Giant Water Lily legend

The Giant Water Lily or Vitória Régia legend (Portuguese: Lenda da vitória-régia) is an origin story among the Tupi-Guarani indigenous people of Brazil.

Per the legend, an indigenous tribe believed that the moon was the goddess Jaci, who came at night and kissed and lit up the faces of the most beautiful virgins in the village, the cunhantãs-moças.

Naiá roamed the mountains seeking out the moon each night, so obsessed she did not sleep or eat.

[2] A number of versions of the legend exist, based on a girl attempting to unite with the moon.

Contos Populares para Crianças da América Latina (in Portuguese) (2nd ed.).