Once upon a time, a long time ago, on the island of Guahan in the Mariana Islands there lived two manmaga’låhi (chiefs) named Malaguana and Gadao. Malaguana was the maga’låhi of Tomhom (Tumon) in Northern Guahan. Gadao was from southern Guahan and was the maga’låhi of Inalåhan.
Folktale: Gadao’s Strength Read Post »
Back in the ancient days, giants with supernatural strength inhabited the Mariana Islands.
Folktale: Dinague Laolao Read Post »
Åntes na tiempo (a long time ago), the ancestors of the modern day CHamorus came to the Marianas, a mighty race of people. They were called taotaomo’na which means “the people of before.” It is said that the taotaomo’na were giants, very clever and wise, and that they possessed magical powers.
Folktale: The Young Maidens Read Post »
In ancient times the people of the Mariana Islands lived in villages ruled by a maga’låhi or maga’håga (chief or high-ranking son or daughter), who made all the rules and decisions for his or her people. In the area of Guahan now known as Tamuning, there lived a great maga’låhi whose name was Alu. People say he had supernatural strength. If he wanted a drink, he could shake a niyok (coconut) tree and the juice-filled, young, green coconuts would fall to the ground.
Folktale: Alu and Pang Read Post »
The legend of Puntan Påtgon (Child’s Point) is a folktale about a powerful man who becomes envious of his child’s superior strength:
Folktale: Puntan Påtgon Read Post »
God of the underworld. Chaife was the god of the underworld, according to one Guam legend.
Folktale: Chaife’s Lost Soul Read Post »
The story of the two lovers who tied their hair together and leapt to their death on Guam was first recorded by French researcher Louis Claude de Freycinet in 1819. Over the years various versions of the story have come to light.
Folktale: Puntan Dos Amantes Read Post »
Puntan and Fu’una are the Chamorro/CHamoru creation gods. Puntan, a male, and Fu’una, a female, are brother and sister. The account of their creation of the world constitutes one of the most important oral histories of the CHamoru people.
Folktale: Puntan and Fu’una: Gods of Creation Read Post »
The mythological maiden, Sirena, in the ‘I Tetehnan’ manuscript is considered a proverb, and not a legend.
