Tata Duende, The Old Man Who Protects the Forest

In last week’s installment of Kolcha Tuesday we brought you stories of La Llorona. In tonight’s installment, we will take a closer look at another Belizean folklore character, Tata Duende. Its origin is believed to be from the Yucatec Maya culture. But like La Llorona, Tata Duende’s story takes on different forms in different cultures. Some people believe he is this fearful creature that kidnaps children and steals their thumbs. Others are of the belief that Tata Duende is a spiritual entity that protects the forest and is meant to be respected. His story is one of both discipline and conservation. News Five’s Paul Lopez filed the following report.