Caribbean mythological creatures

[animus_nocendi]

I'm turning to you, little_details, for my Google-fu is stuck.

I have a character in mind, a Santeria priestess (santera) and I want to make her be an immortal or something along those lines.  I don't want to do the stereotypical, expected thing where she's an Orisha in hiding.  I want something more magical but not in the god realm.  I was just wondering what

Comments

[majingojira]

Book research will be far more fruitful, let me tell ya. I got 2 in front of me right now

[animus_nocendi]

This is amazingly informative! Thank you very much. And I greedily await your "more in a bit".

[majingojira]

I ain't done yet!

[1mercystreet]

Brilliant reply! I'm learning loads.

"Bossu is a West Indies Voodoo spirit drawn from Dahomey tradition, represented as a three horned humanoid male. They are a clan of outright evil spirits that are also associated with criminals and are subject to Mait' Carrefour (I don't know what that is)."

Maitre Carrefour (Met Kalfu) is the hot, aggressive spirit of the crossroads in Haitian Vodou. He'sthe one that blues folklore says you sell your soul to in exchange for fame and fortune. As he's associated with places of entrance and exit, he's often thought to let misfortune and evil spirits into the world.

I haven't heard of Bossou being considered evil, but maybe he's different in the West indies than he is in Haitian Vodou, which is what I practice. As you say, he's represented as a man with horns like a bull, or just as a bull itself. In Vodou he can ceertainly be aggressive, but he's more associated with energy and virility and hard work than with evil.

[majingojira]

I should also add that the Cihuateteo is also sometimes referred to as the Civatateo

[lapisblue2]

The rice/salt/sand counting OCD linked to the spirits as a method to keep them outside of your house, the English speaking caribbean is full of Jumbies/Duppies and this is the perfered method to keep them out.
I think it was the cheap method for slaves who wouldn't have had shoes to put at the door

[majingojira]

Certainly possible, though I've also seen it in a few European myths as well. Cat's tail hairs, sunflower seeds, etc. have all been mentioned.

But even the European versions probably were 'chosen' for similar reasons (Yeah, Feudalism!).

[michalyn]

Pouring all your rice outside of your door would not necessarily be "cheap" for slaves who already had rationed supplies of food, especially since rice would be imported into most Caribbean islands. I think it's more to do with the fact that despite being supernatural creatures there are certain "rules" that they must follow. That overlaps alot with Obeah in the english speaking Caribbean where the "power" you get from practicing it comes from following certain rules that in many ways are very mathematical.

[lapisblue2]

I'm not Cuban and I know that the Spanish speaking Caribbean has more mythology because they tended to blend Catholicism with African culture, and they have double meaning saints, so you may find it there

But in the English speaking Caribbean I can't think of an Obeah (that's what it's called where I'm from) priest having immorality, folklore wise we have immortal females but I can't think of any that don't have a deal with the devil/murderess, sorry I'm no help
But
There's
Mama Dlo- she's water bound
La Diablesse-the devil woman
Soucriant- basically a vampire but she's an old woman, most French/Spanish
Jumbie/Duppies - are spirits maybe you can use one of these but they have limits, ie entering a house you can stop one by leaving shoes outside or salt/rice/sand for them to count
Is that any help

[lapisblue2]

majingojira did way better than I, my friend and I were on msn and we've lived/visited like 8-10 English speaking islands between us and could not find 1 "good" immortal female, lol

[animus_nocendi]

I appreciate the effort, though! Thanks.

[lapisblue2]

No problem
I did find this, mortals are mixed with gods so you have to go thru
http://www.godslaidbare.com/pantheons/caribbean/A-Z-list.php

[animus_nocendi]

Oh, looks great.

[majingojira]

Finally found the book I was looking for!

Cigouave - Hatian hybrid monster. Feline/leonine body, human head. May be a misplaced/memetically mutated Manticore.

Legarou - Hatian name for Vampires AND Werewolves. Again, derived from Loup Garou (Which does blur the line between Vampire and Werewolf). First appears in the 17th century.

Racumon - A giant serpent of the Carib people which is said to be responsible for hurricanes.

There's others, but I think I'll stop now...

I could go on, ya know.

[animus_nocendi]

So much to consider! If I come up with any more questions, I'll have to come back.