The White Lady of Fonte Creek
Author: Virginia MarinPublished on: Feb 28, 2003
This belief originates with Teutonic mythology and centers around the goddess Hulda (or Berchta) who accepts the departed souls of children and young maidens. Hulda is depicted as being perpetually dressed in white with a circle of keys hanging from her belt.
The first record of a white lady apparition occurred in the 15th-Century, with one Bertha von Rosenberg. She last appeared, it is said, in 1879. German legend says that when the castle of Neuhaus, Bohemia, was being built, a white lady appeared and promised the workmen a sweet soup and a carp on the completion of the castle. In remembrance of this, these dainties are sometimes given to the poor on Maundy Thursday.
White Ladies of Normandy live in ravines, fords and on and under bridges, somewhat like Trolls. They often request of passersby to dance for them. If refused, they toss the unsuspecting person into a hole.
The White Lady of Avenel, in Scott's The Monastery, is based upon La Dame d'Aprigny and La Dame Abonde, considered to be the world's two most famous White Ladies. I love Wilkie Collin's novel, The White Lady. It is a good example of how white ladies are unique to literature, and especially to folklore.
Having lived on the island of Guam in the Marianas for three years, I collected a large amount of the folklore and legends of the Chamorro who have inhabited that small group of tropical Pacific islands since before early Spanish rule in the 1600's. I hope you will enjoy the White Lady of Fonte Creek whose presence today is as alive as it was in the 1600's.
During the Spanish colonial rule on the island of Guam in the 1600's, there lived in the small village of Maina, a Spanish military officer and his Chamorro wife. Over the years his love, respect and devotion for her had changed from a loving and considerate husband to one who was harsh, demanding and cruel.
Now every evening for his meal, he sent his wife into the hills to bring him drinking water from springs near a freshwater creek. At first the girl enjoyed her walks in the jungle and after a time it became a ritual which she actually looked forward to.
Her favorite walks were during a full moon when its reflections shimmered across the moving creek like dancing stars. The jungle became her altar and the wildlife her companions.
After a time, her husband became aware of her absence lasting longer and longer at which he became enraged. One rainy evening he decided to send her out not with the full moon, but with a new moon.
The night was very dark and with a furious rain and wind. She was unable to see that the small creek had grown into a raging monster which was overflowing its banks. As she neared, the soft wet earth gave way casting her into a cauldron of swirlling, angry water where she disappeared into a belly of madness.
Her body was never found. The Spanish officer, lonely and repentatent, grieved himself into an early grave.
Today if one drives over the bridge at Maina during a full moon, they will see, if lucky, a ghostly sentinel standing at the creek's edge wearing a long white flowing gown. Her silver hair is sparkling like moonbeams. Her sad red eyes giving up tears.
She appears one hour after sundown and suddenly disappears with moon rise. Her presence is well known at three landmarks on Guam--Two Lover's Point, Harmon Heights and the Fonte Creek which runs from Maina to Adelup Bay. She is not totally benign and is said to be afraid of only one thing--a Christian Cross. Local children are known to remain indoors between dusk and darkness out of fear and respect for her.
The White Lady of Fonte Creek will always appear if she senses a dangerous storm to be approaching. The Chamorros lovingly refer to her as their White Lady of Impending Danger. Have I ever seen the White Lady? Yes, once in the early 60's, eight days before one of the worst typhoons to ever hit the island of Guam. Was this sighting my imagination--or not?
Retold by Dubh Sidhe
Edisto Island, South Carolina
The Ancient Chamorros of Guam. A colorful look into the past with an eye on the present.
Official Guam Web Page. When I was in Guam in the 60's, it was not a tourist attraction. Since then, it has become a favorite tourist destination, being one of the largest islands in Micronesia.