10 VERY POPULAR MEXICAN HORROR LEGENDS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The Mexican horror legends are a small sample of those stories that are an essential part of the cultural expression of Mexican society, thanks to the fact that their content combines fiction, real data and supernatural entities.

According to some experts, this type of legends are characterized by having several components: the presence of beings with malevolent powers since, cultural expressions typical of the region of the legend and the dissemination of them orally or through the Internet.

It is worth mentioning that some of these stories found their genesis in colonial times and have been modified due to the social and political changes produced over the years.

You may also be interested in these popular Mexican legends.

List of Mexican urban horror legends

The burned street

In the middle of the 16th century, an important Italian named Martín de Scópoli fell madly in love with Beatriz Espinosa, the daughter of a wealthy Spaniard who had come to the country to have a better life in the new continent.

According to the story, de Scópoli was so taken with the young woman that he promised himself that he would kill with his own hands all the suitors and even those who even laid eyes on the girl.

Beatriz, in view of the bloodthirsty acts of her suitor, chose to burn his face by throwing burning coals. However, the Italian insisted on marrying the young woman, because he was really in love with her.

Touched, Beatriz accepted de Scópoli as her husband and from her wedding day, she would always wear a veil to cover the scars on her face. From then on, the place where Beatriz lived is known as “La calle de la quemada”.

The ironing

In a clinic near the Historic Center of Mexico City, the spirit of a woman called as “La planchada” appears with some frequency, who is believed to have served as a nurse in life.

According to some witnesses, the spirit has a harmless appearance thanks to its “ironed” and well-cared uniform, but after a few seconds, it does not take long to express a macabre and sinister laugh that is capable of making anyone's hair stand on end.

It is estimated that the origin of the legend is due to the fact that a nurse fell in love with a doctor, although her love was never reciprocated. In view of this, the woman was unable to overcome the rudeness and thus became a wandering spirit after death.

The Black Palace

Also known as the Palacio de Lecumberri, it currently functions as the premises of the General Archive of the Nation. However, the place has a slightly more chilling history than you might think.

Previously, the Black Palace was a jail where, according to some, a series of torture was carried out on the inmates, which varied according to the morbidity of the guards. In fact, some ranged from being deprived of food or water, to extreme corporal punishment.

By establishing itself as a public body building, witnesses claim to hear and see the presence of ghosts and ghosts. One of the most famous is the "Charro negro", who manifests himself in the place amid tears and lamentations.

The witches house

Mexico City has a series of attractive buildings for locals and tourists who have a fondness for architecture and history, although most of these places also have a reputation for being precincts of spirits and ghosts.

One of these sites is called "The House of Witches." According to legend, this building was the home of Panchita, a witch who performed work and charms on important figures in Mexican politics and society.

After his death, the house was home to famous actors, actresses, and other celebrities. However, it is said that it is possible to hear strange sounds, noises of all kinds and even ghost voices.

The weeping woman

This is perhaps the best known horror legend in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, especially since there are different adaptations in the region. In this case, there are two main versions that are worth noting:

-A first story indicates that the legend dates from the 16th century, where the inhabitants of a city had to take refuge during a curfew. In the midst of the uproar, the cries of a woman crying out for his children could be heard in the distance.

-The other, of greater popular knowledge, points out that a woman was forced to kill her children as a condition for her partner to stay with her. However, after carrying out the plan, the woman repented and from that moment she cries out for her children.

In any case, La Llorona makes an appearance in desolate places amid sobs and desperate screams.

The Devil's alley

Among one of the most chilling places in Mexico City is the "Callejón del Diablo" located near Avenida Río Mixcoac. This point has been the epicenter of stories and legends of all kinds.

The best known indicates that the place was the compound of an evil entity that used to hide in a dark corner. It is even said that a man passed through that alley and before leaving was intercepted by the Devil.

The impact was so great that the man was left unconscious and suffering from a series of experiences similar to hallucinations, just before being rescued by locals.

The Sheriff's Daughter

The events of the legend are located in Puebla during colonial times, and it tells the story of Carmen, daughter of the local sheriff, and Sebastián de Torrecillas, a wealthy Spanish landowner.

Thanks to her religious devotion, the bailiff interned her daughter in a convent to become a nun. Carmen, despite not having the vocation, accepted her father's mandate as was customary.

The bailiff used to visit Carmen in the company of Sebastián de Torrecillas, who also fell in love with the novice. Without paying attention to her habits, he began to pretend her and later the two had a secret relationship.

Because of this, Carmen became pregnant and when the baby was born, the bailiff threw it into a river. Shortly after, the man died of a heart attack and Carmen decided to take her own life due to the misfortunes she suffered.

Although she wanted to end her suffering, Carmen's soul still wanders through the streets of Puebla in an attempt to get her son back.

The headless railroad man

In Nazareno de Durango lived a man who was in charge of making changes to the town's rail system. One day, he was invited to a wedding that took place from morning and whose party continued until night.

There was a point where the man realized he had to make the last change. After that, he would return to continue the celebration.

However, due to his drunken state, the man made the switch and fell asleep with his head resting on the rails. Soon after, a train passed and beheaded him in a matter of seconds.

Although the body was handed over to relatives, the man is said to be seen walking along the railway with his head in his hands.

Ortiz's ghosts:

At the beginning of the 1980s, in Ortiz (Sonora), there was a terrible collision between a freight train and a passenger train. In fact, according to reports and some records, there was a balance of 400 dead, of which some died burned, crushed or beheaded. Despite the catastrophe, there were survivors.

Due to this, it is believed that the environment of the place was charged by heavy energies and by the souls of those people who still roam the earth, in order that the guilty pay for what they did.

Although it is both a terrifying and regrettable legend, some lovers of the paranormal claim that they have been able to capture the ghosts that are still haunting the surroundings.

The former farm Crespo

Legend indicates that there is a hacienda in Oaxaca that in its time was well known among the inhabitants, although today it is only a place where ruins prevail.

In the past, the Crespo hacienda was a large construction, with a significant number of rooms and lounges, which turned the place into a real labyrinth for those who dared to visit it.

This also led to the creation of a series of legends and tales of a supernatural nature, in part because rumors of the existence of a hidden treasure that drew the attention of adventurers spread.

However, it has been noted that visitors have encountered threatening fireballs, apparitions of deep wells, macabre noises on the walls and even laments and cries from those who came to break into the hacienda but could not find a way out.

There is even speculation about the existence of a kind of tunnel from which you can never escape.

References:

1. 7 horror legends that have made Mexico City tremble. (2011). In Vanguard. Retrieved: September 18, 2018. In Vanguardia de vanguardia.com.mx.
2. 30 short Mexican legends. (sf). In Legends of Terror. Retrieved: September 18, 2018. In Legends of Terror from legenddeterror.com.
3. The 5 horror legends that make CDMX tremble. (2016). In Collective Culture. Retrieved: September 18, 2018. In Collective Culture of culturacolectiva.com.
4. Caption: the Headless Man. (2018). In For all of Mexico. Retrieved: September 18, 2018. In Para todo México de paratodomexico.com.
5. Legend of the sheriff's daughter. (sf). In Mexican Legends. Retrieved: September 18, 2018. In Leyendas Mexicanas de leyendasmexicanas.mx.
6. Mexican legends. (sf). In Mexican Legends. Retrieved: September 18, 2018. In Leyendas Mexicanas de leyendasmexicanas.mx.