The Chureca

beast · Virgin Islands · Caribbean

The Chureca is a Virgin Islands death-omen spirit appearing as an owl-like creature. Its cry or appearance near a home predicts imminent death in the household. A localized variant of the widespread Caribbean 'owl as death messenger' belief (cf. Jamaican rolling calf, Haitian loogaroo owl form). Not to be confused with La Chureca, the Managua landfill.

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