DiscoverBay CuriousLa Llorona: Ghost or Protector? You Decide
La Llorona: Ghost or Protector? You Decide

La Llorona: Ghost or Protector? You Decide

Update: 2025-10-02
Share

Description

In the popular telling, La Llorona is a ghost. She’s the spirit of a woman who haunts watery places, wailing for her lost children. But as with all stories, the meaning of the myth has changed over time and many people now see La Llorona as a protector. For spooky October, we explore the ghostly myth that frightens children and the more empowering version of the legend.




Additional Resources:



Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts




This story was reported by Sebastian Miño-Bucheli. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Gabriela Glueck and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Olivia Allen-Price, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED.

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

La Llorona: Ghost or Protector? You Decide

La Llorona: Ghost or Protector? You Decide

KQED