Vitória Régia - Amazonian Legend
Author
Flora Campello
Date Published
Myth of Moonlight and Amazon Waters
Long ago, in the Amazon, there was an indigenous tribe that believed the stars in the sky were deities. The young women of the tribe admired these stars and dreamed of being taken by them to the sky.
Among these young women was a very beautiful girl named Naiá. She fell especially in love with the moon, which the people called Jaci. Every night, Naiá would gaze at the moon's reflection in the waters of the rivers and lakes, believing that Jaci had come to take her away.
Enchanted and determined to find it, Naiá followed the moon's reflection in the water until, one night, she dived into the lake to reach it... but never returned to the surface.
Jaci, moved by the young woman's love and courage, wanted to reward Naiá by transforming her into an unusual star. Naiá's destiny was not in the sky, but in the waters, reflecting the moonlight. Naiá became the Victoria Amazonica, the great Amazonian flower of calm waters, the star of the waters, as beautiful as the stars in the sky and which only opens its petals in the moonlight.
The Vitória-Régia is a symbol of Brazilian biodiversity and one of the most fascinating aquatic plants in the world. Native to the Amazon region, it is known for its beauty, grandeur and the important ecological role it plays in the ecosystems where it is found. Its presence is an indicator of good water quality and a healthy ecosystem.
Inside Brazil, the Vitória-Régia is one of the most poetic and symbolic stories. The legend is passed down between generations, especially in the Ribeirinho (riverside) communities of the north of the country. To this day, it is remembered as one of the most beautiful expressions of Amazonian mythology.
In the symbolic realm, it represents femininity, overcoming adversity, purity, and connection with nature.
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