Spirit or ghost of a goat, “Spirit`i Cabrito” in Papiamento is the way Aruba has named their Libel or Dragonfly. They belong to the order Odonata, a carnivorous insect’s family encompassing the dragonflies and the damselflies. The Odonata form a clade, which has existed since the Permian era. Dragonflies are generally larger, and perch with their wings held out to the sides; damselflies have slender bodies, and hold their wings over the body at rest.
1-Abstract Art by Etnia Nativa – “Spirit di cabrito”
Everything related to dragonflies has always been surrounded by legends and myths. The reality is that they are harmless insects that have lived on earth for 200 million years, before dinosaurs and survived long after their extinction.
Dragonflies consume up to 300 mosquitoes and other flying insects a day, they are sometimes known as mosquito hawks. They are skilled experts, no other animal has the ability to maneuver the dragonfly’s wings, and its wings are bright and beautiful.
While the Maya related them to the sun, other cultures consider them symbols of fertility since females can lay up to 100,000 eggs at once. Males defend territories where the appropriate conditions are found for laying the eggs and where they are developed correctly. Normally, these territories usually coincide with areas that have submerged aquatic vegetation or areas that maintain water levels or currents that allow the oxygenation of the eggs. Territoriality is a behavior that will favor the selection of the most competitive males, which will transmit their genes to the largest possible number of females.
The Odonatas have a mechanism to reduce predation on them like camouflage, since they have colors, design patterns and postures that make predators go unnoticed. When they are attacked, on their hangers during cold mornings when they barely have mobility, they can perform intimidating movements with the legs and abdomen that can deter the predator. 
2- Selective focus photo of gold and black dragonfly on brown stick.
In Mexico as well as in Aruba they are considered as a symbol of water purity, and their presence predicts a good year of harvest. In Tahiti, dragonflies are related to gods and spirits that bring fortune.
In various populations of China, dragonflies symbolize weakness and fragility, but they are also considered beneficial and favorable in rice fields. In addition, they were used to make mixtures with aphrodisiac powers. In Japan they are considered a symbol of victory, happiness, strength and courage. Legend has it that Emperor Yuryako Tenno was hunting on a plain, and a horsefly landed on his arm and stung him. At that moment a dragonfly appeared that got rid of the horsefly. In honor of her, the emperor called the area Akitsu-no (plain of the dragonfly) so the ancient name of Japan emerged: Akitsu Shima (The Dragonfly Islands). The samurai, ancient Japanese warriors, use dragonflies as an emblem of good luck, decorating their shields and sabers with them.
3- Chinese dragonfly drawing
In Hindu mythology there is a legend that says that when people die their souls become dragonflies.
In German mythology the dragonflies were associated with Freyja, goddess of love, wealth and eroticism to which they paid tribute on Fridays. But a decree of the Catholic Church of 775 A.D. said: “I relate this goddess to evil and along with it I condemn the dragonflies.” From this story in Cantabrian mythology the dragonflies are called “Caballitos del Diablo” who arise on the magical night of San Juan and fly at night in search of the four-leaf clovers they eat to prevent mortals from finding them.
The superstitions of this Cantabrian region say that these horses from hell are men who, because of their sins, lost their soul and were forced to travel Cantabria for the rest of eternity.
In our western world a quite popular legend relates that the dragonflies were Fairies that were forbidden to live with humans and they were not to have any contact with them. Some of these Fairies ignored this prohibition and the gods punished them by converting them in dragonflies. Time passed and the prohibition of living with humans was abolished but when the pardon reached the fairies that had been turned into dragonflies they refused to return to their previous state because they had already become accustomed to living with humans without hiding flying free on all sides. Here in Aruba dragonflies where considered as healing and transformation animals, shamans called upon in their rituals and as sign of good omen.
4-Fairies or Dragonflies
To get to know more about Aruba and its origins, its animals and culture, we highly recommend you to book your visit to our renowned cultural center where encounter sessions have been entertaining curious participants for decades. Mail us at etnianativa03@gmail.com to confirm your participation. Our facilities and activities take place close to high rise hotels. q
Article by Etnia Nativa call us 592 2 and book your experience!
Experience Etnia Nativa
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Article by Etnia Nativa call us 592 2702 and book your experience!
Dragonfly (Orthemis ferruginea) Episode 47
ORANJESTAD — Spirit or ghost of a goat, “Spirit`i Cabrito” in Papiamento is the way Aruba has named their Libel or Dragonfly. They belong to the order Odonata, a carnivorous insect’s family encompassing the dragonflies and the damselflies. The Odonata form a clade, which has existed since the Permian era. Dragonflies are generally larger, and perch with their wings held out to the sides; damselflies have slender bodies, and hold their wings over the body at rest.
1-Abstract Art by Etnia Nativa – “Spirit di cabrito”
Everything related to dragonflies has always been surrounded by legends and myths. The reality is that they are harmless insects that have lived on earth for 200 million years, before dinosaurs and survived long after their extinction.
Dragonflies consume up to 300 mosquitoes and other flying insects a day, they are sometimes known as mosquito hawks. They are skilled experts, no other animal has the ability to maneuver the dragonfly’s wings, and its wings are bright and beautiful.
While the Maya related them to the sun, other cultures consider them symbols of fertility since females can lay up to 100,000 eggs at once. Males defend territories where the appropriate conditions are found for laying the eggs and where they are developed correctly. Normally, these territories usually coincide with areas that have submerged aquatic vegetation or areas that maintain water levels or currents that allow the oxygenation of the eggs. Territoriality is a behavior that will favor the selection of the most competitive males, which will transmit their genes to the largest possible number of females.
The Odonatas have a mechanism to reduce predation on them like camouflage, since they have colors, design patterns and postures that make predators go unnoticed. When they are attacked, on their hangers during cold mornings when they barely have mobility, they can perform intimidating movements with the legs and abdomen that can deter the predator. 
2- Selective focus photo of gold and black dragonfly on brown stick.
In Mexico as well as in Aruba they are considered as a symbol of water purity, and their presence predicts a good year of harvest. In Tahiti, dragonflies are related to gods and spirits that bring fortune.
In various populations of China, dragonflies symbolize weakness and fragility, but they are also considered beneficial and favorable in rice fields. In addition, they were used to make mixtures with aphrodisiac powers. In Japan they are considered a symbol of victory, happiness, strength and courage. Legend has it that Emperor Yuryako Tenno was hunting on a plain, and a horsefly landed on his arm and stung him. At that moment a dragonfly appeared that got rid of the horsefly. In honor of her, the emperor called the area Akitsu-no (plain of the dragonfly) so the ancient name of Japan emerged: Akitsu Shima (The Dragonfly Islands). The samurai, ancient Japanese warriors, use dragonflies as an emblem of good luck, decorating their shields and sabers with them.
3- Chinese dragonfly drawing
In Hindu mythology there is a legend that says that when people die their souls become dragonflies.
In German mythology the dragonflies were associated with Freyja, goddess of love, wealth and eroticism to which they paid tribute on Fridays. But a decree of the Catholic Church of 775 A.D. said: “I relate this goddess to evil and along with it I condemn the dragonflies.” From this story in Cantabrian mythology the dragonflies are called “Caballitos del Diablo” who arise on the magical night of San Juan and fly at night in search of the four-leaf clovers they eat to prevent mortals from finding them.
The superstitions of this Cantabrian region say that these horses from hell are men who, because of their sins, lost their soul and were forced to travel Cantabria for the rest of eternity.
In our western world a quite popular legend relates that the dragonflies were Fairies that were forbidden to live with humans and they were not to have any contact with them. Some of these Fairies ignored this prohibition and the gods punished them by converting them in dragonflies. Time passed and the prohibition of living with humans was abolished but when the pardon reached the fairies that had been turned into dragonflies they refused to return to their previous state because they had already become accustomed to living with humans without hiding flying free on all sides. Here in Aruba dragonflies where considered as healing and transformation animals, shamans called upon in their rituals and as sign of good omen.
4-Fairies or Dragonflies
To get to know more about Aruba and its origins, its animals and culture, we highly recommend you to book your visit to our renowned cultural center where encounter sessions have been entertaining curious participants for decades. Mail us at etnianativa03@gmail.com to confirm your participation. Our facilities and activities take place close to high rise hotels. q
