Duennes

These are the spirits of children who have died before being baptized and are fated to roam. In another version of the tale, Duennes are unborn children. They practice their wide range of pranks on children often luring them into the forest and then abandoning them. Duennes live in the forest, swamps and near rivers. They are sexless and are recognizable as their feet are turned backwards and they have no faces. In their heads they wear large mushroom-shaped straw hats. To prevent the Duennes from calling your children into the forest at dusk, never shout their names in open places, as the Duennes will remember their names and call them later and lure them away. Duennes also have been known to come to people’s houses crying and whimpering for the love of a mother. They feed off cultivated gardens and seem to have a bizarre fondness for water crabs. Often thought to be evil spirits and malevolent creatures, duennes do have a good side.

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