Xana

The Xana is a nymph from the mountains of northern Spain and mainly located in Asturias. The Asturian name Xana is seen by some etymologists as a derivative of the Roman gods named Diana. In place names ( toponymy ), the name is still sometimes recognized.

Mythology

The Xana appears as a beautiful young woman who wanders the morning coming from a mountain cave to their source, to bathe in the icy water. Oral tradition of the Picos de Europa go desires that penetrate this moment to her ear, true. Also, a curse she hears during the bath, is reality. The guarding of resources is a primary object of Xanas, but they may be surprised and thereby recognized.

Since the Xanas (MZ Asturian: Les Xanes ) have no breast milk, they mix up their babies with people children without the mothers remember this. The exchanged changelings betrayed only by stacking egg shells next to the stove fire itself, because then they call surprised: " A hundred years ago I was born, but so many eggshells by the fire I 've never seen ".

The Xanas up to the meadows and pastures of people migrate to steal there, mainly food. You steal the horses from the paddocks and riding it until exhaustion sets in and weary but unharmed, due again.

The entire tradition identifies the Xanas as a relic of a pagan religion, today you moved it mostly in the Asturian Celtic mythology.