Xtabay: The Seductress of the Ceiba

The Woman Under the Tree

In the nights of the Yucatán, never walk alone near a Ceiba tree. You might see Xtabay. She appears as a beautiful Mayan woman with long, glossy hair, wearing a white huipil. She stands by the trunk of the sacred tree, combing her hair with the spine of a cactus. She calls to men, her voice sweet and promising. But she is not a woman. She is a demonic illusion.

The Two Sisters

Legend says there were two sisters: Xkeban (the sinner with a good heart) and Utz-Colel (the pure woman with a cold heart). When they died, Xkeban's grave smelled of flowers, while Utz-Colel's smelled of rot. Jealous of her sister's sweet legacy, the evil Utz-Colel made a pact with dark spirits to return. She mimics the beauty of a woman to lure men, but her heart remains prickly and cruel.

The Thorny Embrace

When a man, usually drunk or lustful, approaches her, she opens her arms. But as soon as he steps into her embrace, the illusion shatters. Her skin turns to rough bark. Her fingernails become sharp thorns. She is the tree itself. She crushes him against the trunk, her thorns piercing his flesh, draining his blood until he is a dry husk.

The Sacred Ceiba

The Ceiba tree is the center of the Mayan universe, connecting the Underworld (Xibalba) to the Sky. It is a portal. The Xtabay is the guardian of this portal, punishing those who disrespect the night with their vices.

The Final Warning

If you see a woman alone in the jungle at midnight and the air smells like honey and rot, do not go to her. Hug a cactus instead, as it hurts less.