dude beat both The devil family and death at the same time.

How would this go in Hazbin? I really wanna know.

I’ll show you every version of yourself tonight

here's a random word generator--whatever word it gives you is now the thing you are the deity of

The lakes by Taylor Swift