The legend of the Cienaguero caiman tells the tragic story of how a girl named Tomasita is eaten by an alligator in the old town near Ciénaga, Magdalena, Colombia.
Legend has it that on January 20, 1883, San Sebastian Day, Ana Carmela Urieles went shopping with her daughters Tomasita and Juanita at the public market on the occasion of Tomasita's birthday celebration, while her father Miguel bojato She stayed at home celebrating her birthday with some friends. At one point the mother was distracted while her daughters were playing on the edge of the swamp channel without realizing that an alligator was roaming the area.
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Tomasita, ignoring the danger, approached the edge of the pipe to wash her feet in the water and it was at that moment that she slipped and the alligator took the opportunity to drag her into the water and devour her.
Juanita, her sister, scared by that event, went out in search of her mother who, alarmed, went out in search of the girl along with a crowd that did not leave even an inch of the pipe unexplored, but unfortunately they did not find any trace of the girl.
Shortly after, Ana Carmela and Juanita arrived at his house along with the crowd. Miguel Bojato came out surprised to see his wife crying inconsolably and the crowd, so he ran and hugged Juanita and sensing the tragedy, he asked:
"Oh! “My pretty darling, where is your sister!”
And the crying girl answered:
“The alligator ate it, dad… The alligator ate it!”
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According to the same legend, it is said that children at that time were not held wakes, but rather they were sung and danced so that they could reach heaven and become angels, which is why they sing to him, alluding to his tragedy, beginning with the following verse:
Today is San Sebastián, Tomasita's birthday, and that damn animal ate my little daughter.”
Mijta linda, where is your sister?
The alligator ate it!
Origin of the Legend of the Cienaguero caiman
The legend of the Cienaguero caiman originates in Pueblo Viejo, Magdalena; Like many legends, there are different versions of how the events happened, but particularly the version of the legend that is most widespread and that is used as a reference for the Cienaguero Caiman Legend Festival is the one created by the folklorist and poet Darío Torregroza Pérez; who used part of his imagination to compose the legend from the old town.
Other Versions of the legend of the Cienaguero caiman
There are several versions of this legend that talk about how the events happened, in a first version it is said that the mother went to wash clothes in the sewer and she warned Juanita to take good care of her sister because there were alligators in that area; The mother stays focused on washing the clothes. When she finishes, she goes to look for her daughters and asks Juanita where her sister is, who comes with full breasts to breastfeed her; The girl answers crying that the alligator took her, the mother then begins to cry inconsolably and cry out to the saints for her daughter and that is when people come to see what is happening and begin to look for the alligator and the girl with harpoons and sticks. , in the end they only find the alligator which they kill.
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In another version of the legend it is said that the mother did not accompany the girls to shop or wash clothes, but rather the father sent the girls to buy food and rum to continue the celebration and along the way tragedy occurred. , Juanita returns home and tells what happened, that is when the father and the guests arm themselves with harpoons and sticks to look for Tomasita and the alligator but they only find the alligator, which they kill and display in the streets.
Where did the legend originate?
The legend has its origin in Pueblo Viejo, Magdalena, Colombia; but it is in Ciénaga, Magdalena where it has the greatest impact.
Tributes to the legend of the Cienaguero caiman
National Cienaguero Caiman Festival and Dance of the Cienaguero Caiman: From this legend was born this famous festival that has gained great importance at the national level; At first, the dance and the festival were performed only by men since women at that time were not allowed to participate, which is why some men dressed up as women to represent the roles and dances; Then Ciénaga copies the caiman dance to incorporate it into its folklore, changing the choreography, instruments, costumes, integrating the women and also adapting the legend to organize the festival.
Tomasita's Revenge Monument: There is also this monument in tribute to the legend and Tomasita especially, authored by Jaime Álvarez Correa, sculptor and painter from Cienague, initially the sculpture represented Tomasita sticking a spear into the caiman but it was asked to change it since it did not agree with what the legend said .
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