LEGENDS OF THE COLONIAL ERA - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The legends of the colonial era are stories that have an important cultural background, since they are enriched by components of the folklore of the Spanish colonies in America. Legends often have a supernatural element represented by a mysterious figure, like specters that dwell among the living to terrorize them.

Although the origin of these stories is not exactly known, they are still valid today, since their tradition of transmitting them orally or in writing has allowed them to spread to new generations.

Historically, colonial legends can be located between the s. XVI and s. XIX. This produced the confluence of the indigenous and Spanish culture in each of these stories.

Legends

The sayona

It is a popular spectrum in Venezuelan culture that, in general terms, refers to a woman who appears before unfaithful men. It is still a well-known legend, especially for scaring children. Also, it is said to have similar characteristics to the weeper.

According to the original account, the sayona was a beautiful woman with long black hair, named Casilda, who killed her husband and mother thinking that they were both in a romantic relationship.

Before dying, Casilda's mother cursed her, so this soul wanders unable to rest in peace. Therefore, she tries to seduce married men or with a partner, and then kill them.

Among other characteristics is that he always wears white, emits a loud scream that is capable of terrifying anyone who hears it and, even in other versions it is said that he can turn into an animal (generally a dog).

The weeping woman

He is a well-known character in Latin American folklore. The story goes back to the colonial era, when a Spanish woman had an affair with an indigenous person. From this romance several children were born.

When the woman's brother found out what had happened, he decided to kill his nephews. From that moment the woman wanders crying and begging for her children.

According to legend, the weeping woman appears to any type of person who crosses her path, especially irresponsible mothers.

The familiar

This is a legend from the north of Argentina. It is said that the relative is Satan, who takes on the appearance of a giant serpent in order to devour the sugar cane from one of the workers who are in the fields or in the fields.

This is so due to the formation of a pact that the owners make, so that they can see a rapid growth of their crops.

Although it is generally described as a large viper, the familiar can also adopt other equally fearsome forms, such as a large black dog with or without a head.

The thrashing

It is widely known between Colombia and Ecuador, and its origin dates back to the s. XVI. Legend indicates that a group of slaves escaped from a ship that was going from Panama to Peru. Upon reaching land, they had to face off against fierce indigenous people.

During the confrontation, and thanks to the screams of pain from the slaves, he woke up the devil, who decided to kill them all by disguising himself as Prince Macumba. Later, the devil fell in love and married a woman with whom he had several children; among these children was the thrashing.

Due to her father's powers, the tunda is able to transform into practically anything. She presents herself to men as a sweet woman in order to seduce them, and then turn them into slaves subject to her will.

The mulatto woman from Córdoba

Coming from Mexico, the legend tells the story of a mulatto woman of surprising beauty who lived in Córdoba and who tried to heal illnesses and wounds using herbs. This aroused the suspicions of the community and the Church, especially since it was the time of the Holy Inquisition.

However, the woman continued to attend mass and religious activities, so there was no need to pay more attention to her.

One day, the mayor of the city decided to accuse her of witchcraft before the Holy Office. Upon being sentenced to death and awaiting the execution of the sentence, it is said that in her cell she managed to draw a ship on one of the stone walls.

The caretaker of the cell asked her what the ship would do, she replied: “move forward”. Suddenly, the woman leaped toward the wall until the man noticed that the ship had indeed moved.

The crazy Luz Caraballo

Another important figure in Venezuelan legends, immortalized by the author Andrés Eloy Blanco, is the crazy Luz Caraballo, the protagonist of a story whose context takes place in the Andes during Independence.

It is said that Luz Caraballo was a woman who had gone mad because all her children, who had gone to war, died in battle. In the midst of misery and pain, she was lost and her whereabouts were never known.

However, some claim to have seen her wandering around, crying and searching for her children, as she scares travelers who wander the area.

The vampire tree

During the Colony in Mexico, an English gentleman is said to have moved to a small town in Guadalajara. However, the locals were struck by the fact that the man, being one of the richest in the area, had no servants and did not go out under any circumstances.

Little by little changes began to appear in the place. Dead animals first appeared, the number of which was increasing. However, things got worse after several days when the bodies of children were found lifeless and without blood.

The place became hostile for those who lived there, since they were afraid to go out at night, and were even afraid to sleep.

A group of men were looking for the reasons for such strange events and found the English gentleman biting a peasant who was already dead.

The men managed to catch the vampire and kill him with a stake through the heart. When finished, they decided to bury him with several cement tombstones. However, over time a tree sprouted where you can even see the stake that was used to kill the vampire.

It is said that this stake must not be removed because otherwise the vampire will return to take revenge.

References

1. 6 terrifying legends of the Colony. (sf). In Content. Retrieved: April 24, 2018. In Content of content.com.mx.
2. 10 creepy legends of Latin America. (sf). In For the Curious. Retrieved: April 24, 2018. In For the Curious of paraloscurioso.com.
3. The sayona. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 24, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
4. Colonial legends. (sf). In Monographs. Retrieved: April 24, 2018. In Monographs of monogramas.com.
5. Legends of Mexico City. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: April 24, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
6. Tarazona, Willmar. Venezuelan legends and scares. (2015). In The Mega. Retrieved: April 24, 2018. In La Mega de lamegaestacion.com.