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A legend it is a narrative that tells human and supernatural events, and is transmitted from generation to generation in a given culture.
Currently, we know the legends of various cultures, even cultures very distant in time and space from ours, since their transmission ceased to be oral and became written. Even many legends are transmitted through film and television.
Although they contain supernatural facts, many legends are considered credible by some people. This credibility is achieved by giving the legend a world that was familiar to the people who were to pass the tale on to future generations.
- See also: Legends
Characteristics of the legends
- They differ from the myth. Myths are taken as true and fundamental stories by people who profess the belief on which that myth is based. Myths explain something fundamental about existence, and participation in a certain religion depends on the belief in the myth. The myths speak of the actions of the gods, while the legends speak of men.
- They contain supernatural factss. Legends are popular, unproven stories that in some cases contain supernatural events or supernatural beings. Some legends contain morals, which can be passed on even if the story in question is not considered true: their teaching is considered valid. In that sense, every legend conveys a worldview of the community that gave rise to it. Therefore, one way to study the thought of distant times or peoples is to study their legends.
- They convey a teaching. The legends are based on real events, to which incidents are added to achieve a valid teaching or to make the story more interesting. There may be many slightly different versions of the same legend since its initial transmission is always oral.
- They arise in a community. Legends are located in a physical and temporal environment close to that of the community that gave rise to it. That is why there are currently urban legends, stories that are repeated by word of mouth, that happened to “a friend of a friend”, but never happened to the person who tells them.
- It can serve you: Anthropogonic myths, Cosmogonic myths
Examples of short captions
Zací cenote legend
Cenotes are freshwater wells created as a result of limestone erosion. They are in Mexico.
The Zaci cenote was located within a city with the same name. There lived a young woman named Sac-Nicte, the granddaughter of a witch. Sac-Nicte was in love with Hul-Kin, son of the village chief. The families of the witch and the family of the chief were enemies, so the young people saw each other secretly. When the father found out about the affair, he sent Hul-Kin to another town, to marry another young woman. The witch performed rituals for the Hul-Kin to return and bring her granddaughter back to joy, but to no avail.
The night before Hul-Kin's wedding, Sac-Nicte threw herself into the cenote with a stone tied to her hair. At the moment of the young woman's death, the Hul-Kin felt a pain in his chest that forced him to turn back to Zaci. Upon learning of what happened, Hul-Kin also threw himself into the cenote and drowned. Finally the witch's spells had elicited an answer, and the Hul-Kin had returned to always remain with Sac-Nicte.
Legend of the bad light
The origin of this legend is in a phosphorescence that is seen in hills and streams of the Argentine northwest, during the dry months.
Legend holds that this is the lantern of Mandinga (the Devil in human form) and that its appearance indicates places where treasures are hidden. The light would also be the spirit of the deceased owner of the treasures, trying to ward off the curious.
Saint Bartholomew's Day (August 24) is when these lights are best seen.
Legend of the princess and the shepherd
This legend is the basis of the Qi xi and Tanabata legend.
Princess Orihime (also called the weaver princess), wove dresses for her father (wove the clouds of the sky) on the banks of the river. His father was the heavenly king. Orihime fell in love with a shepherd named Hikoboshi. At first the relationship developed without difficulties, but then both began to neglect their tasks because they were so deeply in love with each other.
Seeing that this situation was not resolved, the Heavenly King punished them by separating them and turning them into stars. However, lovers can meet again one night in the year, on the seventh day of the seventh month.
Legend of the Mojana
According to Colombian legend, the Mojana is a tiny woman who kidnaps children who come to her domain. He lives in a stone house, under the water, he is white and has very long golden hair.
To protect children from the Mojana it is necessary to tie them with a cord.
Legend of La Sallana
This is a Mexican legend from the colonial era. La Sallana is a woman who appears to him and terrorizes drunks and gossips. This is because gossip ruined his life.
When she lived, she was happily married and had a son. However, rumors reached her that her husband was unfaithful to her mother. Maddened, La Sallana murdered and dismembered her husband, murdered her son and then her mother. For the sin of having murdered her entire family, she is condemned to wander forever alone.
Legend of Aka Manto
This is a Japanese urban legend. Aka Manto means "red cloak" in Japanese.
According to legend, Aka Manto was a young woman humiliated by her schoolmates. After he died, he remained in the women's toilets. When a woman goes to the bathroom alone she hears a voice that asks her "Red or blue paper?" There are different versions of death that a woman has to do if she chooses red or blue, but in all cases it is impossible to get rid of it.
Legend of the Ceibo flower
Anahí was a young Guaraní who lived on the banks of the Paraná, she was a young woman with an ugly face and a beautiful song. When the conquerors arrived at her town, a confrontation occurred and Anahí was captured with the survivors. However, he managed to escape at night, but a sentry discovered her and she murdered him. Upon being caught again, she was sentenced to death.
They tied her to a tree to burn her at a stake. When the fire began to burn, she herself looked like a red flame. But at that moment Anahí began to sing. When the fire finished burning, in the morning, instead of the body of the girl there was a bunch of red flowers, which today is the ceibo flower.
The ceibo flower is the Argentine national flower.
Baca legend
This is a Mexican legend.
The Baca is a shadow-shaped creature that the landowners made appear thanks to pacts with demons. The creature protected property, frightening and driving thieves away.
The Baca has the ability to transform into any object, but not to speak. His mission was to protect property and hurt those who approached. At night, in the vicinity of protected places, terrifying roars of the spirit are heard.
In fear, the nearby villagers usually sell their own land to the landowner. The Baca not only protects what the landowner already has but also helps him increase its properties.
Legend of the werewolf
Although the legend of the werewolf exists in Europe, the legend of the wolf has Guarani origin and has particularities that distinguish it from its European version.
The werewolf is the seventh male child of a couple, who on full moon nights, on Fridays or Tuesdays, transforms into a being similar to a large black dog, with huge hooves. In his human form, the werewolf is always gangly, too thin, and unfriendly. Its general appearance and smell are unpleasant.
Once transformed, the werewolf attacks chicken coops and prowls cemeteries looking for carrion. It also attacks children, according to more recent versions it attacks children who have not been baptized.
Robin Hood legend
Robin Hood is a character from English folklore, inspired by a real person, probably Ghino di Tacco, an Italian outlaw. Although, like all legends, his story was originally orally transmitted, there are written mentions of Robin Hood since 1377.
According to legend, Robin Hood was a rebel who defended the poor and challenged power. He was hiding in Sherwood Forest, near the city of Nottingham. He was characterized by his skill as an archer. He is also known as "the prince of thieves."
More examples in:
- Urban legends
- Horror legends
