Stories about gods and mythical beings play a big role in island myths and folklore. From the remote Easter Island in South America to Jeju Island in South Korea, there are tales that have been passed down through generations that are designed to explain the complexity of the world.
Some mythical creatures can strike fear into those who hear their tales. In Central America the chupacabras or “goat suckers” were first reported in 1995 in Puerto Rico, where they were blamed for attacks on goats, sheep and other domestic animals, supposedly leaving uneaten carcasses that were drained of blood.
Here are just a few of the stories from nations and regions that students can visit on our service-learning trips:
Mythology of the Fiji islands
In folklore, Fijians trace back their arrival on the islands to the snake god Degei. This mythical being is credited with not only bringing them to the islands, but also triggering various weather phenomena.
Sunset in Fiji
Storytellers say Degei was lonely until he met a hawk named Turukawa. One day Turukawa disappeared and so Degei went searching. He found two abandoned eggs in Turukawa’s nest, so Degei raised the two humans that hatched.
After these humans had children, Degei set off with them on an ocean journey to Lautoka, Fiji, where he established the first human settlement.
To this day, it is believed that Degei lives in a cave in Fiji, and when he shakes he can trigger bad weather or necessary rain for the fields. Fijians also are said to pass through the cave when they die so that Degei can judge them and decide if they deserve to go to paradise.
Island legends of Hawaii
Hawaii has much folklore passed down from Polynesia, which includes Fiji. One of Hawaii’s legendary figures is Pele, who is the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes and fire. Folklore says that Pele travels throughout the islands, appearing as a woman. If her requests are refused, it is said that she unleashes her wrath. Because of Pele, it is considered bad luck to take a volcanic rock from Hawaii and bring it home.
Maybe another folklore story from Hawaii could be borrowed to help frightened children who hear about unpleasant creatures. In Hawaii, folklore encourages recognition of an aumakua or personal, family god that often takes the form of an animal. These aumakua are said sometimes to have miraculous powers that can protect people from harm – a nice guardian to get you through the ups and downs of life.
The creation story of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico has a creation story as well that includes an earth mother who had two sons – one who created a fertile earth and one who was destructive. The story helps explain natural elements of the world including animal life and strong storms.
There is a diversity of wildlife in Puerto Rico.
Another of Puerto Rico’s short stories, though, hits on a second common theme – love.
It is a Romeo and Juliet-type story that incorporates some of the nature of Puerto Rico. The story centers on Alida and Taroo who fell in love even though they were from different tribes. Alida’s father tried to stop the relationship by arranging for his daughter to marry a man in her tribe. Alida prayed to the gods to stop this, and so they turned her into a red flower.
Taroo, who did not know this, tried fruitlessly to find her until one night the moon told him what happened. He asked the gods to help him find her, and they responded by turning him into a hummingbird. So if you see a hummingbird while in Puerto Rico, it is said it could be Taroo trying to find his lost love, Alida.
Dominican folklore
This island nation has multiple legends that aren’t quite as heartwarming. Its folklore includes terrifying beings that wreak havoc. Among the more innocent ones may be los menos or duendes, which are similar to elves and play jokes on people.
The Dominican Republic, Copyright: © 2016 Rustic Pathways.
They may be blamed if there are strange noises heard in a house. They also have a frightening side as they are said to torture butterflies and look for sleeping humans so that they can steal unbaptized children to turn them into fellow duendes.
These imps are just the tip of the iceberg. Other creatures in the folklore of the Dominican Republic are said to be rather frightening in both appearance and behavior.
Take for example, the ciguapa (pronounced see-GWAH-pah), a mythological creature of the Dominican Republic. They are commonly described as having a human female form with brown skin or dark blue skin, backward facing feet, and very long manes of smooth, glossy hair that covers their bodies.
The mythical creature ciguapa from Dominican legend and folklore roams the mountains and forests of the Dominican Republic, luring young men with her beauty and mystique. La ciguapa in Dominican culture are considered protectors of their respective lands, embodying the spirits of nature.
Korea’s island of spirits
Jeju has no shortage of deities: It is said to be the land of 18,000 gods.
One of the most prominent is the grandmother goddess called Seolmudae Halmang, or Grandmother Seolmundae. Used as a way to explain the unique volcanic landscape of the island, it is said she was a giant who created the mountains and oreums (volcanic cones) of Jeju by carrying earth in her skirt and dropping it into the ocean. She is said to have had 500 sons and, unfortunately, met a bitter end when she was preparing food for them. When her sons were out working, Grandmother Seolmundae fell into the cauldron she was using to cook the stew. When her sons returned, they ate the stew, unaware that their mother had fallen into the cauldron. Upon their discovery of her death, the sons cried and turned to stone due to their grief. It is said their tears are revived every spring, causing the flowers on Hallasan Mountain to bloom.
Though the stories of Jeju’s many gods are traditional, some still affect people’s behavior on the island. A period called shingugan (from late January to early February) is when it’s believed that the island’s gods convene to report happenings in the human world. In the gods’ absence it’s believed that Jeju’s inhabitants should take the opportunity to move house so that evil gods will be unable to find them. It is also the time in which the people conduct house repairs or move ancestral graves without fear of godly punishment. As a result, many people still move house and make repairs during shingugan.
Mythical creatures of Japan
This country has endless mythical creatures, tales of which have been passed down through oral tradition. One of Japan’s famous creatures is a sometimes mischievous and sometimes dangerous water creature called a kappa. This human-like creature with scaly skin and webbed hands and feet has a depression in its head that holds water — the source of its power. The kappa is said to be able to wreak havoc in a number of ways, sometimes drowning small animals and attacking women. Despite these traits, the kappa is said to be incredibly polite, so if you encounter one, you should bow. The kappa will bow back, causing the water in its head to pour out and rendering it powerless.
Another mythical creature in Japan is the tengu. The tengu is portrayed in numerous ways but most commonly resembles a kind of human/bird hybrid. Tengus are often shown to have wings and long noses and they supposedly inhabit forests and high mountains. These mischevious spirits are believed to try to lure Buddhist monks away from their spiritual pursuits and will sometimes kidnap them and take them to remote locations. Also associated with an abundance of pride, the tengu is sometimes said to be a reincarnation of a person who was too proud or arrogant in life. The tengu is such a prominent spirit in Japanese culture that the word tengu is colloquially used to describe a person who is too arrogant.
Whichever island you choose, there’s bound to be plenty to learn about the local folklore! Engage in local communities, learn about the country and have a positive impact with our service-learning trips!