THE 10 MOST POPULAR LEGENDS OF GUANAJUATO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

Some of the most popular and widespread legends of Guanajuato are the alley of the kiss, the mummies of Guanajuato, the ghosts of the Sierra Nevada hotel or the house of the witches.

These stories were passed down from generation to generation orally, with some additions or changes. Although they may be somewhat extraordinary, they are believed to be unquestionably real.

Guanajuato, Mexico

The strange architecture and location of Guanajuato made it very easy to create myths and legends about this mining city.

People talked about the enormous amount of gold and precious stones that existed there, as well as its exquisite and unknown cuisine.

Thanks to the narratives that reached the European continent, a great wave of migration began in search of gold and riches. This contributed to enrich all the narratives of this city.

List of the most popular legends of Guanajuato

1- The Alley of the Kiss

This story is supposed to have occurred in a narrow alley, only 27 inches wide, where numerous balconies are located.

These balconies are located one in front of the other, at a distance that allows two people to kiss.

This alley is believed to have got its name from the following story:

The daughter of a wealthy landowner kissed a poor miner in the evenings. When the woman's father discovered them kissing, she took a dagger and thrust it into her daughter's heart.

Legend has it that couples who kiss standing on the third step of the stairs under the balconies will enjoy 15 years of happiness, while those who forget or do not do so will go through 7 years of suffering.

2- La Bufa

According to this legend, there is a spell in Guanajuato that promises love and fortune to whoever breaks it.

This spell can only be broken by an outsider, who, fascinated by the beauty of a woman who asks for his help, must pass several tests.

This man must carry the woman and always look straight ahead, without turning around despite the many voices calling him.

If at some point he turns around, the woman will turn into a snake and lose her chance to achieve great wealth.

It is said that until now no one has been able to break the spell.

3- The Mummies of Guanajuato

During 1833 there was a cholera epidemic that killed many people. Legend has it that out of fear that the disease would spread even more, some sick people were buried alive.

These people were mummified and it is said that this is why the mummies have a face of pain and suffering. These mummies are displayed in a mausoleum located just below where they were found.

4- The Ghosts of the Sierra Nevada Hotel

Legend has it that two ghosts appear in this colonial building. The first is a butler in an outfit from around 1910.

This ghost interacts with people and it is said that it can be felt when it appears as a strong smell of coffee is felt in the environment.

The other ghost that appears in these facilities is a girl from the 19th century. Although no one knows her history, it is said that she can generally be seen walking alone through the gardens.

5- La Llorona

It is said that a woman with long, thick hair breaks the silence of the nights with desperate screams.

Legend has it that La Llorona leaves a house on Hidalgo Street at midnight, wearing a white dress and carrying something in her arms.

Walk from Calle Cantarranas to Plaza Hinojo and place 'something' in front of an old house. Then she starts screaming and crying, upsetting everyone who hears her.

It is said that you can hear it if you walk through the streets of Guanajuato at midnight.

6- The House of the Witches

This peculiar mansion is located on the Paseo de la Presa, where it stands out for its particular architecture. It is an old building where the Falcón School used to be.

Although no one knows its history, it is supposedly haunted; sometimes it is possible to see the furniture moving by itself.

7- The Legend of the Singer

José Carpio was the son of a miner, born in a mining industry. When he was 22 years old, he was a man who attracted many young women thanks to his beautiful tenor voice and his guitar. Every day his fame grew so much that he became known as El Cantador.

But one day his father died in an accident at the mine. After this, José gave up music and vowed never to play a guitar again.

He started working in the mine and later found wealth. Thanks to that, he was able to start his business in mining.

As José reached prosperity, the sounds of his guitar began to be heard around his neighborhood.

Eventually, the area around this place, called the Garden of Flowers, became known as El Cantador.

8- The Trick

This is the story of a man who lost his wife in a bet with the devil.

On a street called Los Guadalajareños (now known as El Truco), every day at 6:00 pm the richest people in the city met to gamble and bet large sums of money. The best known game was called 'the trick'.

A man with great fortune and a beautiful wife started visiting this house and playing the trick. But one day, an old stranger wanted to play against the man; little by little, the man began to gamble until he lost his lands, possessions and finally, his wife.

It is said that this old man was the devil, who took the man's wife and little son. After these hardships, the man took a gun and committed suicide.

Legend has it that some nights the man can still be seen walking through the streets to stand at La Casa del Truco where he waits for his revenge.

9- House of Wailing

In this house several crimes occurred from 1890 to 1910; the serial killer Tadeo Mejía lived there and murdered hundreds of people there.

Legend has it that to this day screams and people crying can be heard in the mansion.

10- The Pipila

It is said that Juan José de los Reyes Martinez, nicknamed Pipila, was a humble and brave miner who made Don Miguel Hidalgo take Guanajuato.

Without their help, Mexico would have gained its independence much later and under different conditions.

During the insurgency, the Spanish took refuge in the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. Pipila placed a slab on his back and, carrying a torch, slid into the Alhóndiga, where he set the entire area on fire.

The fire made the weapons unusable, making the battle a hand-to-hand combat.

Thanks to this fire, it was possible to continue towards Valladolid and eventually it was possible to defeat the Spanish.

Themes of interest

The streets of colonial cities and their legends.

Legends of Guatemala.

Legends of Mexico.

Mayan legends.

Argentine legends.

Colombian legends.

Legends of Jalisco.

Durango legends.

Chihuahua legends.

Legends of Campeche.

Chiapas legends.

Legends of Baja California Sur.

Baja California legends.

Legends of Aguascalientes.

Legends of Veracruz.

References

1. Guanajuato leyends: the Pipila. Recovered from donquijote.org
2. Haunted Guanajuato (2013). Recovered from bruisedbanana.travel
3. List of reportedly haunted locations in Mexico. Recovered from wikipedia.org
4. Guanajuato leyends: la Bufa. Recovered from donquijote.org
5. Guanajuato: city of leyends. Recovered from bestday.com
6. The Legend of the Singer. Recovered from ciudadmuseo-gto.com
7. Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Recovered from plazamexico.com
8. The legend of Calle del Truco. Recovered from ciudadmuseo-gto.com