Legend Says The Island Of The Dolls Was Created By A Man Who Sadly Found A Drowned Girl, And Then He Came Across Her Doll
Nestled within the vast network of canals just south of Mexico City lies one of the last traces of the Aztecs, a place that is shrouded in mystery and surrounded by eerie tales.
That place is Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains an array of tiny artificial islands.
One of those islands is adorned with thousands of decaying dolls strung up on trees, fences, and structures, creating a spooky and unsettling atmosphere.
It is called the Island of the Dolls, or La Isla de Muñecas in Spanish. The island is home to the largest collection of haunted dolls in the world. So, how did those dolls end up on the island in the first place?
The island didn’t get its name until after the arrival of a man named Don Julian Santana Barrera in the 1950s. He was a native of Xochimilco and left his family to isolate himself on an island.
According to legend, he came across the body of a young girl who had drowned in the lake. Shortly after, a doll, which most likely belonged to the girl, came floating down the canals.
Don Julian hung the doll from a tree to appease the spirit of the dead girl. Soon enough, he began to hear the girl screaming from beyond the grave, begging for her doll.
For the next 50 years, he hunted for dolls in the trash and fished them out from the canals so he could hang them up on tree branches. Some of the dolls were intact, but others were headless or dismembered in some way.
His actions created the nightmarish scene we see today. Many people, including Don Julian’s own family, did not believe that he was haunted by the girl and even questioned if he had really found her body. It was clear that he was not of sound mind.
Narong Niemhom – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
In 2001, Don Julian passed away. His body was discovered in the canal, where he had drowned in the exact location the girl did.
After his death, tourists flocked to the island, bringing dolls to hang up in honor of Don Julian and the little girl.
Locals claim that the dolls are possessed by spirits and come alive at nighttime. They say the dolls whisper, whistle, and turn their own heads. Others say the more reasonable explanation is the wind.
Either way, there’s no denying that the atmosphere of the island is chilling and surreal. If you ever visit this enigmatic island, it’s best to bring an offering for the spirits to avoid meeting the same fate as Don Julian.
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