- List of myths and legends of Chiapas in Mexico
- 1- strong arm
- 2- The cave of Mactumatza
- 3- The sink
- 4- Carreta de San Pascual
- 5- The hat
- 6- The tisigua
- 7- The three packages
- 8- The dog and the crocodile
- 9- Tultepec's girlfriend
- 10- The death of the zoque
- Themes of interest
- References
The legends and myths of Chiapas are closely related to its origins and history as a Mexican state; they have a great aboriginal influence. Its capital city is Tuxtla Gutiérrez; other major cities include Ocosingo, Tapachula, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Comitán, and Arriaga.
Chiapas, the southernmost state, borders the states of Oaxaca, Veracruz and Tabasco. It also borders Guatemala and the Pacific Ocean. It is home to many ancient Mayan ruins, so most of its traditions are related to this culture.
Women in typical Chiapas costumes
Additionally, it is also home to one of the largest indigenous populations in all of Mexico. These two elements have played an important role in all the oral traditions of this state.
This state has a complex geography with seven distinctive regions. Here are the Sierra Madre, the central depression, the central plains, and the northern mountains.
List of myths and legends of Chiapas in Mexico
1- strong arm
It is said that in the town of El Jobo, the descendants of the Zoques believe that when a hunter catches an anteater alive, it crosses its arms on its chest and ties its hooves in knots that no one can loosen.
Therefore, it is believed that when a man can untie his hooves, he automatically becomes the strongest man in the entire region; someone no one can beat in power and strength.
Additionally, it is said that when the bear opens its arms, it releases a stone: the one who managed to untie its hooves must swallow the stone to obtain great strength.
2- The cave of Mactumatza
It is said that on the Mactumatzá hill there is a cave that is enchanted. According to legend the cave is hidden throughout the year except for one day. Supposedly only one person has managed to enter and said that there are huge amounts of food and drink.
According to the story, all the people who live there are very friendly and allow you to eat and drink as much as you want as long as you don't take anything out of the cave.
Additionally, those who enter must leave at 12:00 at night since at that time the cave closes and opens precisely the following year: every Holy Thursday.
3- The sink
Legend has it that the original Chiapas were so powerful that they were never conquered by the Aztecs. It is believed that they were not exterminated by the Spanish, but that they themselves decided to commit suicide before being dominated.
It is said that when they were caught by the Spaniards in the Battle of El Sumidero, the Chiapas jumped into the river from the precipice, staining the river water red.
The Spanish were so moved that they forgave the survivors and founded a new town.
4- Carreta de San Pascual
In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, near the church, it is said that there is the San Pascual cart that takes people who must leave for a better life. It is said that the cart leaves in the San Pascualito temple and is pushed by a skeleton.
Supposedly, the wagon stops at the house where there will be a deceased. Additionally, it is said that you cannot look at the cart; if the driving skeleton looks at someone, the spirit will get on the cart while its body stays in that place.
Locals say the wagon can be heard coming along with great cold.
5- The hat
They say he is a tall man in an elegant suit, boots, and a black hat that hides his face. When it appears to a person, it immobilizes it so that it cannot escape; its victims feel terrible anguish.
The hat offers great riches to its victims and if they accept, it leaves them lying in places far from their origin.
When the sombrerón has fulfilled its mission, it moves away with a large black horse through the streets of San Fernando.
6- The tisigua
It is supposed to be a woman who can be found in the wells and seduces men who are not well behaved. She has long hair and it makes men lose their minds.
If a misbehaved man passes by a river and hears an inviting whistle, a beautiful woman appears who seduces him and then drives him crazy.
7- The three packages
In the Motozintla community of Mendoza it once rained non-stop for three days and three nights. When the rain finally stopped, two Mochós Indians went to look for their cattle on the other side of the river; as he was very grown they sat down to wait.
While waiting they saw three bundles that the current dragged, thinking they were canoes, they approached. They couldn't catch the first two, but they did catch the third, which to their surprise was the image of a person carved in wood.
The shaman told them that it was the image of Saint Francis of Assisi and to take it to the church. However, the image had disappeared when they brought it. When they finally picked up the other two bunlos, they were the images of San Martín Caballero and Señor Santiago.
These images are in the church of Mazapa de Madero and in Amatenango de la Frontera.
8- The dog and the crocodile
It is said that a dog should not be taken to a river since crocodiles cannot stand their presence. This is because in ancient times a dog used to walk through the lagoon; this dog did not have a tongue as dogs did not have a tongue at that time.
One day the dog told a crocodile that if he lent him his tongue he could bring them animals that he had hunted. The next day the dog brought him several prey and the crocodile confidently lent him its tongue. However, the dog never came back.
That is why it is said that if a crocodile sees a dog it will eat it immediately; everyone remembers the bad deed of the dog that stole this crocodile's tongue.
9- Tultepec's girlfriend
A couple betrothed in marriage lived in that town, but before getting married the woman described her best friend and boyfriend having an affair. Maddened, the woman beat them to death.
When the wedding day came, everyone made fun of her for being alone. The woman cursed them all and committed suicide. It is said that from 9 pm to 3 am, in the church you can hear voices in celebration of the bride and groom and bells that frighten people.
10- The death of the zoque
It is said that when a zoque dies, his soul goes to Tzapatá, taking the path of the Sabinal River until it ends in Cunguy, today San Fernando. There are caves filled with candles here to help the deceased to locate the path to the Tsuan and continue life after death.
When living people dream, they are believed to visit the deceased in Tsuan. The zoques have the belief that when they die they reincarnate in animals such as hummingbirds, butterflies, eagles or quetzal.
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.
Legends of Guanajuato.
Durango legends.
Chihuahua legends.
Legends of Campeche.
Legends of Baja California Sur.
Legends of Aguascalientes.
Legends of Veracruz.
References
- Life and death. Recovered from mitos-mexicanos.com
- The sump. Recovered from paratodomexico.com
- Four good Chiapas legends. Recovered from taringa.net
- The dog and the crocodile. Recovered from mitos-mexicanos.com
- The cart of San Pascual. Recovered from paratodomexico.com
- Girlfriend. Recovered from mitos-mexicanos.com
- The big hat. Recovered from paratodomexico.com
- Chiapas. Recovered from wikipedia.org
- The three packages. Recovered from mitos-mexicanos.com
- Legend of the tisigua. Recovered from paratodomexico.com.