headless dance

(Told by Julio Macón, in the bohío of the Cachito-epán, Caonao)

In the early days of the world there were three devils. The old Devil, the old Diabla and the little Devil son. They had the world crazy. They got into everything and didn't let anyone live in peace. The kingdom of the animals met then to see if they could finish off the devils; Many plans were presented and none worked and then the group of guanajos, opening their wings, said that they had a plan to kill the devils and secretly told the chief lion that this was the plan to dance without a head. The animals gave him confidence and the guanajos prepared the dance in the bush. The first thing they did was hire good music for drums, guayos, guitars, bongoses, keys, jars, guiros and everything that goes into good dance music. Then they made the living room; the elephants knocked down the sticks and tamped down the earth well with their paws. A splendid hall was made. The birds warned everywhere that there was a party. Then the chief of the guanajos chose 50 pairs of guanajas, male and female, and taught them to dance with their heads tucked under their wings. Little by little he taught them the steps and the guanajos learned to dance without their heads. 

On the banks of the mountain, one night they began the dance that was illuminated with carbide. The music sounded phenomenal and the dancers danced with their heads tucked under the wing and no one's head could be seen. 

The old Devil, who had had a big fight with the old Diabla and was resting, heard him in the distance, and came to see what was happening and how he was disrupting the party. He got there and saw the dance well animated, with light and tasty music. He asked those who guarded the entrance, leaning his arms on the canebrava railing that the portal of the dance room had:

-And what is that?

— Nothing, the dance without a head… The doorman told him with a very happy word.

The Devil liked music so much that he tempted him: 

— Can I dance a little with that good music? said the Devil.

"Yes, but you have to dance without your head," said the doorman.

- How is that? said the curious Devil without being silly.

- That's how it is. Everyone dances without a head. Can't you hear the sound of music how compelling? said the doorman. 

The Devil then heard the sound of music that said and forced: 

don't dance,

does not dance;

the one with the head,

don't dance

 The Devil hesitated; He asked how the head was glued and was told with resin. The bongo was like never before, the güiros and drums and the guitars were glorious. So the devil said yes, because he couldn't resist; He went inside, to a ceiba trunk cutter, put his head and with an ax blow they cut it off. A gang of guanajos threw the body down a ravine to pa'

bass. This is how the guanajos killed the old Devil. 

The party continued, the guanajería danced and the music did not stop and went through all the sticks of the mountain and the old Diabla heard it, and came to find out what was happening and found the dance without a head. She leaned her arms on the canebrava railing and was enraptured listening to the most beautiful music in the world. 

- And that? What is? said the Devil. 

"The headless dance," said the doorman. 

Old Diabla watched for a while and her legs moved to the beat of such good music. The marímbula pressed, pressed the bongo and the tress, and the old Diabla couldn't resist the music. 

"Can I get a foot in?" said the Devil. 

—How not! But first you have to take off your head," said the porter, "can't you hear the sound of the dance?

don't dance,

does not dance;

the one with the head,

don't dance

The old Diabla hesitated, found out that they would glue her head back with resin and since she couldn't resist the music of the kettledrums, which was what she liked the most, she went in, put her head in the chopper and was left without her. And so the guanajos killed the old Diabla.

El Diablito was playing with snails in the dark of the mountain; he heard the music and came to the dance party. He looked at the guanajos dancing without their heads for a while and he did not understand the matter well and he said to the doorman: 

-What is this?

"The headless dance," said the doorman. 

—The music is good. Won't you let me dance a bit? said the Little Devil.

-Yes of course. But you have to dance without your head,” said the doorman. 

-Without head? said the Little Devil.

"Yeah, that's how it is...

El Diablito looked around, curious, but he couldn't resist the music that was at its best and said: 

—I have never seen a dance without a head, but I want to enter… but get rid of this little head…

"Well, listen to the sound of music," said the porter. 

And the son said: 

don't dance,

does not dance;

the one with the head,

don't dance

- And that is also for me?

"Yes, sir, he who has a head doesn't dance," said the porter. 

Then the Little Devil said: 

—Well, they don't take this little head from me. 

And that is why there is still a Devil in the world, although less than before, thanks to the guanajos. 

Originally published by Samuel Feijóo in the edition of cuban mythology, Havana, Editorial Cuban Letters, 2007, pp. 66-69.