Mayari

In Tagalog mythology, Mayari (also known as Bulan) is the beautiful and most charming lunar deity who was the daughter of Bathala, the king of the gods, to a mortal woman. Mayari is the Goddess of Combat, War, Revolution, Hunt, Weaponry, Beauty, Strength, Moon and Night. She is known as the most beautiful deity in Bathala's court. She is the sister of Tala, the goddess of stars and Adlaw (also known as Apolaki), god of the sun. However, in some mythology, Tala is Mayari's daughter.

In a Pampangan myth, Bathala died without leaving a will and Apolaki and Mayari fought over who would rule the earth. Apolaki wanted to rule the earth alone while Mayari insisted on equal rights. The two fought out the conflict with bamboo clubs until Mayari lost an eye. After Apolaki saw what he had done, he agreed to rule the earth together but at different times. However, her light is dimmer than her brother's due to the loss of her eye.

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Mayarí

Mayarí is a municipality and town in the Holguín Province of Cuba.

Overview

The origins of the city date back to 1757, when the first farms were established on the actual location. On January 19, 1879 the city became the seat of the municipality.

The Sierra Cristal National Park (Spanish: Parque Nacional Sierra Cristal) is partly located in the Mayarí municipality and partly in neighboring Sagua de Tánamo. Other attractions include Cayo Saetía, a cay located north of Mayarí and the Bay of Nipe.

The name of the town figures in the song of the 1940s, "Voy para Mayarí" ("I'm going to Mayarí") by Compay Segundo, and in his song from the Buena Vista Social Club, "Chan Chan".

Geography

The municipality is divided into the barrios and hamlets of Barajagua, Birán (the birthplace of Fidel and Raúl Castro), Cabonico, Cajimaya, Chavaleta Norte, Chavaleta Sur, Guayabo, Juan Vicente, Mateo Sánchez, Punta de Tabaco, Río Frío, Sae-Tía, San Gregario Norte, San Gregorio Sur and Santa Isabel.

Among other barrios or neighborhoods in this municipality are: Felton (on Cajimaya Bay, once the seaport for the Bethlehem Cuba Iron Mines Company -Bethlehem Steel-), Guatemala (on Nipe Bay, previously named Preston and a central sugar mill operated by the United Fruit Company), Nicaro-Levisa (on Levisa Bay, originally named Lengua de Pajaro which translated into English means bird's tongue -as viewed from an air ride-), El Purio, Santa Rita, La Italiana, Mandinga. The last two being on the road to the open mines named Mina Martí where nickel and cobalt exploitation started in the beginnings of the twentieth century by Bethlehem Cuba Iron Mines Company (Bethlehem Steel) and Nicaro Nickel Company.