The Spanish news agency EFE has published an interesting article about the popular Dominican belief that the mention of the name “Cristobal Colon” (Christopher Columbus) will bring a “fucu”, or wave of bad luck. The belief that the name “Colon” will bring bad luck has prompted Dominicans to refer to him as “the Admiral” in order to avoid the percieved spell. The lawyer and historian, Octavio Amiama de Castro, told a reporter from EFE that the belief has its root in the tragedies that he claims have been suffered by descendants of “the Admiral”, including his son Diego.
The idea that the mention of the name of “Columbus” brings bad luck, has not prevented the commeration of the “Great Admiral” in the Colombus Lighthouse which contains his remains, the Plaza de Colon, the Cathedral, and other monuments to the man who landed in the Americas in 1492.