Amihan (mythology)

For the fictional character, see Amihan (Encantadia). For the weather pattern in the Philippines, see Amihan.

In this Philippine name for indigenous people, this person is addressed by the sole name, Amihan.

A locally designed attire depicting Amihan

Amihan is a genderless deity that is depicted as a bird in the Philippine mythology. According to the Tagalog folklore, Amihan is the first creature to inhabit the universe, along with the gods called Bathala and Aman Sinaya. In the legend, Amihan is described as a bird who saved the first human beings, Malakas and Maganda, from a bamboo plant.

Amihan is also depicted with Habagat which explains the wind patterns in the country. In one legend, they are depicted as children of the supreme deity Bathala. They are allowed by their father to play in turns, every half a year, since having the two play together causes destruction in the land. Amihan is depicted as the gentler sister while Habagat is depicted as the more active brother.^[1] In another legend, Amihan is depicted as a giant who is at war with another giant Habagat.^[2]

References

1. Boquet, Yves (2017). The Philippine Archipelago. Springer. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-3-319-51926-5. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
2. Eugenio, Damiana L. (2001). Philippine Folk Literature: The myths. University of the Philippines Press. p. 209. ISBN 978-971-542-291-8. Retrieved 8 May 2020.