Myth or Legend of The Mother of the Forest (La Madremonte)

La Madremonte (The Mother of the Forest), also known as Madre Selva (Mother Jungle), is a nature spirit that is part of the myths and legends of Colombia. She is generally described as a guardian spirit who protects the forests and animals. She deals out punishments to those who mistreat the environment.

According to the tales told by peasants, The Mother of the Forest inhabits the forests and jungles of Colombia. She is a guardian spirit of nature who protects the jungles and animals from any malicious acts committed against them by humans.

(Read Also: Legend of La Patasola (The One-Legged Woman))

Those who claim to have encountered La Madremonte describe her as a stout woman, cloaked in leaves and living moss, wearing a hat also covered in leaves. It is said that this creature usually dwells in the thicket of the forest and its undergrowth, surrounded by wild animals.

La Madremonte typically punishes hunters, those who use dynamite for fishing, loggers, peasants who steal reses (cattle) and land, unfaithful husbands, and anyone in general who harms nature. Her punishment does not go beyond causing great pain and stunning the offenders with her eyes, which look like tongues of fire. This makes them lose consciousness and believe it was all a nightmare. She also causes them to get lost deep within the forest.

(Read Also: Legend of the Curupira (The Jungle Guardian))

Some accounts claim that when La Madremonte bathes at the headwaters of rivers and tributaries, the waters become muddy and their flow increases. This causes floods and devastation, accompanied by thunderstorms and fierce gales.

Rather than an evil phantom or specter, La Madremonte is a protective spirit of nature. It is said she was once part of the deities worshipped by the indigenous peoples of the region. Today, she serves as a reminder that we must protect nature.

Other Versions of the Story of The Mother of the Forest

Like many Colombian myths and legends, the tale of La Madremonte has several versions where certain details change. This is very common not only in Colombian mythology but also throughout Latin American mythology, as these are mostly oral stories passed down from generation to generation.

(Read Also: Legend of the Hojarasquín del Monte (The Man of Dry Leaves))

Some versions state that La Madremonte has the appearance of a beautiful young woman covered in leaves and moss. Others say she is an old woman, while some give her a slightly more monstrous look. There are also accounts where this being not only deals out punishments but actually kills those who harm nature. Certain versions link her to goddesses from the pre-Hispanic cultures that inhabited the region.

La Madremonte is an entity also present in the mythology of other Latin American countries, such as Ecuador. She is also found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, where she is known as Fantasma del Monte (Ghost of the Forest), Madre Selva (Mother Jungle), and Madre de los Cerros (Mother of the Hills), respectively. Depending on the country and region where the story is told, she may possess different characteristics.

Origin of the Myth or Legend of The Mother of the Forest

La Madremonte is a mythological being whose origins lie in the indigenous culture of Colombia. In some regions of the country, this creature is thought to be an ancient goddess of the pre-Hispanic peoples who inhabited these territories before the Spanish conquest. She has been linked to goddesses of the Catío, Nutabae, and Chocó indigenous groups.

(Read Also: Myth of the Goddess Bachué (The Muisca Mother Goddess) of the Muisca People)

Just like other myths from national folklore, and as mentioned earlier, this creature shares similarities with entities of similar names in other Latin American countries. Therefore, her origins can vary depending on the country or region where the story is told.

What Does The Mother of the Forest Look Like?

She is described as a stout woman covered in leaves, moss, and branches. Her hair is tangled, and she wears a hat that is also covered in leaves and moss.

(Read Also: Bochica (The Civilizing God): A Muisca Myth of the Chibcha People)

In other versions, she is described as a young, beautiful, and elegant woman, also covered in leaves. In different accounts, she is depicted as a disheveled old woman, fully covered in leaves and moss. Some stories also claim that she usually appears as a creature that is half woman and half monte (wild brush, spikes, and grass).

Where Does The Mother of the Forest Appear?

In Colombia, La Madremonte usually appears in the hills, forests, and jungles of Antioquia, the central and western Andes, as well as in Magdalena and the Valle del Cauca. However, today, it is a tale quite widespread throughout the entire national territory.

How to Protect Yourself from The Mother of the Forest

The first and best defense against this creature is to avoid harming nature or animals. It is also said that smoking tobacco acts as a great defense against her. Other protections include wearing an adorote vine as a belt, carrying cabalonga seeds in your pocket, or holding a freshly cut stick of cordoncillo de guayacán (a local medicinal plant). You can also carry scapulars and blessed medals, as well as pray to San Isidro Salvador (Saint Isidore the Laborer), the patron and advocate of the hills and mountains.

Watch the following video to learn the story of The Mother of the Forest.

Sources and References Consulted

• Mitos y leyendas de Antioquia la grande by Javier Ocampo López.