La Llorona is a legendary ghost prominent in folklore of Latin America. The tall, thin spirit is said to be blessed with natural beauty and long flowing black hair.

According to the tradition, La Llorona is the ghost of a woman who lost her children and now cries while looking for them in the river, often causing misfortune to those who are near or hear her.

Born to a peasant family in a humble village, her beauty captured the attention of both the rich and the poor men of the area.

She was said to have spent her days in her humble peasant surroundings, but in the evenings, she would don her best white gown and thrill the men who admired her in the local fandangos.

La Llorona full of life and love married a wealthy man who lavished her with gifts and attention.

After she bore him two sons, he began to change, returning to a life of womanizing and alcohol, often leaving her for months at a time.

He seemingly no longer cared for the beautiful woman, even talking about leaving her to marry a woman of his own wealthy class.

In terrible rage she turned against her children, seized them and threw them into the river.

As they disappeared down stream, she realized what she had done and ran down the bank to save them, but it was too late.

She cried endlessly as she roamed the riverbanks and her gown became soiled and torn. When she continued to refuse to eat, she grew thinner and appeared taller until she looked like a walking skeleton.

Still a young woman, she finally died on the banks of the river.

At the gates of heaven, she is challenged over the whereabouts of her children, and is not permitted to enter the afterlife until she has found them.

She is forced to wander the Earth for all eternity, searching in vain for her drowned offspring. She constantly weeps, hence her name La Llorona. She is caught between the living World and the spirit World.