Soucouyant
Another folklore character that was well-known to me growing up. It was one of many conversations with my peers. The legend of the lady that can shed her skin and turn into a flying fireball was a terrifying thought for us. I know it surely kept a few of us inside at night. During my research it has become more apparent that even though we may know many of these folklores, some of them are more talked about in certain areas, or cities, than others. For this particular character, I looked towards the village of Mayaro to help tell the story of Soucouyants and collaborated with a proud Mayaronian.
But before we get into all the fun, let's get the details.
The Soucouyant is described as a reclusive old woman by day, which sheds her skin at night to be in her true form, that is, a flying fireball. It hides its skin in a mortar before flying off to whatever destination and is able to enter people's homes and suck their blood. Some say that it sucks the blood of its victims to survive while other believe that it accumulates the blood as an offering to the devil in exchange for its shape shifting abilities or magical powers. Witchcraft, voodoo and black magic are what these creatures are believed to practice and they also have the ability to change into any animal. With the use of its magical abilities, it can cast spells to change people into animals as well. Being able to manipulate themselves to fit through any space, they can enter people's houses through keyholes or other cracks and crevices. Not only do they suck the blood of their victims but punches or pinches them while they sleep, leaving them with a dark bruise when they awaken. They in turn grow frail and weak and then eventually die.
There are various methods of exposing and killing a Soucouyant, however, heaping rice or salt grains around the house, or at crossroads in the village, is the most agreed method of exposing them. The creature is compelled to gather or count every grain before proceeding and thus would be caught in the act at sunrise. Then you will be able to strike a killing blow as it will be occupied with the salt or rice grains. Another method is finding the skin that it hides in a mortar at night before it flies off in its ball of fiery inferno. When the skin is located, sprinkle salt on it and the Soucouyant would not be able to put it back on when it returns, leaving it exposed and when the sun rises, it will die.
Soucouyant or Soucriant does have ties with Dominica and Guadeloupean folklore; however, the origin of this folklore character is believed to be European and made its way to the Caribbean in the form of French vampire myths. Every culture around the world does contain a mythical creature of vampiric relation. Creatures of the night that prey on innocent people sucking their blood in order to sustain life can be found in so many places under different names and mannerisms. Places such as Guadeloupe and Suriname have a creature called Soukougnan or Soukounian, which sheds its skin to turn into a vampiric fireball. With its believed shape shifting abilities, the Soucouyant is also referred to as 'Loogaroo' in some places, most likely being related to another shape shifting character in French folklore, the Loup-garou.
Through this collaboration I was made aware of the strong belief in this creature of Mayaro residents. Up to this day there are many who believe in its existence and those who claim to have seen one themselves.
Many locals have their own story to tell you about the Soucouyant and I was fortunate enough to learn that my fellow blogger had a personal experience with one. Check out her blog A Slice of My Country Life to learn all about her experience and hear the story from a local resident of Mayaro.
