La Llorona Today
The Legend of La Llorona has changed in contemporary society in a variety of ways. It holds special significance in the celebration of Mexico. In the United States, the legend is still very important in the Hispanic culture.
Urban Communities
The areas she haunts have changed from more rural areas to a new urban setting (Walraven 1991, 209). The shift from the countryside has followed the Hispanic population's migration from a rural setting to one which is more urban. In addition, rather than drowning her children, La Llorona abandons them in garbage bins or city dumps (Walraven 1991, 209). These new details emerged because of stories circulating about babies being abandoned in these areas (Walraven 1991, 209). The legend of La Llorona is in response to the changing setting and the difficulty of raising children in a moral way with both parents working. The difficulty of upholding family values is increased by the fast pace of the city and parents working outside of the home (Walraven 1991, 211). The legend may be a reflection of eroding family values.
Day of the Dead
La Llorona, a one-act play is an important part of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico (Fuller 2015, 42). The legend is associated with the birth of the nation and is an important part of Mexican identity (Fuller 2015, 42).