Bacá (mythological creature)

Bacá is shape-shifting demon in Dominican folklore that is created when someone makes a deal with the devil.^[1] The Bacá is also known as a "sent spirit" and can transform into any animal, but is often depicted as a large dog or bull.^[2] The Bacá can grant its possessor wealth and protection, but demands large sacrifices in return.

Description

Although they are commonly described as cows, according to folklore they can turn into any domestic animal, such as oxen, bulls, roosters, cats, ETC. although they appear to be harmless. They are often described as a large black dog with reddish eyes, some people claim that it has wings. Others claim that they are creatures of different animal parts. Also, according to some scholars, they think that it may be a product of a collective imagination, because it is mostly seen in the lower class of the population, a product of the lack of knowledge of it.^[3]

Types of Pacts

According to folklore, the pact for the formation of these creatures requires a sacrifice of at least one soul, but there are differences in the number of souls or who they are, as it can be:^[4]

In exchange for the soul of the firstborn of the person who makes the pact.
In exchange for the soul of any child of the person making the pact.
In exchange for the soul of the one who makes the pact.
In exchange for a soul daily. Generally, those sacrificed are those who risk crossing the territory guarded by the bacá or baká after certain hours at night (Folklore speaks of 12am, sunset and 3am). If the bacá has not managed to 'feed' before the sun rises, he will take a soul from someone of lesser value in the territory: He will start with the employees (if there are any), continuing with the children, until eventually 'feeding' from his 'master' (the covenant maker).

Inheritance

In some versions of the tales it is possible to inherit a bacá:

In the event of the death of the owner (and not of his children), the bacá will pass to the eldest son.
In the event of the death of the owner (and his children), the inheritance will pass to the closest relative.
In the event of the death of the owner (and his children), the bacá will pass to the next owner of the land, whether this owner is by family inheritance or by purchase.

Conditions

The bacá cannot go out while the sun is up, nor can he leave the land unless he is exorcised by a professional priest (i.e. exorcising the land during the day).

Sources

"criaturas mitológicas". Retrieved 9 September 2010.

References

^ "Shape-shifting and storytelling in Hispaniola". www.international.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
^ "El sorprendente origen de la leyenda del BACÁ - Kiskeya Life". www.kiskeya.life. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
^ domingo, G. Soluciones-Desarrollo web en santo (2016-03-30). "El Bacá o Baká, un mito de poder | AlMomento.net - Noticias de República Dominicana al instante!" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-02.
^ Nacional, El (2022-07-15). "El bacá: otra leyenda popular dominicana con raíz africana". El Nacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-02.

[1] "Shape-shifting and storytelling in Hispaniola". www.international.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2024-10-02.

[2] "El sorprendente origen de la leyenda del BACÁ - Kiskeya Life". www.kiskeya.life. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2024-10-02.

[3] , G. Soluciones-Desarrollo web en santo (2016-03-30). "El Bacá o Baká, un mito de poder | AlMomento.net - Noticias de República Dominicana al instante!" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-02.

[4] Nacional, El (2022-07-15). "El bacá: otra leyenda popular dominicana con raíz africana". El Nacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-02.

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