In the early world, there was only daylight, which sickened the daughter of the Great Sea Serpent. Her husband sent three servants to retrieve night from the Sea Serpent's kingdom, with instructions not to open the bag until his daughter was present. However, the servants, frightened by the noises inside, opened the bag prematurely, releasing night into the world. The princess, refreshed by the night, designates the morning star as the herald of dawn, the birds as singers, and the cock as the watchman of the night (madrugada). The disobedient servants are transformed into monkeys, forever marked by the bag's seal.

In the early world, there was only daylight, which sickened the daughter of the Great Sea Serpent. Her husband sent three servants to retrieve night from the Sea Serpent's kingdom, with instructions not to open the bag until his daughter was present....

How Night Came | Jungle Stories