The Legend of La Llorona

The Legend of La Llorona is a famous Mexican folklore about the spirit of a weeping woman who roams near rivers and lakes, mourning the loss of her children. According to the most popular version of the story, La Llorona, or "The Weeping Woman," was once a beautiful woman named Maria who, in a fit of rage or despair, drowned her children after being abandoned by their father. Filled with regret, she took her own life and is now condemned to wander the earth, crying out for her lost children. It is said that her ghostly presence brings misfortune, and parents often use the tale to warn children to stay away from dangerous bodies of water.