Güijes (also known as Jigües o Chichiricúes) are mythical creatures in Cuban folklore that live in bodies of fresh water.[1] Although their physical description varies between sources, they are often depicted as short-statured, black skinned hominids. Some depictions resemble stereotypical African pygmies, while others resemble monstruous, hairy beasts. They are often naked, or scantly clad in leaves.
Güijes are characterized as mischievous and malicious,[2] or occasionally playful and fun-loving.[3] They can be summoned in many ways including by offering a cigar,[4] circling a holy cieba 12 times at midnight, or by an intentional group of 7 men named Juan (siete Juanes).[5][6]
Cultural references edit
As stock characters in Cuban folklore, references to güijes can be found throughout Cuban music, film, literature, and art. Some famous references include:
- El Güije by Silvio Rodriguez, song
- A recurring character on El Camino de los Juglares, a Cuban children's show
- El Güije original animation by Instituto Cubano del Arte e Industria Cinematográficos (ICAC)[7]
- Referenced in 'Viva Cuba', film by Juan Carlos Cremata Malberti
- Nūñez, Julia Calzadilla (1993). Los Chichiricú del charco de la Jícara (in Spanish). Ediciones Colihue SRL. ISBN 950-581-556-5.
- "Balada del Güije" poem in the 1934 anthology "West Indies Ltd." by Nicolás Guillén
References edit
- ^ GUANCHE PÉREZ, JESÚS (1994). "Etnicidad cubana y seres míticos populares". Oralidad. 4: 55–66.
- ^ Calvo, Maria (2022-06-02). "El Güije de la Bajada, una leyenda remediana". Radio Habana Cuba.
- ^ "MITOLOGIA POPULAR CUBANA". 26 March 2012. Archived from the original on 26 March 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
- ^ ""Bestiario Cubano". A project by Juan Darién". Domestika. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ "El güije de Remedios". Directorio Cubano (in Spanish). 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2024-05-13.
- ^ Provincial, Equipo de Producción. "Portal del Ciudadano Nuestro Remedios - El Güije de la Bajada". www.nuestroremedios.gob.cu (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ "El Güije, un personaje travieso de la tradición oral cubana". CiberCuba (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-13.