Spanish folklore: Doña of the Dead

Jason Weiser· Host0:00

This week on Myths and Legends, it's a story from early modern Spain, where we'll see how singing can be hazardous to your health, and that if you're having a hard time making big life decisions, you might just need to get attacked by bandits or pirates. The creature this time is the Sheepsquatch of West Virginia, and it is exactly what it sounds like. [upbeat music] This is Myths and Legends, Episode 433: Doña of the Dead. [upbeat music] This is the podcast where we tell stories from mythology and folklore. Some are incredibly popular tales you might think you know but with surprising origins. Others are stories that might be new to you but are definitely worth a listen. Today's story comes to us from Spain, and likely the 1600s. It's a story set in a time obsessed with honor and standing in society. Spain was an empire in decline at this point, and the Western Mediterranean was beset with pirates. We'll jump into the story in Valencia, Spain, with a prestigious family and a young woman with a very old problem. [gentle music] "So your mother and I have been thinking. You're, like, 16. It's time for you to marry, and we know just the man." Doña's father clasped his hands together