Stories

I found a couple of different versions of this Mexican border folklore, but this particular one is similar to the one I grew up believing. This story takes place in a little village where this poor woman named Maria Gonzalez lived.  (Hayes). Maria started falling in love with this handsome nobleman, and she did everything possible to win his heart.  Not too long after that Maria conquered her plan, and he married her. Maria had two babies with her husband, but soon after the birth of their children their relationship became bitter. Her husband started going out, spending money on other women, and gambling.  Eventually, one day she had the courage to spy on her husband.  Lone behold she found her husband with another woman. She was full of rage and extreme anger! She went out for her children and took them to the Rio Grande river. Within an instant she threw her children off the cliff and drowned them. Then without realizing what she had done she snapped out of her unconsciousness and tried to rescue her children.  However, it was too late by then.  She cried, and cried, and cried. After this horrible tragedy her husband disowned her.  She was lonlier than ever which caused her to kill herself as well at the same location where she killed her children. (Lee)

 La Llorona has been known to take children that play out by the river late at night.  She wails and weeps late at night by the river each night desperately looking for her children.  (Lee)

Lee, Paul. "La Llorona." Web. Oct. 22, 2010. http://theoutlaws.com
Hayes, Joe. "La Llorona - A Hispanic Legend." Web. Oct. 20, 2010. http//literacy.net.org/lp/hperspectives/llorona.html