Corandera

A figure found in Helena Viramontes' short story "The Moths," a corandera is one who performs healing rituals. In "The Moths," a Corandera figure is the Abuelita who spends much time creating healing concoctions out of herbs, particularly when Helena is sick. Abuelita's Corendara talents are representative of her disconnection from Catholicism and her embracement of non-traditional spirituality. Furthermore, Abuelita's corenda abilities are representative of her ties to traditional Mexican practices and it is this link that connects her to the rest of her family. Ultimately, it is the fact that Abuelita is a Corendara that attracts Helena to her, as she is a symbol of pure love and tradition without the confinement of religion that she hates.