Five fascinating Puerto Rican myths and superstitions you should know

The Legend of the Hummingbird

When you see a hummingbird in Puerto Rico perched on a red flower, it might be Taroo looking for his lover, Alida who was turned into a flower to escape being married off to someone she did not love.

The story is told of two young lovers, Alida and Taroo from different tribes who met accidentally by a pool in the forest. Alida’s father, learning of their affair, disapproved and intended on marrying her off to another from her own tribe. Alida wanted to escape that fate so she prayed to the gods for help and they turned her into a red flower.

Taroo, oblivious to Alida’s father’s intention and her transformation, waited by the pool each night for his lover until the moon pitied him enough to tell him about Alida’s transformation.

He also pleaded with the gods to help him find his lover and they made him into a hummingbird. Hummingbirds always move from blossom to blossom. Any hummingbird you see could be Taroo still looking for his Alida.