Lagahoo
Encyclopedia
In the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago
the Lagahoo (or Li Gahoo) is a mythical shapeshifting
monster. It is cousin to the French loup-garou and the Germanic werewolf
, yet not restricted to the form of a wolf.
It seems like a normal human by day, but this creature takes on the form of a man with no head, who roams the night with a wooden coffin on its neck. On top of the coffin are three lighted candles and the long loose end of a heavy iron chain, noosed around its waist, trails behind him. Often, it is seen with chains around its neck, which change size. One appendage is said to be turned backwards.
It can shapeshift into various animals, including horses, pigs or goats, and said to often take the form of a creature similar to a centaur
; is also thought to be a blood sucker which is less than particular about its food source, making do with such animals as cows and goats.
To kill the Lagahoo one must beat the creature with a stick which has been anointed with holy water and holy oil for nine days. While beating the demon, it changes into other beasts such as a snarling dog, a wild bull and thunderous waves of water and finally will disappear into a mist.
In escape from silk cotton forest by francis escayg the lagahoo are not all evil. they actually want to be part of a peaceful society however due to their "different" appearance ( in this case they look like canine humanoids with totally white eyes and can replicate the traits of the species they change into)they take the forms of several local species, goans and douans being the most mentioned
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
the Lagahoo (or Li Gahoo) is a mythical shapeshifting
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
monster. It is cousin to the French loup-garou and the Germanic werewolf
Werewolf
A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope , is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse...
, yet not restricted to the form of a wolf.
It seems like a normal human by day, but this creature takes on the form of a man with no head, who roams the night with a wooden coffin on its neck. On top of the coffin are three lighted candles and the long loose end of a heavy iron chain, noosed around its waist, trails behind him. Often, it is seen with chains around its neck, which change size. One appendage is said to be turned backwards.
It can shapeshift into various animals, including horses, pigs or goats, and said to often take the form of a creature similar to a centaur
Centaur
In Greek mythology, a centaur or hippocentaur is a member of a composite race of creatures, part human and part horse...
; is also thought to be a blood sucker which is less than particular about its food source, making do with such animals as cows and goats.
To kill the Lagahoo one must beat the creature with a stick which has been anointed with holy water and holy oil for nine days. While beating the demon, it changes into other beasts such as a snarling dog, a wild bull and thunderous waves of water and finally will disappear into a mist.
In popular culture
The Ligahoo of James Christopher Aboud’s recent poetry anthology, Ligahoo Poems, is an ageless, restless wanderer who "takes his shape from the wind" and "has no master", except his own hunger and desire.In escape from silk cotton forest by francis escayg the lagahoo are not all evil. they actually want to be part of a peaceful society however due to their "different" appearance ( in this case they look like canine humanoids with totally white eyes and can replicate the traits of the species they change into)they take the forms of several local species, goans and douans being the most mentioned