PAPA BOIS
allyForest, nature
Papa Bois, also called Maître Bois or Daddy Bouchon, is the keeper of the forests in the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago and of several islands of the Lesser Antilles, among them Saint Lucia, Dominica and Grenada. The storytellers describe him as a vigorous old man, his body covered in hair, his beard made of leaves or moss, with hooves and sometimes a stag's antlers. Protector of the animals, he blows into a cow's horn to warn them of the hunters' approach, and can himself take the form of a stag to lead the careless astray into the deepest woods. The tales teach a precise etiquette: whoever meets Papa Bois must greet him politely, with a respectful bon jour, vieux Papa, and above all must not look at his feet. The tales make him the husband or companion of Mama D'Leau, the mistress of the fresh waters. A figure of creolisation, Papa Bois mingles African inheritances of the master of animals, European memories of the wild man of the woods and perhaps Amerindian traditions of the island. To this day he embodies in Trinidadian culture the respect owed to the forest, and readily serves as an emblem of nature conservation.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
A fragment of Onionkupón's Breath, bound to one of the five elements of the cosmic balance.
Sacred Mask
A mask carved of ancient energy — a symbol of the cosmic force proper to its pantheon.
Era
3,000–1,000 BCE — Cycle of Elemental Powers
Spiritual Lesson
To understand the nature of one's own balance and the wisdom hidden behind every trial.
Words of the Spirit
“The forest whispers to those who know how to listen.”
Frequently asked questions
Who is Papa Bois?
Papa Bois is the keeper of the forest in the folklore of Trinidad and Tobago and the Lesser Antilles. A powerful old man with a beard of leaves and a stag's hooves, he protects the animals from hunters and reigns over the woods. The Creole tales also make him the companion of Mama D'Leau, the mistress of the rivers.
What does Papa Bois look like?
The tales describe him as an old man of astonishing strength, his body hairy, his beard of leaves or moss, with a beast's legs, hooves and sometimes a stag's antlers. He carries a cow's horn which he sounds to warn the animals, and he can change himself into a stag to deceive the hunters.
What should one do on meeting Papa Bois according to the legend?
Trinidadian tradition recommends greeting him with respect — bon jour, vieux Papa — going on one's way without lingering, and above all never looking at his feet, for his hooves betray his nature. Greedy or cruel hunters risk being led astray into the depths of the woods, or handed over to Mama D'Leau, the mistress of the waters.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- Gérard A. Besson, Folklore and Legends of Trinidad and Tobago (1991)
- Elsie Clews Parsons, Folk-Lore of the Antilles, French and English (1933)