Long before humans existed, there was a magical world where gods lived. This world was full of beautiful fields, plains, and gardens. Four brothers lived there, and they didn’t know where they came from. One brother, named Deminan, looked different because he had painful marks on his skin. He wondered why he was the only one with these marks.
One day, while the supreme spirit named Yaya was busy in his garden, Deminan and his brothers sneaked into Yaya’s home. They found a big gourd hanging in a corner. Curious, they accidentally dropped it, and it broke open. Water gushed out, sweeping the brothers away and creating a new world filled with oceans, islands, and creatures. This new world was separate from the gods’ realm, and the brothers were lost.
After wandering for a while, three of the brothers found a house where an old man named Bayamanacao lived. He welcomed them inside. When Deminan arrived, he joined his brothers. Bayamanacao told them he was their grandfather and gave them special cassava bread. He explained that their mother was the Earth Mother Goddess, Itibi Cahubaba, who had died when they were born. The brothers were grateful for the food and the stories about their family.
Suddenly, Bayamanacao did something unexpected. He blew tobacco spittle from his nose onto Deminan’s back. The spot where it landed began to swell and hurt, making Deminan very sick. His brothers were worried and decided to cut open the swollen area. To their surprise, a turtle came out and swam away, moving easily between the sea and land.
After Deminan recovered, he understood that his marks were special. He was a caracaracol, a being who could talk to the gods. This made him a bridge between the world of gods and the world of humans. The new world they had accidentally created became the world of humans, and Deminan’s descendants, the caracaracols, helped keep peace between people and gods.
Even though being a caracaracol was a great honor, it came with a price. Deminan and all the caracaracols after him had to live with the illness that made them different. In Taino art, caracaracols are shown with unique features, symbolizing both their curse and their blessing as messengers between worlds.
Imagine you are a storyteller. Create a storyboard with six panels that illustrate the main events of the Taino myth. Use drawings and captions to show the journey of Deminan and his brothers. This will help you visualize the story and understand the sequence of events.
With your classmates, choose roles from the myth, such as Deminan, his brothers, Yaya, and Bayamanacao. Act out key scenes from the story. Pay attention to how each character feels and reacts to the events. This will help you explore the characters’ motivations and emotions.
Design your own mythical creature inspired by the turtle that emerged from Deminan’s back. Draw your creature and write a short description of its powers and role in the world. Share your creation with the class to see how myths can inspire imagination.
Join a discussion circle with your classmates to talk about the themes of the myth. Discuss questions like: What does it mean to be different? How do the brothers’ actions affect the world? This will help you think critically about the story’s messages.
Research Taino art and symbols, especially those related to caracaracols. Create your own artwork using these symbols to represent the story’s themes. Display your art in the classroom to celebrate the cultural heritage of the Taino people.
Before the world of humans began, there existed a realm of gods, filled with fields, plains, and gardens. Four brothers roamed this celestial domain, having no family other than one another, and they were unaware of their origins. One of the brothers, Deminan, appeared different from the rest; his skin bore painful marks, leading him to question why he alone was afflicted.
One day, while the supreme spirit Yaya tended to his gardens, Deminan and his brothers ventured into Yaya’s home. After indulging in a feast and exploring, they discovered a large gourd hanging in the corner. In their curiosity, they accidentally dropped it, causing it to shatter and release a torrent of water that swept the brothers away, separating them from their celestial home forever. The waters from the gourd formed a new world, one filled with seas that did not exist in the realm of the gods. This new world was teeming with fish and other creatures, dotted with islands and caves, yet it was completely isolated from the celestial realm, leaving the brothers wandering aimlessly.
Eventually, three of the brothers came across a house inhabited by an elder named Bayamanacao, who welcomed them inside. When Deminan arrived shortly after, he followed his brothers into the house. Bayamanacao revealed that he was their grandfather and gifted them special cassava bread. He shared their family history, explaining that their mother was the Earth Mother Goddess Itibi Cahubaba, who had passed away during their birth. The brothers expressed their gratitude for his hospitality and the insights into their lineage.
However, Bayamanacao then turned on Deminan, blowing tobacco spittle from his nose onto Deminan’s back. The spot where the spittle landed began to swell and sting, leaving Deminan in a state of delirium, and his brothers feared for his life. In desperation, they cut open the swollen area, from which a turtle emerged and swam away, effortlessly transitioning between sea and land.
Once Deminan recovered from his delirium, he realized the significance of his affliction: he was a caracaracol, a being capable of communicating with the gods. He became the bridge between the celestial and earthly realms, marking the beginning of a long lineage of caracaracols. The world of seas that he and his brothers had inadvertently created became the world of humans, where the caracaracols who followed Deminan upheld the delicate balance between people and gods. However, this unique power came with a cost: Deminan and all subsequent caracaracols continued to bear the illness that had initially set him apart. Represented in Taino carvings and figurines with distinctive features, the caracaracol embodies both a curse and a blessing as a conduit between worlds.
Myth – A traditional story, often involving supernatural beings or events, that explains a cultural belief or natural phenomenon. – In literature class, we read a myth about how the seasons were created by the gods.
Creator – A being or figure who brings something into existence, often referred to in religious or mythological contexts. – The story described the creator as a wise and powerful figure who shaped the world.
Brothers – Male siblings who often appear in stories as characters with a strong bond or rivalry. – In the tale, the two brothers embarked on a journey to find a magical garden.
Garden – A cultivated area with plants and flowers, often symbolizing paradise or a place of peace in literature and religion. – The ancient text described a garden where the first humans lived in harmony with nature.
World – The earth and all living things on it, often explored in stories about creation and existence. – The legend told of a time when the world was covered in darkness until the sun was born.
Spirits – Supernatural beings or forces often believed to influence the natural world and human lives. – The villagers believed that the spirits of the forest protected them from harm.
Turtle – A creature often featured in myths and stories, sometimes symbolizing wisdom or the earth. – In the fable, the turtle carried the world on its back, teaching patience and perseverance.
Gods – Powerful supernatural beings worshipped in various religions and mythologies. – The ancient Greeks told stories of gods who lived on Mount Olympus and controlled the fate of humans.
Humans – People, often depicted in stories as beings with unique qualities and challenges. – The tale explored how humans learned to live together and build communities.
Legacy – Something handed down from the past, such as traditions, stories, or achievements. – The hero’s legacy was remembered through the songs and stories told by future generations.
