Anahí (legend)

The legend of Anahí is an orally transmitted legend of the Guaraní , a people of indigenous people who have or had their settlement area in northeast Argentina but also in Paraguay, Bolivia, southern Brazil and Uruguay. The legend is supposed to explain the origin of the striking flowers of the coral bush.

Anahí was then the only daughter of a chief of the Guaraní. Their tribe is said to have settled on the Paraná River . Her father was murdered by the Spaniards in a fight. And since she was the only daughter, she led her people in the fight against the invaders.

Anahí inflicted some bitter defeats on the Spaniards. So the Spaniards decided to kidnap her. After attempting to escape and killing a guard, the Spaniards believed she was a witch because they didn't trust the petite woman to be able to murder the guard with her own hands. And so she was sentenced to death by burning.

She was tied to a tree and burned alive. As soon as the fire started, something unbelievable happened: the spectators ran away in horror as the tree began to shake in a way they had never seen before. The following morning no traces of the fire were found, but there was a large, strikingly beautiful tree with purple flowers in the same place.

According to legend, this tree was the coral bush ( Erythrina crista-galli , Spanish: ceibo ), a subtropical legume that is native to Argentina, Brazil , Paraguay and Uruguay . Its flowers are a symbol of courage and strength, and by decree of December 2, 1942, it is the national plant of Argentina.

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