Anjana (Cantabrian mythology)
Encyclopedia
The Anjana is one of the best known fairies
of Cantabrian mythology
. These female fairy creatures foil the cruel and ruthless Ojáncanu
and Ojáncana. In most stories, they are the good fairies of Cantabria
, generous and protective of all people. Their depiction in the Cantabrian mythology is reminiscent of the xana
s in Asturian Mythology, the jana
s in León, and lamia
s in Basque, the latter without the zoomorphic appearance.
Oral tradition provides different explanations for the nature of the Anjana. Some say they are heavenly beings sent by God
to do good deeds, and they go back to heaven after 400 years, never to return. Others, however, indicate that they are spirit
s of trees who take care of the forests.
Anjana are described as beautiful and delicate, half a foot tall, with white skin and a sweet voice. Some are like a nightingale
when they are happy, and others like a beetle stepping on leaves in autumn. Their eyes are slanted, serene and loving, with black or blue pupil
s as bright as the stars, and they feature nearly transparent wings. They wear long, jet black or golden braids, adorned with multicolored silk bows and ribbons; a beautiful crown of wild flowers on their head; and a blue cape on a long thin white tunic, and carry in their hands a stick of wicker or hawthorn which shines in a different color every day of the week.
They are seen walking through the forest trails, resting on the banks of springs and on the margins of streams which then seem to come alive. They are able to talk with the water that flows from the sources and springs. They help injured animals and trees damaged by storms or Ojáncana, lovers, people who lose their way in the forest, and the poor and suffering. Whenever they wander in villages, they leave gifts at the doors of helpful and kind people. When summoned for help they accept if the summoner is good of heart, but they also punish the wicked.
Traditions state that at night during the spring equinox, they gather in the fell
s and dance until dawn holding hands and scattering roses. Anyone who manages to find one of these with purple, green, blue, or golden petals will be happy until the time of their death.
Other Cantabrian-related fairies are the Hechiceras del Ebro (Enchantresses of the Ebro
[River]), the Mozas del Agua (Water Lasses), the Viejuca de Vispieres (the Vispieres Little Old Woman), the Anjanas of Treceño, las Moras de Carmona (Moorish Maidens of Carmona
) o las Ijanas del Valle de Aras (Ijanas of Aras
Valley).
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
of Cantabrian mythology
Cantabrian mythology
It seems that the native Cantabrian mythology connected, from the beginning and with the passing of the years, with Celtic and Roman mythology becoming partly related with legends and traditions from the rest of the Cantabrian Mountains...
. These female fairy creatures foil the cruel and ruthless Ojáncanu
Ojáncanu
The ojáncanu is a cyclops of Cantabrian mythology. This creature embodies evil, cruelty, and brutality. This giant cyclops is the Cantabrian version of the Greek Polyphemus that appears in other Indo-European mythologies.-Description:...
and Ojáncana. In most stories, they are the good fairies of Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
, generous and protective of all people. Their depiction in the Cantabrian mythology is reminiscent of the xana
Xana
The xana is a character found in Asturian mythology. Always female, she is a fairy nymph of extraordinary beauty believed to live in fountains, rivers, waterfalls or forested regions with pure water. She is usually described as small or slender with long blonde or light brown hair , which she tends...
s in Asturian Mythology, the jana
Jana
Jana is the spelling of several unrelated given names.* a Slavic short-form for Johanna.* the Roman goddess Diana, who was often called Jana*In India however, Jana is a shortform for the Hindu god Janarthanan....
s in León, and lamia
Lamia
Lamia may refer to:* Lamia , a Greek mythological female creature* Lamia of Athens courtesan* Lamia , a magical beast in Dungeons & Dragons* Lamia , a city in Greece* Lamia , a genus of longhorn beetles...
s in Basque, the latter without the zoomorphic appearance.
Oral tradition provides different explanations for the nature of the Anjana. Some say they are heavenly beings sent by God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
to do good deeds, and they go back to heaven after 400 years, never to return. Others, however, indicate that they are spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
s of trees who take care of the forests.
Anjana are described as beautiful and delicate, half a foot tall, with white skin and a sweet voice. Some are like a nightingale
Nightingale
The Nightingale , also known as Rufous and Common Nightingale, is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher, Muscicapidae...
when they are happy, and others like a beetle stepping on leaves in autumn. Their eyes are slanted, serene and loving, with black or blue pupil
Pupil
The pupil is a hole located in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to enter the retina. It appears black because most of the light entering the pupil is absorbed by the tissues inside the eye. In humans the pupil is round, but other species, such as some cats, have slit pupils. In...
s as bright as the stars, and they feature nearly transparent wings. They wear long, jet black or golden braids, adorned with multicolored silk bows and ribbons; a beautiful crown of wild flowers on their head; and a blue cape on a long thin white tunic, and carry in their hands a stick of wicker or hawthorn which shines in a different color every day of the week.
They are seen walking through the forest trails, resting on the banks of springs and on the margins of streams which then seem to come alive. They are able to talk with the water that flows from the sources and springs. They help injured animals and trees damaged by storms or Ojáncana, lovers, people who lose their way in the forest, and the poor and suffering. Whenever they wander in villages, they leave gifts at the doors of helpful and kind people. When summoned for help they accept if the summoner is good of heart, but they also punish the wicked.
Traditions state that at night during the spring equinox, they gather in the fell
Fell
“Fell” is a word used to refer to mountains, or certain types of mountainous landscape, in Scandinavia, the Isle of Man, and parts of northern England.- Etymology :...
s and dance until dawn holding hands and scattering roses. Anyone who manages to find one of these with purple, green, blue, or golden petals will be happy until the time of their death.
Other Cantabrian-related fairies are the Hechiceras del Ebro (Enchantresses of the Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
[River]), the Mozas del Agua (Water Lasses), the Viejuca de Vispieres (the Vispieres Little Old Woman), the Anjanas of Treceño, las Moras de Carmona (Moorish Maidens of Carmona
Carmona
Carmona may be:Places* Carmona, a town in Seville, Spain.* Carmona, Cavite, a municipality in the Philippines* Carmona, Goa* Carmona, Costa Rica, a city in Guanacaste province.* The former name of the Angolan town of Uíge.People...
) o las Ijanas del Valle de Aras (Ijanas of Aras
Aras
Aras may refer to:*Aras , an autochthon in Greek mythology, father of Araethyrea and Aoris*ARAS, the Ascending Reticular Activating System*ARAS, the Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism...
Valley).