La Sayona
La Sayona is a vengeful ghost on the Venezuelan plains, known to seek out and punish unfaithful men.
Merrily Horror Animations covers the story of La Sayona
A long time ago, there was a young woman named Casilda who lived in a small town on the plains of Venezuela. She was known as the most beautiful girl in the area and was happily married to a wonderful and caring man.
They were very happy together and had a precious baby boy. One fateful day, while Casilda was enjoying a naked swim in a nearby river, a man from the village happened to spot her. From that moment on, he started to follow her and secretly observe her bathing in the river.
Despite Casilda's repeated pleas for him to leave her alone, he persisted. Then, one day, he concocted a lie, claiming that he had important information to share with her. He falsely warned her about her husband's affair with her own mother. Consumed by rage, Casilda rushed back home, only to find her husband peacefully asleep, cradling their baby in his arms. Blinded by her anger, she set their house on fire, trapping them inside.
The screams of anguish echoed through the village as Casilda fled to her mother's house. Discovering her mother on the patio, Casilda launched a violent attack, striking her in the stomach with a machete.
As her mother bled out she cursed Casilda, decreeing that she would forever have to avenge women by killing their unfaithful husbands. From that day forward, Casilda transformed into "La Sayona."
La Sayona, the name attributed to her, originates from the style of clothing she supposedly wears: a flowing white dress reminiscent of a medieval undergarment. Essentially, it translates to "Sackclothed Woman."
La Sayona relentlessly pursues men who have been unfaithful, and her preferred haunting grounds are the roads that traverse the expansive Venezuelan plains, known as Los Llanos. She appears as a beautiful young woman at first, but upon closer inspection, her face transforms into a terrifying skull adorned with menacing teeth.
La Sayona and La Llorona
La Sayona is often confused with the more well known legend of La Llorona.
One common source of confusion arises from the superficial similarities between La Sayona and La Llorona. Both specters share an eerie aesthetic, often described as a fusion of a wedding gown and a shroud. This resemblance in attire creates a visual association that blurs the lines between these haunting figures.
While La Llorona is known for her lamentations and pursuit of children, La Sayona takes a different approach. Her primary focus is the pursuit of unfaithful men. Reports of La Llorona allegedly pursuing men in South America may, in fact, be attributed to the relentless pursuit of La Sayona. By understanding their different targets, we can differentiate between the two legends and appreciate the distinctness of La Sayona's terrifying quest for vengeance.
If you enjoyed learning about La Sayona you might be interested in the similar legends of La Siguanaba and La Mala Hora
