The popular legends of Guatemala are, honestly, something fantastic. They are full of mysticism, and unexpected outcomes. We invite you to read on to find out more about several of them.
The legends of El Sombrerón:
Ilustración por Elvira Méndez
Those who have seen him say they have been taken by his amazing singing voice; small in stature, all dressed in black, with heeled boots and a big hat that has given him his famous name. He is known as El Sombrerón.
This tiny being roams the streets of Guatemala whenever there is full moon, by night, looking for women to enchant and have them fall in love with him over his voice and then he braids their hair. He is mischievous, and shows up at farms, where he can be heard riding the horses and also braiding their tails.
If he wins a woman (or a horse) over with his charms, it is said that either the woman or the horse will die. To prevent El Sombrerón from returning and trying to win a woman over, it is necessary for her to cut her hair.
The legends of El Cadejo:
Legend has it that there are two Cadejos, one that takes the shape of a black dog and another takes the form of a
Ilustración por Elvira Méndez
white dog. The black dog takes care of the drunks who walk at night towards their house, staying with them until they are safely home. The white dog takes care of women and children.
Although the black dog protects the drunk, it’s not good; it is an evil being, while the white is a benign dog. People say one has to be weary of both. It is also said that if a person has been bad towards people or even their own family, the black cadejo will know and it won’t take café of him, leaving him to his fate.
The legends of La Tatuana:
La Tatuana is the story of a woman who lived many years ago in Guatemala, she was mulatto, young and beautiful; she was criticized for the way she chose to live her life, enjoying it in a world where men dictated customs and how woman behaved. She was brought to court and was judged for being a witch who enchanted men with black magic, and found to be guilty.
Ilustración por Rodolfo de León
Legend has it that she was imprisoned in a small room, alone, without contact with humans; people say that little by little she went crazy in that cell. She was said to have made a pact with the devil, she drew a ship on the wall in which she hopped in and escaped from prison. No one ever heard from her again.
The legends of La Siguanaba:
La Siguanaba is one of the most famous legends of Guatemala and the woman in the story is the protagonist of a collection of tales, and most of them are scary ones. There are those who say that she only appears to show herself to unfaithful men and others say that she shows up and talks to men who walk alone at night.
Ilustración por Rodolfo de León
The men who follow her because of her charms end up dead when she takes them to a ravine and they fall to their death. Another version that is popular is the one where she attracts them by bathing naked in the fountains. As the man gets closer she shows her face, that of a horse with red eyes, and starts mocking them with a terrifying laugh.
Even though they are scared, they are also under a spell and then die slowly. So that men don’t die by her spell, those who see her must bite a cross and that will get rid of the spell.
The legends of La Llorona:
Elvira Méndez
Near rivers, pilas or fountains; there are people who swear they have heard a sudden cry, low and intense, making their skin crawl. They also say their feet feel heavy and suddenly, out of nowhere a woman in a white dress appears walking. She is called La Llorona (the crier).
Her story is well known in popular folk because she is supposed to have killed her children and then committed suicide. As a divine punishment her soul does not rest, she walks through the streets shouting, weeping, looking for her children. Oh my children! – she screams. If you see her by the Tanque de la Unión, which is the place where she shows up the mot, we can assure you that you will not be able to run, your skin will crawl and after a brief moment of utter fear, you will see her disappear in the water of the tank, ever so slowly.
