La Llorona

The story of La Llorona (The Weeping Woman) is a tragic tale. There was once a beautiful woman by the name of Maria who lived somewhere in Mexico. Maria was the mother of two children whom she loved very much but Maria was lonely. The children's father was no longer around to comfort and care for the family so Maria fell into a great depression. This depression was lifted when she met the man of her dreams one day at market. He courted Maria and made her feel special, she once again felt that she could carry on. However, when he discovered she had children he devastated her by telling her that he could not continue their courtship. 

Maria once again fell into a depression that was even worse than the last.  She tried and tried to get her lover to take her back but he refused. One night after being turned down by her lover she lured her children to a lake and one by one drowned them both. The next day she went back to her lover with the news that she had rid  herself of her children only to find that her lover had moved on and found another woman. Her greif was so overwhelming  that she walked directly to the lake where her children now rested and walked into it never to emerge. 

At the gates of heaven Maria was questioned as to the whereabouts of her children. Offering no response  she was condemned to walk the earth, forever looking for her missing children. It is said that on quiet nights you can hear her weeping near the many lakes and rivers of Mexico wailing "Ay, mis hijos". (Woe my children.)

In Mexican culture the story of La Llorona is used to deter children from bad behavior; Telling the children that if they do not behave La Llorona will come looking for them and take them away.