Bochica - Muisca

My name is Itza, and I remember when our whole world was covered in water. A great flood had washed away our homes and farms, and my people, the Muisca, had to live on the very tops of the mountains, cold and hungry. We thought the sun had forgotten us until a hero appeared to save us all. This is the story I will tell you, the amazing myth of Bochica.

I remember the rain that never seemed to stop. It was like the sky was a giant leaky bucket that dripped on us for months and months. We were all so sad because an angry god named Chibchacum had sent the flood to cover the entire savanna of Bogotá. We huddled together on the mountain peaks and prayed for someone to help us. One day, our prayers were answered. A magnificent rainbow, brighter than any I had ever seen, stretched across the sky. An old man with a beard as white as a cloud and kind, sparkling eyes walked out of the light. He carried a staff that shimmered like solid sunshine. He told us his name was Bochica, and he was a wise hero sent to help.

Bochica saw how much we were suffering and promised to free us from the water. He led all of us to the edge of the mountains where a giant wall of stone was holding back all the water like a big bathtub plug. Everyone was quiet, watching to see what this mysterious hero would do. He raised his glowing golden staff high in the air. It shone so brightly it was hard to look at. With all his might, he struck the stone wall. CRACK. The sound was louder than any thunder I had ever heard, and it echoed through the mountains. The great rocks crumbled and split apart. A huge opening appeared, and WHOOSH. All the water from the flood rushed through, creating a giant, roaring waterfall that cascaded into the valley below. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. This magnificent waterfall became known as the Tequendama Falls.

As the floodwaters drained away, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and warmed our faces. The land it left behind was dark and rich, perfect for growing yummy corn for our families. Bochica was a wonderful teacher. He showed us how to plant seeds, how to weave soft cotton into warm clothes, and how to live together in peace. Before he left, he had to punish the angry god, Chibchacum. He made him carry the heavy Earth on his shoulders forever. Now, when Chibchacum gets tired and shifts the weight from one shoulder to the other, the ground trembles. We never forgot Bochica. His story reminds us that even after the biggest storm, there can be a new beginning, and that wisdom and kindness are the most powerful magic of all.