Xtabay

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008)

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (April 2009)

Xtabay literally means 'Female Ensnarer' and can refer either to a Mesoamerican demon who seduces and kills or a female deity of the hunt, along with the male Ah Tabay. The Xtabay is not to be confused with Ixtab, a 16th-century Yucatan goddess of suicides.

A legend of Xtabay (the female demon) tells of two women who lived in a village in the Yucatán Peninsula. One was named Xtabay, but people called her Xkeban (which means "prostitute", "bad woman" or "one who practices illicit love"); the other was Utz-Colel (a good, decent woman).

People said Xkeban was sick with lust and gave her favors to every man who asked her. Utz-Colel was virtuous and honest. Xkeban had a good heart and kindly helped the poor, sick and homeless, and also the animals abandoned for being considered useless, by giving up the jewellery and fine clothes she got from her lovers. She was not a haughty woman, nor did she insult other villagers. Xtabay humbly received the humiliations from the people of her village. On the other hand, Utz-Colel was cold, full of pride, harsh of heart and easily disgusted by the poor.

One day, Xtabay was not seen anymore. Days passed and a fine delicate perfume was smelled all over the village. People found it came from Xtabay's house, who had died there, alone.

Utz-Colel argued it wasn't possible, that the perfume couldn't be that of such a vile and corrupt body; nothing but decay and stench could come out of her. She argued that had to be bad spirits or demons still trying to tempt men. "If that is the odour of a dead prostitute, mine shall be incredible when I die", she said.

A few people buried Xtabay, feeling pity for her. The next day, her grave was covered with beautiful flowers of a delicate perfume.

When Utz-Colel died, the entire village attended her funeral; they remembered her virtue and honesty. To the amazement of the crowd, an intolerable stench came out from her grave.

The flowers growing on Xtabay's grave were named Xtabentún.

References in art

• Recording Voice of the Xtabay (1950) by Yma Sumac

See also

• Xtabentún (liqueur)

Notes and References

• Davenport Academy of Sciences (1904). Proceedings of the Davenport Academy of Sciences. Original from Harvard University: Davenport Academy of Sciences. p. 79. http://books.google.com/books?id=o3oSAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA79&dq=Xtabay&as_brr=1&client=firefox-a. 
• Jacobs; Joseph Jacobs, Alfred Trübner Nutt, Arthur Robinson Wright, Folklore Society (Great Britain), William Crooke (1903). Folklore. Folklore Society. p. 203. http://books.google.com/books?id=okgKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA203&dq=Xtabay&as_brr=1&client=firefox-a. 
• Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation (1920). Indian Notes and Monographs:. Original from the University of Michigan: Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation. p. 171. http://books.google.com/books?id=P1xUAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA171&dq=Xtabay&as_brr=1&client=firefox-a#PRA1-PA171,M1.