Characters of most Jamaican Folktales
Duppies-A duppy is a restless spirit. Good duppies are usually deceased family and friends who "dream you" (appear to
you in a dream), in order to give advice or information. Bad duppies are able to do harm, and can be set on someone by using obeah. In Jamaican folk tales, duppies talk in high pitched, nasal voices. You may be in the presence of a duppy if your head feels like it is growing, or if you feel an unexplained heat affecting your body. Eating salt will help you to chase away a duppy, as duppies despise salt. You can also chase a duppy away by wearing your clothes inside out. A well told duppy story can make the greatest skeptic get goosebumps. Most Jamaicans believe in duppies, or at least in the possibilty that they do indeed exist.
Rolling Calf- A Rolling Calf is a huge, calf-like creature which rolls along the road, blocking the way of night-time travellers, and chasing them with a wicked intention. It has blazing red eyes that gash fire, and a chain that it drags behing it, making an unnerving clanking noise. To escape a rolling calf, the victim can do a number of things; drop objects for it to count (most supernatural creatures in Jamaican folklore can be evicted this way), get to a road junction before it, open a pen knife and stick it in the ground. A rolling calf is also terrified of being beaten with a tarred whip held in the left hand. Rolling calves are always male. They are believed to be the spirits of people (particularly butchers) who were wicked and dishonest during their lifetimes.
Ol' Hige-Ol' Hige is a witch who sheds her skin and flies by night, assuming the form of an owl. She harms people by sucking out their breath while they are sleeping, and is especially dangerous to babies. Ol' Hige's habit of shedding her skin leaves her vulnerable. If you discover her skin, you merely need toput salt and pepper on it. She will be unable to put her skin back on because it will burn her too much.Without her skin, she can be killed. Babies can be protected from Ol' Hige by placing an open Bible in their cribs, or by using certain charms. Of West African origin, Ol' Hige is not confined to Jamaican folk tales, although she may be known by other names. In Trinidad she is called "Sukuyan".
River Mumma-River Mumma is a female water spirit who guards the source of many of the Jamaican rivers. She can sometimes be seen sitting in the river, combing her hair with a golden comb. She sometimes leaves her comb on a rock, to entice victims whom she then draws into the water. In the days of slavery, sacrifices would be made to the River Mumma in times of drought, or when someone wanted to cross the river she was guarding. The fish in that location would not be eaten, as these were thought to be her children. The River Mumma is often associated with the legend of the Golden Table, one of the popular Jamaican folk tales.
Legend of the Golden Table-The Golden Table is a table of pure gold lies at the bottom of certain rivers, usually at the river head. It rises briefly to the surface from time to time, particularly at midday, affording a glimpse of its golden beauty. The sight of the table mesmerises whoever sees it, and they become obsessed with the desire to obtain it. Efforts to procure the table end with disaster. The river eventually claims the lives of those who try to remove the table from the water. This legend is one of the Jamaican folk tales that probably arose from the quest to find gold when the Spaniards first came to Jamaica.
you in a dream), in order to give advice or information. Bad duppies are able to do harm, and can be set on someone by using obeah. In Jamaican folk tales, duppies talk in high pitched, nasal voices. You may be in the presence of a duppy if your head feels like it is growing, or if you feel an unexplained heat affecting your body. Eating salt will help you to chase away a duppy, as duppies despise salt. You can also chase a duppy away by wearing your clothes inside out. A well told duppy story can make the greatest skeptic get goosebumps. Most Jamaicans believe in duppies, or at least in the possibilty that they do indeed exist.
Rolling Calf- A Rolling Calf is a huge, calf-like creature which rolls along the road, blocking the way of night-time travellers, and chasing them with a wicked intention. It has blazing red eyes that gash fire, and a chain that it drags behing it, making an unnerving clanking noise. To escape a rolling calf, the victim can do a number of things; drop objects for it to count (most supernatural creatures in Jamaican folklore can be evicted this way), get to a road junction before it, open a pen knife and stick it in the ground. A rolling calf is also terrified of being beaten with a tarred whip held in the left hand. Rolling calves are always male. They are believed to be the spirits of people (particularly butchers) who were wicked and dishonest during their lifetimes.
Ol' Hige-Ol' Hige is a witch who sheds her skin and flies by night, assuming the form of an owl. She harms people by sucking out their breath while they are sleeping, and is especially dangerous to babies. Ol' Hige's habit of shedding her skin leaves her vulnerable. If you discover her skin, you merely need toput salt and pepper on it. She will be unable to put her skin back on because it will burn her too much.Without her skin, she can be killed. Babies can be protected from Ol' Hige by placing an open Bible in their cribs, or by using certain charms. Of West African origin, Ol' Hige is not confined to Jamaican folk tales, although she may be known by other names. In Trinidad she is called "Sukuyan".
River Mumma-River Mumma is a female water spirit who guards the source of many of the Jamaican rivers. She can sometimes be seen sitting in the river, combing her hair with a golden comb. She sometimes leaves her comb on a rock, to entice victims whom she then draws into the water. In the days of slavery, sacrifices would be made to the River Mumma in times of drought, or when someone wanted to cross the river she was guarding. The fish in that location would not be eaten, as these were thought to be her children. The River Mumma is often associated with the legend of the Golden Table, one of the popular Jamaican folk tales.
Legend of the Golden Table-The Golden Table is a table of pure gold lies at the bottom of certain rivers, usually at the river head. It rises briefly to the surface from time to time, particularly at midday, affording a glimpse of its golden beauty. The sight of the table mesmerises whoever sees it, and they become obsessed with the desire to obtain it. Efforts to procure the table end with disaster. The river eventually claims the lives of those who try to remove the table from the water. This legend is one of the Jamaican folk tales that probably arose from the quest to find gold when the Spaniards first came to Jamaica.