Storms and great storms Storms have been a source of wonder and concern since ancient times. In many indigenous cultures across the American continent, the fury of the sky was embodied in the figure of a storm god, whose presence manifested itself through wind, thunder, and heavy rain. Although meteorological science now explains these phenomena, collective memory still gives them an almost mystical quality due to the imprint left on legends and customs.
In the Caribbean and Central America, especially on the island of Cuba and other neighboring regions, historical records mention Jurakán as the one responsible for storms. According to documents from early Spanish chroniclers, such as Bartolomé de las Casas, the indigenous Cubans attributed any severe weather event—whether tornadoes, storms, or tropical cyclones—to Jurakán, without distinguishing the specific origin of the event. For them, the god resided at the heart of the storm and directed both the winds and the rains that lashed their lands.
Deity, mythology, and the root of the word "hurricane"
The word "hurricane" itself It entered the Spanish language through contact with these peoples and their beliefs. Las Casas' accounts led to the term being used ever since to designate the violent tropical cyclones so characteristic of the region. Furthermore, in the mid-22th century, Europeans realized that the autumnal equinox—around September XNUMX—marked the beginning of a period of severe storms in the Caribbean, leading to the term "Equinox" being coined before the expression "hurricane season" became common.
With the advancement of meteorology and the creation of observation stations during the 1965th century, experts were able to determine that tropical cyclones were not exclusive to the Caribbean, but rather affected different areas of the planet following seasonal patterns. In the North Atlantic basin, the time period runs from June to November. The formalization of the "cyclone season" as a term came to Cuba around XNUMX, with the founding of the Institute of Meteorology, expanding monitoring and studies with a more robust statistical and scientific basis.
In Mesoamerica, the figure of Tlaloc He plays a similar role to Jurakán, although with characteristics specific to the Mexica worldview. Tláloc is the Mexican god associated with rain, storms, and waterHe was especially invoked during the planting season and in contexts where water was vital for subsistence. Many pre-Hispanic traditions and rituals revolved around his powers, and his iconography remains recognizable in sculptures and murals of the period.
The influence of the god of storms today
La Jurakán footprint y Tláloc has transcended the centuries and remains present in popular culture. For example, in Mexico, during the rainy season, the image of Tlaloc is reinterpreted in multiple ways. One of the most curious and recent manifestations is the appearance of the Tlaloconcha, an artisanal sweet bread from Puebla that pays homage to the god of storms through its colorful design and guava filling, elements that evoke water and fertility. This offering, conceived by the La Herencia JD bakery in San Pedro Cholula, demonstrates how ancient mythology can be combined with contemporary culinary traditions to create products that connect with the identity and spirit of the community.
The Tlaloconcha It's not only an example of cultural fusion, but also reflects the current trend of adapting traditional foods to emblematic characters or gods for each season. In this case, the homage to Tlaloc serves as a bridge between the ancestral interpretation of storms and the modern enjoyment of sweet bread, especially on rainy days with overcast skies.
Myths, science, and perceptions about storms
The view of storms as an expression of a god's will has given way, over the centuries, to a scientific understanding of these phenomena. However, in many places, an emotional, symbolic, and even ritual connection persists with the figures of the deities who personify the forces of nature. The word "hurricane" continues to remind us of the impact that the Indigenous worldview had on language and the way we name the most extreme meteorological phenomena.
Interpret these phenomena Only statistics and meteorology can explain this today, but it would be unfair to forget that for centuries, survival and respect for the natural environment depended on the veneration and fear of storm gods. To this day, these figures remain present in the collective memory, in traditional iconography, and even in small gestures like choosing a loaf of bread with the image of a deity at the local bakery.
The figure of the storm god, whether Jurakán, Tláloc, or another deity with different names in each region, symbolizes human awe at the force of nature. From the word "hurricane" to the Tlaloconcha of today, his traces are in the language, myths, and customs that survive beyond science, recalling the relationship between humanity and the climate.
