La Cegua
A Folktale from Nicaragus provided by Wilberth Medrano 2008
Photo from the Museum of
Another popular tale is about La Cegua. As told in Monimbó (a barrio of Masaya), the legend has to do with perverse women who by night disguise themselves as ghosts with painted faces and long tresses of hair. They go out very late at night along the lonely streets and paths in search of unfaithful men who have cheated on their wives, misled lovers, or men or women with rivalries because of jealousy over some amorous or passionate relation.
Our ancestors tell us that someone who runs across them and hears their insufferable shrieking becomes despaired, gets nervous, and falls to the ground ill or unconscious. And at precisely that moment, La Cegua bewitches or puts a spell on their victim. They vomit out their souls and transform themselves into young women garbed in leaves of guarumo. Their hair reaches down to the waist and is made of cabuya (sisal) and their teeth are caked with green like the peel off of a green plantain. As children, many of us that have now grown up heard this story about women of the night that toyed with men they found on the way, mainly those unfaithful men who are deserving of punishment and those who stay out too late. From this comes the phrase “You’re playing La Cegua,” said to those who behave in a silly or foolish manner.
Yo a blast from your past. I was searching aol and lo and behold Doug Frizzle pops up. Many images flare up-SMU, Gerry Diamond, Physics Department, your wedding in New Brunswick in 1973, your father's self-built airplane and last but not least the infamous Sperry Mclean! Guess who? Still don't know? Are you getting warm? Yes it's me, Phil Clancey. I certainly hope this is the one and only Doug Frizzle that i'm writing all this junk to. Here it is 2008, 35 years ago we graduated from SMU. I have been living in New York City for the last 30 years. All the best to you and the great province of Nova Scotia. If you are inclined, my email is CARRCLANCE@aol.com
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