El Salvador is a country that, like others in Latin America, is characterized by having in its culture, very famous myths and legends, which are part of its tradition, and whose characters are truly unforgettable and even many of they will leave you breathless, in the story of these Salvadoran Legends.
Salvadoran Legends
Salvadoran legends are narratives of the fantasy type, which are part of the culture of El Salvador, as well as its traditions, both religious and ancestral, which have passed from generation to generation.
Some of the stories are creations of their authors, while others serve as experiential references for the inhabitants of this important region, through which they reveal their name.
It doesn't matter if it's about short or long legends, what's attractive is in the characteristics of its mystical and mysterious characters, stories that date back to colonial times. There are several types and classifications, as there are the legends of terror, urban, indigenous, among others.
Classification of Salvadoran legends
Salvadoran legends are classified into different types, among them we have: The aetiological legends, whose content is associated with the creation, formation, origin and development of places, towns, communities, or in nature, hills, mountains, volcanoes, among others.
indigenous legends, which in the case of El Salvador, are among the most common and oldest, since most date from colonial times and the encounter between the Spanish and the indigenous. Mythological or horror legends, where fantastic characters and other supernatural creatures with prodigious strength and powers are described.
religious legends, which are those where facts, customs and religious traditions are narrated; his character types are religious, priests, saints or virgins. Urban legends, where stories about towns and cities are told. You can also read more myths in the Legends of Paraguay
Etiological Legends
Within these legends, stories related to the creation and magic of the Salvadoran people are shown, below are some of their most outstanding legends
the arborists
Among the Salvadoran legends is the one known as "The Arborists”, who are said to have been called the geniuses of the storms and thieves of the lakes, who even, until recently, still continued to carry out their misdeeds.
It is said that as soon as they heard the thunder of the storms, their eyes began to sparkle. Many compare them to bad women, who in their wake left destruction like a hurricane. They manifested themselves during stormy afternoons, emitting a dull noise that warned that they were mounted on dry sticks.
They descended on the corn crops and cut them, in addition to transforming into animals such as lizards or snakes, biting all those who stopped to see them. The arbolarios, were supernatural creatures, associated with nature, rivers and lakes, rains and storms.
The Sisimic Ravine
in the canyon of seismic, It is another of the famous Salvadoran legends, which derives from the great geological value that this site has for its region, finding both terrestrial and marine fossils in it, on the walls of the ravine. Due to the presence of large bones, its inhabitants believed that they had belonged to giants of Mythology that existed at the beginning of time.
Specifically, they were referring to the existence of a colossal giant called seismic, whose description was similar to a cyclops, that is, a one-eyed creature, who went to the bottom of the ravine with the intention of resting, supporting his arms on the side walls, and from there, he contemplated the beauties of the environment.
The term "seismic”, is a name in language Nawat (originally from the indigenous), made up of the simple voices sisimitl, which means goblin or witch; while CO, is a place suffix; that is, the place of sorcerers or goblins. Currently the Barranca del seismic does not exist, since it disappeared during a landslide that occurred in 2009.
The jar of the Congo
From Salvadoran legends, this story comes from El Congo, where older people say that many years ago, inside a hacienda owned by Don Ceferino Mancía, there was a rare and mystical stone.
It is said that some local workers went to move it, getting that under it, a "botija" or vessel was buried, full of coins between gold and silver. Immediately, one of the workers went to notify the owner of the hacienda of the discovery, who kept all the coins.
Although that day, everyone thought they had found a great blessing, it was quite the opposite, since the days after the discovery, the owner of the hacienda fell ill with a mysterious illness, and each day it got worse, until finally died.
That famous stone is now displayed at the Mancía gas station, located in the center of the city, now called the Puma gas station. They named the stone "monolith".
El Cipitío, one of the popular Salvadoran legends
Among the Salvadoran legends, it appears as one of the most popular, the story of the The Cipitio, who was originally called Cipit that on the tongue Nawat, means child. This character is not only known in El Salvador, but also in other countries such as Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras.
The character of this legend may be ancestral and religious, dating back to pre-Columbian times. He was a mystical being to whom various supernatural powers and abilities are attributed, which he only used for fun and not to the detriment of someone.
According to tradition, The Cipitio He was the son of the lunar goddess called sihuet or also in other narrations it is known as sihuehuet, next to the god Lucero de la Mañana. However, his fertilization was the product of a betrayal by the Sun god. As a consequence, the god Tláloc, chief of all the gods, punished the mother by turning her into a mortal, becoming a simple woman who would wander the world.
The punishment also reached the fruit of sin, since the god condemned the child to never grow up, and to always be 10 years old. There is another story in relation to the legend of El Cipitío, where it is indicated that his mother had him together with the Nahua prince yeisunwho was the son of god Tláloc.
However, it is said that she never took care of him, so the god Tláloc He placed a curse on her that included her son, condemning her to forever be 10 years old. The behavior of her mother influenced the characteristics of El Cipitío, who for many centuries was known as the god of forbidden and adulterous relationships.
Its shape is represented as that of a happy child, who wanders around corners, thus becoming an icon within Salvadoran culture and traditions. He physically looks like a child, with a big belly, wearing a white blanket and sandals, plus a hat in the shape of a pointed palm with large wings.
According to legend, this mythological being, son of gods, had the power to teleport. Although he is a harmless being, he can harass you with his pranks, where he makes fun of people with loud laughter. this makes him very disgusted and he ends up leaving.
the black horse
Another of the famous Salvadoran legends is The Black Knight, who is also called the legend of the devil's collector. According to the story, this character leads people into temptation, offering favors and fortune to unfortunate individuals, who become easy prey and fall into the trap.
The condition that was established in order to be the beneficiary of the favors was that the candidates had to invoke the devil in order to receive good fortune, improve health or be successful in love. No matter what the problem was, he could solve it. Once he was invoked, the image of a man riding a horse would appear to the unfortunate.
A very elegant being who wore a great cape. It was then the moment in which the deal was closed, people's wishes were granted, in exchange for keeping their soul. What people did not know was that their wishes, good luck, love and health, would only last about 7 years and, after that time, they would have to pay with their souls for the favor granted.
The Cukinca Cave
From the Salvadoran legends, this one comes to life in the vicinity of the Los Patios sector in Morazán of the country, where you can see a huge stone, set with the existence of a freshwater well, which serves as the entrance to a cave framed by a mystery. that enclose the sounds that are emitted from there.
If you get very close to it, you can hear the sound of three drops of water falling continuously: “cu kin ka”, an aspect that has been taken into account to give this mystical place its name. It is also said that there is a row of well-arranged rocks located at the bottom of the well, and when the curious mess them up, they reappear in their original position, as if nobody had touched them.
However, not all the events that occur in the cave are natural, there have also been some tragedies that have given it a bad name, becoming the reason why many do not want to be near it. One of the most notorious cases was that of a man who died with a very high fever, after having dug a ditch trying to dry the cave well.
It is also said that within the depths of the cave there is an entity that receives people as offerings, which they call "agreed." They say that some have managed to escape from it, but then they are persecuted by a kind of curse, where they get seriously ill and die.
the cave of the moon
In Salvadoran legends we find the cave of the moon, which is located in the river Shutia de jayaque, where previously there was a beautiful and small town. A cave that was in the vicinity of the river, had a very particular characteristic, since it was shaped like a half moon.
It is said that the inhabitants of the region constantly wondered about the occurrence of natural phenomena such as wind and rain, or the formation of mountains and volcanoes, also seeking various ways of understanding it, since they were very simple and humble people.
They believed that even though the sun was hiding in the clouds, they remained vigilant to provide the necessary light to the people and the land for planting. They felt the same curiosity about the moon, however, in this case, they were not so sure that when they did not see it, it was still there in the sky.
For many years, that question remained unanswered, until one day, a young man wanted to follow the moon. He patiently waited for nightfall and the moon to appear, and when the moon tried to escape him into the starry sky, the young man followed it, crossing the mountains and valleys, looking for the beautiful moon.
They say that already tired of so much chasing the moon, that young man could see his effort rewarded, because suddenly the moon began to go down as if it were towards him. As he descended, his light grew more intense, illuminating the young man's face. They say that he went down to the banks of the river Shutia, near a pile of large stones, and then entered a cave.
The young man was excited to have solved the mystery of the moon, and when he had decided to return to the town to tell it, he observed that little by little, the moon transformed into a beautiful and bright woman, who lay down on some stones to rest, taking the shape of a crescent.
The young man returned home, and told his family what he had seen. Since then it is said that all the locals visit the river Shutia with the intention of seeing the beautiful moon transformed into a woman and resting on the stones of the cave. Every night, people looked at her, admiring her fine and elegant image, and as if showing a smile.
Over the years and the arrival of new generations, vices and evil took over the region, so the saddened and embarrassed moon decided never to go back down to the world of men. That is why now no one knows where he is going to rest. However, as a reminder of his story, he left a beautiful crescent-shaped cave in the river Shutia of Jayaque.
The Cuyancua
According to Salvadoran legends and according to the popular story, the Cuyancua, refers to a legendary being, who is large and strange in appearance, who is also called Cuyancuat, whose body is half snake and half pig.
Although it often appears alone, it can also do so in herds, to announce the arrival of the rains. They also say that she can exercise a certain dominance over the waters of the rivers and the rain itself, manifesting itself by emitting dark noises in the form of shrieks that are heard at nightfall, along with the occurrence of strong turbulence under the earth.
All these phenomena made the locals tremble with panic, who remained locked up in their houses while everything happened. It is said that these sounds came from the surroundings of streams, lakes and rivers, where, in general, the Cuyancua He was looking for food.
All those who claim to have seen her have fainted from the impression and there are even some who lose their speech for a while. It is recommended that when encountering it, the person closes his eyes and entrusts himself to God.
The narration indicates that even the Cuyancua It is hidden in the surroundings of the spa Atecozole, creeping along the banks of the ravines, coiling among the trees, until it is lost from sight for some time.
They say that its cries are heard in the streams, where it appears to scare the washerwomen of the Rio Grande. This legend also says that where the Cuyancua digs to hide, deposits are formed from which clean and fresh water sprouts, a reason that the region is credited for having good water springs.
The great god Tlaloc of the Salvadoran Legends
They say that in ancient times, among the Toltec gods, was the god Tláloc, god of lightning and rain, which made him a very important deity. He was considered the supreme god of the rains, giver of life and provider of sustenance.
At the same time that he was honored and revered, he was also very feared, according to Salvadoran legends, since he had the power of lightning, thunder and hail.
In his lordship, he represented the powerful element of water, for which he was associated with the fertility and abundance of the fields, especially the crops, since the region was characterized as an agricultural area.
Every time they wanted the rain to come, the god's followers Tláloc They implored him so that abundant waters fell from heaven and with it, they could have an excellent harvest. According to his story, the god Tláloc he was the son of Ometecuhtli and Omecihuatl, called the creator gods and fathers of the main gods that are part of the pantheon nahua.
He was the husband of the goddess Chalchíuhtlicue, goddess of water and love, and father of tlalocas What does clouds mean? The children of this god remain in the four corners of the universe holding four vessels containing: drought, polluted water, fresh rain and hail.
It is said that the settlers paid tribute to him through prayers and even sacrifices, with the intention that one of his sons release the rain on the land to make it fertile and obtain a good harvest.
The Managuas
the legend of the managua is linked to the myth of the arborists, since both have to do with torrential downpours and floods; as well as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions, among other natural phenomena, which were attributed to a kind of evil spirit present in nature.
For Maya and Kekchi, It was a genius who was named as "Mam”, while for the Pipil Indians, it was called “Man-Water”, who did not think that it was one but several, with the power to multiply and cause greater damage, thus being the Managuas, whom they describe as old dwarfs, with big heads and big faces.
They say that generally managuas they appeared at the tips of storms. Within other stories, it is said that these managuas were young and very beautiful women, with white skin, who descend to earth on days of storms, and then rise to the heavens by means of the impact of lightning, with the that are released.
In addition to producing storms, they were also responsible for large and powerful hurricanes. In the mouth of the grandparents, the managuas they were actually some evil angels who received orders from the goblins of the lagoons. The way to harm the earth was through terrible storms. This is one of the little known Salvadoran legends, only in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
The Partisan
This peculiar narration of Salvadoran legends took place in the department of Chalatenango in El Salvador, where they say that there is a legendary man, well known in the region, who always goes around barefoot and with a big hat called "el Partideño", or also, according to his characteristics "el Sombrerón".
He says that he lives in a cave on a hill, in the San Ignacio area, where he has many animals, including cows, chickens, goats, among other farm animals. They say that he has so much money that he can often be seen sunbathing it by placing it on a cowhide.
Of a quiet and unfriendly character, distinguishing himself by always carrying a bow in his hand. They comment that he has a special gift, which is that the cattle follow him wherever he indicates as if they were enchanted or bewitched.
The villagers were astonished when they saw him walking past neighboring farms, and the animals began to follow him. He sold a lot of cattle in various countries, but when he returned to El Salvador, he brought new cows. They say that by applying this method he became so rich, although it is rumored that it was also due to various scams, however, they are all rumours.
The little gold fish
The legend of the Little Gold Fish is one of the Salvadoran legends that took place in the community of nahulingo, a beautiful town setting with beautiful natural landscapes and with simple and kind people. However, it is also known for having been, many years ago, a refuge for countless shamans, sorcerers and very powerful sorcerers, as well as the neighboring town ofand Izalco.
The elders of the region, great connoisseurs of myths and fabulous legends, say that in very remote times, there lived a very young and beautiful woman, being the most beautiful in the entire region, which is why all the knights were captivated by her. beauty, counting among them some sorcerers of the area.
Invaded by a feeling of lust towards the girl, these sorcerers wanted to possess her, while the naive girl was unaware of the intentions of these evil lords. As the young woman was not interested in getting married yet, she rejected her witch suitors, something they did not take very well, swearing revenge on her.
It is said that all the sorcerers of the region got together to make a spell that was so powerful that no one could see the girl anymore and only they could do it. The beautiful lady always used to bathe in a spring located near the Piedra de Moler canton of the Nahulingo community.
As soon as the sun rose, the beautiful young woman entered the water naked and her beautiful figure within the waters of the spring made her look like a goddess. But her beauty would only bring him misfortune represented with the revenge of the evil sorcerers. Legend has it that one of the days when the young woman was about to take her bath in the spring, despite the fact that the sun had not yet risen, she undressed and began to swim.
Once in the water, the young woman began to feel that something strange was happening to her body; her form was changing, shrinking in size, until she ended up becoming a very small fish and a golden color like gold.
The sorcerers who remained hidden in the mountains to spy on the beautiful young woman witnessed the transformation and the consummation of their perverse revenge, since the young woman would be the gold fish forever. The evil sorcerers told the young woman, already turned into a little fish, that she was her precious treasure and that no one could have her except them.
However, the evil sorcerers did not expect that the wicked spell would have a counter, that only someone pure of heart and soul could break it. Despite this, they say that the little gold fish is still swimming in the waters of the spring in the Nahulingo region, waiting for that pure-hearted being who, seeing her so sad, can break her spell.
The Izalco Volcano
Salvadoran legends tell that the origins of the discovery of the Izalco volcano were given as a result of excavations that were carried out in the region with the same name. Witnesses to the discovery commented that while they were digging up earth to make adobe, they magnified such a work of nature, giving rise to the beginning of this interesting legend.
They say that religious extremists prevented the work and construction from continuing, for which the local authorities ordered the excavation to be closed and no one else spoke about it. It was many years later that the surprising and old unsolved mystery that haunted the place was revealed.
Within the traditions of Izalque, this interesting story stands out, where they point out that this underground was where the devil kept his treasures, creating the hill to cover it so that no one would find it. Similarly, there are other versions of the same story, for example, one of them is about a couple who lived in a large hacienda, located in the place where the Volcano is now located.
These lands were so large and extensive that they rented them to poor Indians, to make them servants forever. They were lucky in that the land was very fertile and everything they sowed gave them a good harvest, as if God were always favoring them.
However, none of this changed the couple, as they were full of greed and acted with a bad heart. They say that the poor Indians had to pay with all their production, the high rents, taking away their entire harvest. They also narrate that one night of rain and storm, a mysterious gentleman wearing black glasses and leather overboots, mounted on an imperious horse, approached the hacienda.
As that man seemed to be very rich, the owners of the hacienda received him very kindly. In the case of the rest of the residents, that is, the indigenous people, they were reluctant to see him because they felt a strange fear regarding the presence of that strange individual.
That same fear was felt by the animals, which began to scream, the dogs to howl and the cattle began to run towards the mountain making loud bellows. They say that the patrons of the property were very happy in the company of the stranger, celebrating and drinking until late at night.
Since that night, the strange outlaw visited the couple every day, without stopping. In one of the conversations, the mysterious man realized the greed that the landowners had, so he told them about the fabulous treasure that was buried on the land of the hacienda.
He ended up confessing that he was the devil and that this treasure belonged to him, but he could share it with them in exchange for a deal, which was that they had to dig a well personally, in the place and at the time that he was going to indicate specifically.
The devil for his part, would be the one who would direct the actions every night. They did so then, began the excavation work for three long days in a row and the well was already very deep. Suddenly, the day of the discovery of the fabulous treasure arrived, a barrel completely filled with gold bars, diamonds, emeralds, silver, rubies, sapphires and other precious stones, which changed their sparkle and shine in the moonlight.
However, they were so greedy that they kept digging deeper and deeper, shouting euphorically “there is much more, there is much more, there is much more! The devil, who appeared at the very moment of the discovery, took the woman by her hair and threw her into the well along with her husband, leaving them buried alive, while he left with her great and impressive treasure to hide it. on other sites.
The parish priest of the town, upon learning what had happened, went to the hacienda accompanied by a group of people to pray in that cursed place. But, that only made the situation worse, because when the holy water fell on the well, a kind of bloodcurdling screams and screams began to come out of its mouth. Prisoners by fear, both the priest and his companions began to run.
Over time they began to notice that smoke was coming out of that infernal pit, and then a column of fire was observed. And so this story of Salvadoran legends originated then, as well as part of the Gate of Hell, which was located in that hacienda. And this is precisely how the local Indians began to call the Izalco volcano.
The Zapamiche
Salvadoran legends linked to El Zapamiche reveal that this is the name of a very popular fish in El Salvador. It is called in various ways, among which are: the dog fish, toad fish or witch fish. As they say, all these names have been given to it by the fishermen who work in the waters of the Gulf of Fonseca, specifically, those who walk around the Meanguera Island.
This curious fish has been the protagonist of many stories, rumors and anecdotes, because the poor thing is really very ugly. However and despite that, it is very famous thanks to its properties with aphrodisiac effects. They say that his fame is such that the locals baptized him as the viagra of the sea.
According to the saying contained in these Salvadoran legends, if an old man gets to drink a soup of this fish or eats it, he will be happy for a while. They also say that it is useful for women who have just given birth who do not produce breast milk, because when they eat or drink a broth of this fish, much of it will come out of their breasts.
Despite its multiple benefits, the one that prevails is the effect as an aphrodisiac, since it is said that just by drinking the soup of this rare fish, you could send your partner to the hospital, or leave him crazy and even quite possibly in a wheelchair. . The ugliness of this fish contrasts with the natural beauty of its habitat. If you liked this article you can review in our blog the topic of Ecuadorian Legends
indigenous legends
The people of El Salvador maintain their indigenous culture deeply rooted, which is why many legends of native origin are still alive today, below are some of the most representative.
Cocoa Legend
This is one of the Salvadoran legends associated with the ancestors and the aborigines. It is said that one day the god Quetzalcoatl, god who represents light, knowledge and wisdom, considered the god of fertility and life, gave the cocoa tree to men, as a way of rewarding the love and fidelity that his wife gave him , by sacrificing himself and not revealing the place where the treasure of the city was hidden.
They say that when the girl died, her blood served to fertilize the land where the cocoa tree had been planted, which was called cacahuaquahitl, in honor of her. As the ancestors pointed out, the bitter taste of the fruit was bitter, it was due to the suffering that the princess had suffered.
The tribe of Olmec, they ground the seeds of the fruit with water, and made chocolate in the form of a drink. Over time, the cocoa tradition was passed from generation to generation to other indigenous populations. They say that even the seed of the fruit came to be used as a unit of measure and also monetary, especially in times of war where it was used as payment for taxes, in the conquered areas.
Cocoa thus became a symbol of abundance, a necessary element within the ceremonial acts to pay tribute to the god Quetzalcoatl and to other divinities. Similarly, it came to be called brown gold in the years of 1.519, when it was taken by the conquerors to the Court of Spain.
During the times of European colonization and its migratory flows, the traditions linked to cocoa continued to expand, making its great virtues known throughout the world, as an effective invigorator.
pitchers with gold coins
This is one of the Salvadoran legends that talks about the customs of the ancestors regarding the management of their money, where it was common for people to keep their wealth inside clay pitchers or jars, which they then buried in the ground somewhere. area of their homes, instead of spending it or depositing it in banks.
These jars were filled with silver and gold coins, but, with the passing of generations, they were discovered. It is said that anyone who discovers one of those, never got to spend it, weaving a fact on the person that made him die in misery.
Grandparents say that during their youth, they came to see many of these jars, but knowing the legend that they tend about them, they have preferred to ignore them and continue in their poverty, before evil snatches their souls.
They say that the money contained in these jars, are part of a kind of pact with the evil one and when they do not comply, he takes the soul of the person and then he returned to bury the money in the jar, with the intention of making it fall. to another ambitious.
The hill of the snake
One of the Salvadoran legends that keeps an ancestral myth is that of the Cerro de la culebra, a mystical place where the caciques are reborn in the form of snakes. Located in the municipality of Anamorós, La Unión department, it is said that its name is of Lenca origin (from the Mesoamerican era), which means "place of cornfields".
The legend says that La Culebra hill arose as a result of the death of a cacique, who later turned into a snake to destroy the town, but his plans were prevented, being defeated by an Indian. Many years ago, this region was populated by Indians from the Los Cedros tribe, whose chief was always in constant disagreement with the members of the tribe.
One day, he told one of the Indians of the tribe that he was going to destroy the neighboring town, so through a spell, he became a very large and thick snake, hiding among large stones, waiting for the moment to attack.
That Indian, warned of bad intentions, placed himself on the highest point in the town and began to make a hill of stones to form a tapesco (a row), placing one stone on top of the other, until the formation took a large size. Then he set out to find the position of the haunted snake.
The snake began to move under the hill emitting a terrifying sound, but the Indian who was watching it had a poisoned arrow ready, with which he shot it, managing to split its body in two. His head fell into the river, forming a very deep pool, which was later known as the "witch pool."
The tail, on the other hand, fell into the Anamorós river, forming another pool, which they called “Poza la Medina”. As for the hill, it is said that after those events, it took the form of a snake, which gave rise to its name as the Cerro de la Culebra.
comizahual
Comizahual, It is another of the Salvadoran legends that has a native origin, specifically from the Lenca Indian tribe. With this term comizahual, called a white woman, with magical powers of sorcery, known in addition to El Salvador, also in Honduras.
The history dates back to the times of the conquest, two hundred years before, in the Hispanic era, specifically at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. A woman appeared who was wiser than the rest of the Indians of the tribe, so they named her comizahual, which means "Flying Tiger", since the tiger is one of the animals most admired by this tribe.
They say that it came to Cealcoquin, a region whose inhabitants worshiped various idols with faces of pumas. She was considered by them as a savior heroine who appeared before them with a large stone, to which she had three points, and in each of the points, the shape of deformed faces could be seen.
The ancient aborigines said that comizahual she had come to them, brought by the wind, and that it was with the help of her magic stone that she managed to win battles. She was also considered to be a demigoddess, which she established within that region, a huge lordship. According to legend, comizahual He had three children, despite the stories that were woven around him, about not having a partner.
They say that when he grew old, he wanted to distribute his lands and offered some guidance among the good members of his tribe, by way of farewell. They say that suddenly, between lightning and thunder, the image of a beautiful bird flying could be seen in the sky. The woman was not seen again after that time, so many thought that she was that bird in the sky.
The aborigines kept the tradition of commemorating their holidays, the same day of the mystical appearance of the bird in the sky. According to tradition, comizahualHe did many spells and there were even those who asked him for his health. It is said that her children, after her disappearance, came to govern the region, distinguishing themselves for being people respectful of customs, brave and warriors.
The Smelly Cave of Suchitoto
Cueva Hedionda is located within the municipality of suchitoto in El Salvador, where you can take walks, finding a refreshing river and beautiful vegetation, elements that together form part of this curious place.
According to the grandparents, this cave served as a passage route for the ancestors, who crossed it from the region of Cuscatlan to Chalatenango, conducting business and other types of commerce. Despite this, it has not been possible to verify these theories, since now nobody approaches the site due to the nauseating odors that come from it.
The smell it gives off is similar to sulfur, so added to the great darkness it has, it terrifies any brave person who dares to visit it. They say that the floor of the cave is rough, very humid and, like in other caves in the region, they say that it serves as a refuge for ghosts and other supernatural specters, very similar to other Salvadoran legends.
The cave of the Indian Aquino
The story behind La Cueva del Indio Aquino, has to do with the facts of history, in times of war, because it is said that it was in that place where an Indian named Anastasius Martyr Aquinas, had his barracks or hiding place, when he was fleeing capture by the Armed Forces of the time, who were looking for him to kill him.
This cave is very close to the Las Ánimas Canton, and you have to walk along the trails to get to the site, forming part of Salvadoran legends.
The Indian Aquino He fought to achieve the freedom of the indigenous people. He waged various fights and battles constantly, in order to return to his people the lands that the white landowners had stolen from them.
click of the water
Click del agua, also called “the Virgin of the water”, is the name of a character in one of the Salvadoran legends of an ancestral and religious nature. The story tells that in a Salvadoran region, there lived a very rich man, whose name was pachacutec. He had a daughter named Click, who was engaged to a prince of a tribe zutuhil.
Despite this, the young woman was in love with a humble fisherman named Acayatl, with whom he met secretly on the beach, and from where they went sailing on a small raft owned by the boy, where he sang love songs to him.
But tragedy struck the couple, because one day, upon returning from fishing, Acayatl was attacked with an arrow by an assassin hired by the father of Chasca, Pachacutec. A short distance from the place, the lover watched as that arrow took the life of her love, also deciding to die to be together, tying a stone to her body and then threw herself into the sea.
It is said that the following full moon night, the spirits of Chasca and AcayatlThey ride in a white canoe on the sea. The fishermen do not go out when the full moon sets, to leave the lovers alone, thus respecting the virgin of the water in exchange for blessings for their fishing.
The giantess of Jocoro
From the years of 1908, these Salvadoran legends began to spread, originated by the discovery inside a hill of human bones that belonged to a person who could measure about two meters in height. Initially this hill was called San José, and after the meeting they began to call it El Gigante hill.
Of those bones that gave rise to this legend, nothing more was known, only that they had been taken to another country to examine them. He says that the mayor of that time ordered that a wooden figure be made, which began with the face and then made the body, in a way that by incorporating both elements, it could rotate simulating that it was dancing.
Once the discovery was known, the inhabitants were revolutionized, thus creating this popular legend known as the "Giantess of Jocoro. Since then, the residents build these tall wooden dolls, which they take out to dance in the streets of the community, during the month of February.
A festival was even established in his honor, celebrated every August 3. Over the years, it has become natural that “Giants of Jocoro”, danced in all the parties and parades that take place in municipalities throughout the country. The inhabitants are waiting for the country's cultural heritage to be named.
Tears of Aguijuyo
The waters of the swimming pools Aguijuyo, bring up a sad and ancient story, dating back to the time of our aboriginal ancestors. The name of this famous spa derives from one of the well-known Salvadoran legends in the region of atiquizaya.
It is said that Aguijuyo, was the name of a beautiful princess, who fell in love with a prince named Zunca. But envy clouded that love, when unhealthy comments about the princess reached the prince's ears and he abandoned her.
Invaded by the pain of her lover's rejection, Aguijuyo he locked himself up forever, and never spoke to anyone again. time after the prince Zunca he discovered that everything had been a mistake, and on account of his mistake, he also decided to lock himself up forever. Both died of sadness and at the same time.
They say that all those who knew the sad story began to cry for the princess and the prince, and there were so many tears that water springs were formed, from which water pools are currently fed. Aguijuyo, whose springs have become famous, thanks to their crystal clear and fresh waters.
The Plain of the Dead
Salvadoran legends continue with the story of El Llano del Muerto, whose name was given as a result of an event that occurred during the colonial era, when the Spanish came to conquer the American territory, carrying out a great massacre. In the midst of the events, they left a dead body that no one ever claimed or picked up, leaving him lying on the plain.
The extensions of land that contemplate the Llano del Muerto, is inhabited by a wide variety of animals among which there are coyotes, deer, squirrels, reptiles, deer, and possibly even cougars. These lands served as the main stages for the war of the 80s, which lasted 12 years, ending in 1992, with the signing and peace agreements.
The Llano del Muerto is a place of abundant natural wealth, lush forests, mighty rivers and high mountains, where you can develop various outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, camping, and even swimming in pools of crystal clear water. It has a waterfall of turquoise water, in an area of approximately six thousand hectares.
the red corn
This is a beautiful story that happened long before the Spanish conquistadors arrived in America. The lands had no owners, and everyone could work them freely with their hands and without problems. Everything was harmonious and peaceful, just like how the ancestors lived.
In those years, everything was happiness, they had abundant rains that fertilized the earth, accompanied by a beautiful moon that reflected in the rivers, making the waters look like silver, on the eve of a good harvest. It was then that the indigenous people, after having plowed the land, set about planting white corn.
They waited patiently for the first germinations to sprout from the ground, watering the fields with rainwater, and feeding on the sunlight, with the magical glow of the moon, which made them grow vigorously in the fields.
They say that among the indigenous ancestors, it was possible to distinguish a beautiful brunette, good and simple, one with great purity and ingenuity, who observed the indigenous people while they worked the fields. She was about the indigenous goddess called succuxi, which, seeing the joy with which the Indians worked the land, wanted to help them improve the harvest.
It was thus that he went to the cornfields, seeing that the ears were already beginning to come out, and that the size of their stems was greater than the average of the indigenous people. succuxi It gave greater strength to the crops, improving the harvest, since when passing by one of them, the corn plants recognized it and were so happy that even the wind produced a sound of happiness.
However, like all crops, it had weeds and very bushy weeds. succuxi She continued her journey through the fields, paying no attention to where her delicate feet stepped. In one of these dense, weedy weeds, a trap of thorns was hidden, which the goddess inadvertently stepped on, injuring her feet and warm, red drops of blood began to flow out.
It is said that the goddess felt severe pain and flew to the top of a hill where her cabin was, but in her flight, she left traces of blood, which fell on the corn cob fields. They say that that ear was filled with the blood of the noble young woman, and the pale white color immediately changed to a reddish tone, the red of the blood of the goddess.
As the days went by, the time came to harvest the crops and the indigenous people had the greatest of surprises, when they saw those ears of corn, red in color, like the blood of succuxi. Since then, in the fields there is the presence of red corn, a gift left by the goddess succuxi.
the coyote woman
The following story of Salvadoran legends has as its protagonist a woman, an inhabitant of the small town of Morazan, that existed at the beginning of the 20th century. In some stories they describe her as the servant of a great man and in other stories, they highlight that she was a humble single mother with many financial needs.
The truth is that in all the stories it agrees with the aspect that that woman practiced witchcraft rituals, by means of which she transformed herself during the nights, into animals to go out to look for food for her children. They say that she went to the farms to steal the chickens first, and other food that was in the fields, to be able to take them to her family.
She did this almost every night, which is why during the day, she was very tired, since these transformation spells require a lot of vital energy. The animal that she became that woman was a coyote, so she began to be known as the coyota woman.
The neighbors were already alerted regarding the robberies of the nights, however, they had never managed to catch her, much less discover what her identity was. Although many had suspicions, they never had the opportunity to confirm them, since the coyota woman was very cunning.
But, although he stole to feed his children, that did not justify what he did, because stealing was wrong, and all the tricks linked to sorcery and witchcraft, are very expensive, especially when you involve the dark forces, because you do not go out well rid.
It is said that in the middle of the ritual where people become animals, they must leave their soul inside a crate, which in turn, turns into a thick liquid. In order for the person to recover his human form again, the animal into which he was transformed must drink said liquid. In general, that crate must remain in a safe place, since it contains the most precious thing, which is the soul.
In their eagerness to catch the coyota woman, the neighbors made surveillance rounds in the places where this creature used to commit its robberies on a frequent basis. During one of those group expeditions, one of the neighbors found the crate filled with the thick liquid, and not knowing what it was, he kicked the crate, spilling all the content liquid inside, that is, the soul of the woman.
When the coyota woman went to look for the crate with his soul, he couldn't find him where he had left him, beginning to howl loudly in desperation, searching everywhere for him to be able to return to his human form, but his efforts were in vain. Hearing her loud howls, the neighbors started the hunt armed to try to catch her, so she fled towards the mountains of Morazán.
By an oversight he had sentenced his future and would remain in this way, like the coyota woman, forever, trapped in his animal form for all eternity or until the souls of thieves and sinners are judged by God. There are those who say that when travelers leave their houses and goods alone for a long time, they ask the coyota woman to take care of their belongings and her animals.
The woman from the San Vicente volcano
Salvadoran legends associated with the existence of this volcano tell that in ancient times, specifically in the region where the volcano is located chinchontepec, lived a beautiful woman, with a truly surprising and unparalleled beauty, inevitably drawing the attention of many men who wanted her.
They spent a long time admiring her great beauty, so they wanted to make her fall in love, marry her and start a family with children. However, she that woman did not want to be conquered by any man, fleeing from the presence of any, for no apparent reason.
They say that one of those days when she was fleeing from the eyes of men in love, the woman climbed to the top of a volcano and in an instant she was very close to its mouth.
Suddenly, a young man appeared in front of her, who just by looking at her revealed his intention to grab her, but she tried to slip away, hopelessly falling into that burning volcano. At that time, the volcano was in full eruption, transforming the original form of the volcano, taking the image of a woman lying down, beginning to originate the legend of the volcano woman.
Nabá or the legend of the balm
Within the Salvadoran legends, the story of a love forbidden by cultures is told, between a beautiful princess named naba and a brave prince named Hoitzi, who was of Mayan-Quiche origin, the deadly enemies of the chief atlacatlwho was the father of the princess naba.
Due to the outright denial by atlacatl for the lovers to be together, the prince Hoitzi He would then try to steal his beloved in order to be together and away from his father's prohibitions. However, fate would deal him a bad hand.
They say that one dark night in May, the rivers overflowed and the coasts repeated the clamor of the ocean. That night would be when Prince Hoitzi would try to carry out his feat, but believing that he would surprise the cunning Atlacatl, instead he fell into a terrible ambush.
The army that accompanied the prince was scattered and lying on the battlefield, some dead and others seriously wounded, among whom was the prince himself. Hoitzi, whom his warriors had abandoned. They say the princess naba he suspected the fate of his beloved, so he took advantage of the fact that his father, along with others, were celebrating the victory, to escape.
Accompanied by six of her best servants, she undertook the search for her lover in the middle of the gloomy night, until she managed to find the place of the sinister, where the prince was indeed. Throughout the night, the servants dedicated themselves to healing and bandaging the wounds of the warriors wounded in combat on the orders of the princess naba.
At dawn, atlacatl he was warned by one of his spies, of what was happening, appearing in the place, and seeing his daughter with the limp head of the prince Hoitzi Between her legs, he glared at her in astonishment.
This attitude of his daughter was considered a great offense towards him as King, so he took the bow and arrow of one of his warriors, and shot his own daughter, piercing the body of the princess with it. They also killed the princess's companions, burying all of them in that place where the creepy scene took place.
They say that over the years, in that mysterious place, seven beautiful and mystical trees grew, which exhaled a penetrating aroma and from which a dark liquid emanated that served to heal wounds. Those trees were named after the balsam trees and are also called nabaLike the princess in the story.
In the same way, that place on the Pacific coast became known as the Balsam Coast, where the sacred tree of the balm flourishes and grows. naba, a very strong wooden bush, whose saying indicates that it allows itself to be wounded, to heal its enemies.
The rock of Cayaguanca
The myth about the rock of cayaguanca or also known as the legend of the rock, took place in an indigenous population located in the vicinity of the rock. This population was commanded by a cacique with a very strong temperament, who had a very beautiful daughter, who was desired by many of the Indians of the tribe, including the warrior named cayaguanca.
This warrior did not have the acceptance of the cacique to be the husband of his daughter, because he did not possess riches, more however, even so, he had managed to conquer the heart of the princess. Due to the cacique's disapproval, young lovers met in secret. But one day, the girl's father found out about the affair, ordering the capture of cayaguanca, to later tie him to the top of a rock, leaving him abandoned to his fate, going cold and hungry.
They say that the cry of pain and sadness of that noble warrior was so great that his tears ended up flooding the entire population. Little by little they solidified on the rocks that ended up covering it completely, becoming what is now known as the Rock of cayaguanca.
the stone of conquest
The Salvadoran legends referring to the stone of the conquest, is framed within the times of the colony, when one of the standing battles took place, which took place in the vicinity of the community. Izalco in Sonsonate, El Salvador.
The meeting took place between Spaniards and Izalqueños, in the Barranca de los cobs. Said combat was so cruel that the sun itself was darkened due to the large number of arrows that were launched between the colonizers and the strong warriors.
However, despite their efforts, the poor indigenous people were defeated in the hard battle, since the Spanish army had superior weapons. They say that on that day of the bloody battle, it was very hot, and one of the Spanish soldiers leaned against a stone to rest, resting his foot on it.
According to tradition and history, it was so hot that the stone had “softened”, and the feet of that Spanish soldier were engraved on it, leaving his mark forever, the footprint of the invader, becoming this stone. known as the stone of conquest. Other more history of our ancestors are in Bolivian Legends
The Tecuantet stone
There is a place known as the Teshical In El Salvador, where this Salvadoran legend originates that deals with the existence of there is a stone with a striking square shape and of very old date, called "tecuantet”, which means “that eats”. This name was given by the locals, since they say that the mystical stone eats people.
According to legend, there is a way to calm the anger of this stone and it is by placing beautiful flowers on it, in exchange for it giving thanks by giving the person its grace and benevolence. The aborigines of the time, indicated that within the stone the voices of the people who had already eaten the stone could be heard, assuring that the stone has life.
In the surrounding villages, many children had disappeared, rumors spreading that they had been swallowed by the stone. Tired of so many complaints, the authorities tried to remove the stone to put an end to the rumors about it, but the locals opposed it as they indicated that the stone could punish them as revenge.
About twice a week, the residents of the entire town go to the altar to place flowers on the stone, thus renewing the tradition, but, poor is that daring who tries to touch it or desecrate the "Tecuantet Stone”, because it will carry with it the consequences. In addition to this, it is said that the indigenous people worship the stone, especially during the busiest days in the area, which were Mondays and Thursdays.
They also perform dances around the stone, raising their wooden spears or other tools such as machetes and sticks, exclaiming songs and shocking cries, which are already traditional in battles between races. This dance is performed at the foot of the hill, where they initially arrive with their arms outstretched and raising a prayer to drive away any evil spirits that may manifest in the place.
When placing the flowers, the groups recite a special prayer in their native language, which according to the translation reads verbatim: “We bring you these flowers so that you minimize your anger every time we pass through here. Don't scare me holy stone, now I'm going here, while you stay with God ".
The soul of the witnesses of that fabulous and special ritual lights up and shudders before the presence of the manifestation of a double heritage, two mixed feelings, the one that rejects and the one that welcomes, merging the indigenous character and the Hispanic that is in each one. of us.
For the indigenous people, the “Tecuantet Stone”, represents the manifestation of their ancestors, who throb through this indigenous superstition, where a stone that is alive, threatens an entire population, surrounded by mysteries and stalking passers-by, because when it opens its mouth, it is to swallow anyone passing by, especially children.
They say that the stone gets drunk with the blood of its victims, clearly hearing the screams of the people who are trapped, while they are devoured. The pilgrim Indians are seen climbing to the top of the hill, with arms full of yellow flowers, which according to legend, are the ones that appease the wrath of the stone.
The Living Stone of Nahuizalco
The legend framed around the history of the Piedraviva de Nahuizalco has to do with the existence of a Mayan princess whose soul they say lives inside this mysterious stone and that is why it moves from one place to another.
They say that there is no true information on when he appeared in the area, in the Canton La Guacamaya, a town in Nahuizalco in El Salvador, specifically on the street called Teokuikatl, which in the native language means songs and praises.
The description of this particular street is rather that of a natural corridor, made up of stone steps that recall the shape of the Mayan pyramids. For many years this mystical stone remained in that place, whose shape looked like a natural balcony, where according to tradition, the Indian's daughter would have been buried. AtonalCalled atlakaki, which means “indomitable”.
They say that this princess would have been buried alive, with a tule vine tied to her body as punishment for having tried to poison a powerful Spanish soldier, who during the times of the conquest, had made her his slave, also wanting to abuse her. her on several occasions because she was very beautiful.
Despite this, the Indian princess was brave and always confronted him, letting him see that she did not want to have any kind of relationship with him, much less serve him as his slave. It is said that the invader put a condition on her to be able to free her from her, being the same that she cook something delicious and special for him.
The princess took the opportunity to poison the food, but the cunning Spaniard sensed that something strange was happening and gave the food to some slaves who immediately fell to the ground, in great pain and even foaming at the mouth, thus discovering the trap. Upon discovering her, the Spaniard gave the princess a few lashes, but she was so strong that she resisted her mistreatment.
That is why the Spaniard then made the decision to tie her up and then placed a large stone on top of her body. Even so, she was still alive, throwing a promise to the universe saying that she would live forever inside the rock.
Within other narrations, it is that this stone represents the foundation of the town of nahuizalco, which means "the four Izalcos", as a tribute to the four most powerful families that existed in Izalco. The stone served as a central point to delimit the territory and divide the area into four regions.
The Bululu pool
The Salvadoran legends of the Bululú pool and the blue pool are very similar in the content of their history. The Bululú pool took place in the Sonsonate region of El Salvador, specifically in one of its rivers called Sensunapán.
This old local legend has been passed from generation to generation, describing the landscape that frames a beautiful river where the pool is located, which was baptized with the name of the Bululú pool, a place of great charm.
According to legend, at the bottom of the fabulous waters of this well, there is a copper bathed in gold, containing many precious stones, added to silver coins. The story goes that this treasure belonged to an aboriginal princess who existed a few years ago.
The story indicates that this beautiful princess walked from time to time around the river, finding the location of the Bululú pool, and when she saw it, she was impressed with how beautiful that natural pool was, so she decided to bathe in her.
Since she did not know how to swim, the princess took the precaution of bathing in the shallow part, that is, not so deep, of the pool. However, when stepping on one of the surrounding stones, the young woman slipped and fell into the river, drowning. It is said then that all the elements that the princess was carrying at that time, remained deep in the Bululú pool.
Many curious people have attended the place, in search of those treasures that the bottom of the well keeps, without having any positive results. It is said that when someone is close to finding it or sees it at the bottom of the pool, following its trail, it disappears as if by magic, to later appear in another area of the pool.
There are those who say that people who have managed to touch the hidden treasure, then sink deeper and deeper into the pool, that they end up drowning. On this subject, a saying is woven where it is pointed out that those who only remain admiring the treasure but do not seek to seize it, upon returning to their homes, will have good news.
The Atonal Prince or “Water Sun”
The next of the Salvadoran legends deals with the story of the prince Atonal, whose name means "Sun of Water". It is said that at the time of the Spanish conquest, he served as a great hero, standing out as a brave defender of the territory when facing the conquerors, performing daring feats.
In ancient times, each province in the region had chieftains, who were the local leaders. In the case of the Atonal prince, he was in charge of the area of Izalco. This prince distinguished himself for being a great warrior, who had to face the invading Spanish troops, but also the rebellious Indians, who had allied themselves with the enemy side, being traitors and disloyal to their own people.
The times of these Salvadoran legends were the struggles that occurred in the years of 1524, when through a meeting of several leaders, Prince Atonal took the floor, to exclaim with great pride, his intention to give his life if necessary. on the battlefield, and liberate his people from the Spanish yoke and domination.
Those words by which Atonal sealed their commitment, served as a great stimulus to awaken the spirit of struggle for freedom and protection, in the face of an unknown enemy who came to invade their lands with the petty intention of taking away everything they owned.
After this, the Atonal prince prepared to prepare for the battle, drawing up the strategy to follow and choosing the place where the meeting would take place. He chose some 3 men to fight in the town of acaxual, and 3 thousand more who would face the Spanish in tacuzcalco, scene where the last battle would be fought.
The indigenous warriors had great agility and ability to track, so Atonal appointed some men as spies, strategically located on the roads and paths of the coastal region, specifically around the Río Paz, up to what is now known as known as the population of caluco.
Atonal dispersed his army scattered in installations of small combat units, which in those years were known by the name of calpulli, each made up of a dozen men, but distinguished by being among the best warriors.
According to the history books of El Salvador and Salvadoran legends, the one who commanded the Spanish troops for that battle was a man named Pedro de Alvarado. Like an old and very cunning fox, he felt distrustful of the situation, and preferred to follow his instincts and hunch, bypassing the plain where he was expected by the Atonal prince's army.
However, believing he has gotten rid of the danger, Pedro de Alvarado finds himself in a huge swampy area, which makes him turn back and he cannot prevent the confrontation from taking place. The warriors under the command of Atonal manage to surround the Spanish expedition, and the Spanish commander gives the order to attack, saying loudly "Long live Spain, shoot and eliminate all the Indians".
It was thus that the great battle between the conquerors and the warrior Indians began. The Atonal prince took the lead in the fight, displaying his gifts as an imposing warrior. He carried a sharp spear in one of his hands, which served as an effective weapon to kill his enemies at every step he took.
Salvadoran legends tell that in the other hand, he carried a mallet forged from the trunk of a maquilishuat, with which he launched accurate blows at his enemies, leaving them lying on the battlefield. The commander of the enemy troops, Pedro de Alvarado, was seen riding a beautiful horse, making his way through the pitched fight.
Without a doubt, Atonal's goal is to face Pedro de Alvarado, in a leader-to-leader match, so he wields his spear against him, managing to pierce one of his legs. Thanks to the force in the direction of the spear, he also managed to kill the invader's horse, causing it to crash to the ground.
As Salvadoran legends tell it, that spear of Prince Atonal pierced Pedro de Alvarado's thigh, leaving him lame for life. The surviving group of this battle headed towards the region of tacuzcalco, where they met with the rest of the men in the service of Atonal, while he organized his warriors, warning them that the invaders were about to arrive and they had to face them.
On his way to tacuzcalco, the Spanish army decides to camp in order to attend to their leader's wound, not to mention that in tacuzcalcoThey were waiting for them, more than five thousand men under the command of Atonal, ready to kill them. This is how then, the invading troop resumes its path and after five days of camping, the bloodiest battle in history is fought. acaxual.
The encounter was now inevitable, and despite the fact that the Atonal army outnumbered the invading troops, they had the advantage of having better weapons, including firearms. The settlers also had the help of the Indians Tlaxtecs, a group of rebels who fought alongside the enemy side.
The battle was hard and seeing the inevitable destruction of his people, Prince Atonal decides to flee towards the mountains, in the company of some of his men who survived the encounter. The Spanish commander notices the escape and gives the order to two trusted men to chase Atonal, catch him and kill him, because he needed revenge for having left him lame.
Atonal hid with his men behind some large rocks, but seeing that he was eminently defeated by the enemy, he remembered the promise he made before starting the war: "My life for our people." So then he decided to come out of hiding from him and launching a fierce war cry, he faced the enemy, accompanied by his faithful warriors.
With a spear in one hand, and a wooden mallet in the other, he launched himself at the enemy, without noticing that another soldier in a better position had him pointed with his musket, shooting at the Atonal prince, falling to the ground mortally wounded. , as explained in Salvadoran legends.
After the battle, the body of Prince Atonal was carried by his people to caluco, where once they arrived there, according to tradition, the warrior's soul was lifted by several eagles that suddenly appeared on the horizon, to take it to the heaven of the gods, where it is now next to the mighty god Quetzalcoatl, and where it will remain for all eternity. So it was also that the glorious prince fulfilled his promise to give his life for his people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXDy6AqyOkA
The mermaid of the Laguna de Alegría
The Alegría lagoon is a magical place where there is supposedly a mermaid, who lives in the depths of the waters. Legend has it that with her beauty, she manages to attract men, especially those who are young and good-looking.
They say that just by bathing in the lagoon, the mysterious mermaid falls madly in love with them, trapping them and taking them to the bottom of the waters where she lives. After a few days, she returns him to the surface, but already lifeless.
The story behind this mermaid is set in the twelfth century, in a town of Lenca origin, which after the events of the war of conquest, was invaded by a tribe called Los Tecolucas – nonualcos. They say that a very beautiful young woman lived in that region at the time, along with her parents and also her brothers.
The girl was called Xiri, which in the native language means Estrella. It is said that accompanying the group of invaders was a sorcerer who, seeing her young girl, fell madly in love with her, but she did not reciprocate.
In the following days, both the parents and the brothers of the young woman died in the fight against the colonizers, in the middle of a natural attack that occurred with the threatening eruption of a volcano that was very close to the area, as the Salvadoran legends.
The sorcerer pretended that he had seen the future, pointing out that the volcano's fury would only be appeased with a human sacrifice. The force of the implacable volcano threatened to destroy the population, so Xiri offered to be the sacrifice and be thrown into the burning lava, to try to contain the fury of the volcano.
The stage was set for the sacrifice of the noble maiden, who had a bird guardrail like a pet. They say that when the bird realized that her mistress was going to be thrown into the volcano, she began to sing such a special melody that she calmed the fury of the volcano until it stopped its lava flow.
The locals say that the volcano began to slowly extinguish and smoke began to come out of its stones. She began to cry so much that her tears created a kind of river, which is now what is known as Laguna de Alegría. And from there also derives the myth of the mermaid, who disappears all the young people who bathe in the mystical lagoon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRP84yUVlvk
The Tangaloo
Within these Salvadoran legends, the life of a small boy is told, who had great supernatural powers, but his physical appearance was in contradiction, since he presented physical malformations and motor impediments.
When the moment of his death came, he made a wish to the moon, to transform him into a guardian of the water, to be able to protect the waters of the rivers, lakes and seas, keep their waves normal, in addition to also protecting all the marine creatures that inhabited them, giving rise to the Salvadoran legend of El Tangaloa.
It happened long before the Spanish invasion of American territory, taking place in the region known by the name of Tangolona, and within a hacienda with the same name. The area became popular since that child with his powers, made constant miracles. Also, many locals visited him for guidance and advice, since he had great wisdom.
Despite having these virtues, he had a physical deformity in his legs, which is why his relatives did not allow him to be with other children in the region. Little by little, the boy became even sicker, until his death became inevitable. Knowing that he was going to die, he asked to speak to the moon using his magical powers and in the middle of the conversation, he asked for one last wish before he died.
The little boy had always wanted to see the sea, but due to his physical disability, he had never been able to do so, so he asked the beautiful moon to allow it. The moon granted his request and when he entered the waters of the sea, the boy turned into an octopus. So the boy became the guardian of the sea.
They say that Tangaloa, in addition to serving as guardian of the sea, is also the assistant of Ti Tanawass, the god of the ocean waters and mangroves. His task is to keep the fishermen safe, in addition to providing protection to the creatures of the sea.
The treasures of the island of Meanguera
The Salvadoran legends referring to the treasures of the island of Meanguera, begin by indicating the location of said island, located in La Unión within the American country. They say that this island had been inhabited since ancient times, having as its first settlers the members of the Lenca tribes.
The records of its discovery date back to the years of 1522, through the realization of an expedition where the name of Petronila was granted at first, as a way of paying tribute to a niece of Fray Juan Rodrigo de Fonseca, who for that then, he was the President of the Council of the Indies and Bishop of Burgos.
According to this story belonging to Salvadoran legends, a bandit of English origin named Francis Drake, would have buried a large part of his stolen treasures, inside the island of Meanguera, while another part, hid it in the chiquirín point, currently known as such as the canton of hidden water, about 8 kilometers away from La Unión.
Centuries later, in the years of 1782, the English pirates burned and destroyed the communities of Meanguera, which were on the island with the same name, causing looting and causing the Spanish government to prohibit these islands from being populated, since they were it made it very difficult to defend them from attack by freebooters.
Until now, the treasures buried by Sir Francis Drake, are still buried on the island of Meanguera, without anyone having the luck of finding them, becoming a tourist attraction over time. However, there are those who say that the island has much more valuable natural wealth than the famous pirate treasure.
Titilcihuat, the woman of fire
This Salvadoran legend is one of those that tells of forbidden love affairs, which lead to revenge. The story was told by the ancient indigenous people of the Mazahuas tribe, who called this myth, the legend of Titilcíhuat, or as it means in their native language "the woman of fire".
A prince of the nonualco tribe was madly in love with this woman, who, knowing that their love was forbidden by their families, decided to kidnap her, counting on the help of his princess Mazahuat, protected by the great love that both they felt. However, this unleashed the occurrence of a long and bloody war between the members of the Mazahua tribe and the Nonualcos, with the former winning.
In the midst of the events, the father of Princess Titilcíhuat found the place where the lovers were sheltered, but before being captured, they strangely sank into the earth, forming the source of the Tilapa River. According to legend, the prickly pear or prickly pear gods were also created from the bones, flesh and blood of the enamored martyrs.
Horror legends
Full of evil, ghostly and mysterious entities, is the culture of the Salvadoran people in their stories and legends, below are some of their most chilling stories.
the cadejo
El Cadejo, is one of the Salvadoran legends whose story is about a gloomy dog, whose characteristics include its large size and shiny eyes. It is said that he drags chains when he walks on lonely nights, either to care for or torment drinkers or late nighters.
This legend has several versions in different Central American countries, despite the fact that they all coincide in the description of two cadejos, one white and the other black, through which they try to represent the fight between good and evil. evil.
This legend serves as an argument for the ancient belief where it is pointed out that every man has the company of an animal, the dog, a kind of guardian angel that protects him from the dangers of the night. Similarly, it is said that it may be a character whose role is a benevolent specter guardian of the roads.
In the version of the two cadejos; the white defends man and protects them against the evil incarnated spirits that manifest themselves in the black cadejo, an animal that in turn symbolizes death. Although the origin of both dogs is unknown, popular belief indicates that dogs were created by God and Satan to fulfill various mandates.
God for his part, created the figure of a creature that frightens the human but that at the same time will provide protection, after knowing all the evils that afflicted the people. This provoked the wrath of the demon, who in response to this action of God, created an identical copy of the creature, but black, whose reaction is terrifying for those who observe it.
That is why then there are two canine creatures, a white one that represents kindness and cares for those who need it, and the other black, which, on the contrary, will attack whoever disturbs it.
Santa Ana's Haunted House
In El Salvador, there are many Salvadoran legends that talk about abandoned houses, which, few people dare to enter one of them, because they say they are possessed by supernatural spirits. One of these stories is the one that occurred in the Haunted House of Santa Ana, a very archaic and enormous mansion, located on an entire street corner.
They say that in that place, you can feel the presence, and even observable, of various ghosts. The house has a wide range of legends, one of them where it is narrated that in past times, this residence functioned as a school and also as a bank.
According to the testimony of the neighbors, the house is currently with the doors closed with blocks, to prevent people from entering to perform demonic rituals. Several of the community's inhabitants indicated that they have observed irregular situations inside the house.
Especially at night, and late hours, specifically after midnight, you begin to hear in the vicinity of the house, howls that could be emitted by ghosts or specters, which roam the place, so do not it is advisable to pass near this haunted house.
The Witch Wagon
La Carreta Bruja, narrated as one of the Salvadoran legends that serves as an alert for all those late nights who walk until late at night outside their homes. The same thing happened to the character in this story, a man who went to a party with friends and family, and without realizing it, they gave him 12 o'clock at night.
When he decides to return home, the road is very dark and he only had the light of the moon as a lantern, and the company of a dog. On the way to his home, he crosses the front of a cemetery, beginning to hear frightening sounds of various animals, which terrified him.
That man crossed himself and continued on his way. A few steps from the holy field, the man was able to see a reddish glow emanating from an old cart, and when he saw who was the driver of it, he realized that his head was made of grass.
The man ran terrified managing to reach his house. The day after the strange encounter, the man fell ill and remained in his house for 3 days in a row, still dismayed by what he had seen.
The Squeaky Wagon
They say that the shrill cart has the particularity that it moves backwards, wandering through the streets of El Salvador, very late at night. They say that from this cart, a terrifying shriek comes out, which gives rise to its name, produced by its wooden wheels when it walks.
It is also said that sometimes, it is possible to hear the sound of chains dragging as they pass, announcing their arrival. The earth shakes when it is crossed by this shrill cart, but you should not look at it, because tradition says that whoever sees it, the deceased individual appears the next day.
The image of the cart has sticks on the sides, and at their ends, human skulls can be seen. She has no driver, she walks alone, driven by supernatural forces or ghosts. Some residents have commented that it is a specter in charge of going along the roads, picking up the souls that are in pain, and taking them to the afterlife.
Within other versions of the story it is said that this medium is led by a headless man. Inside the garish cart, bones and some bodies of decapitated people are transported. Every day, at midnight, he leaves the cemetery to walk the streets in search of lying, false and hypocritical people, warning them that they will be the next passengers, if they do not change their lives.
El Gavilan hill
Located at the southern end of the northern land of the lake of ilopango, you can appreciate the mysterious melancholy that surrounds the Cerro del Gavilán, which also has one of the most popular Salvadoran legends.
It is said that in the bowels of this hill, a goblin called Dieguito lived in the days of yore. Tradition points out that when a person liked him, apparently near the hill, he gave them flowers and wild lilies, especially if it was a young and beautiful lady, but she also had to be honest.
They say that inside the caves of the hill, lived a beautiful woman, whose entertainment was to steal amounts of money. her name was Juana Francisca Callejas, but in the region it was known as Juana Pancho. Some say that this woman was a sorceress with the power to move from one place to another very quickly and unnoticed.
He used his magic to transform into any domestic animal and thus be able to enter houses to steal clothes and the money he found. They say that one night, while she was preparing to make her usual journey, a group of witches led by the goblin, caught her with the intention of burning her at the stake.
It is said as revenge, that sorceress left the cave she inhabited haunted, so that anyone who tries to reach her will get lost on the way. And if he succeeds, when he enters her, he will never come out again.
Despite this, there is a promise that the spell will end at 3 pm on Good Friday, in the event that someone dares to enter the cave and spend a whole night there alone and without being intimidated by the sounds that can get to hear.
El Volcancillo hill
They say that Cerro El Volcancillo, located in perquin, Department of Morazan of El Salvador, is a region that is haunted, as the locals comment that some spirits and other specters appear to those who go up to it, as in the case of the Siguanaba, the Cipitío o the Black Cadejo.
It is said that noises like skeleton bones, chains dragging and even glass bottles falling can be heard from the hill, but when looking, nothing can be seen. They also say that when a person goes to the hill, and one of the spirits appears, they make them lose their way.
This El Volcancillo hill has a reputation for containing a gold treasure inside, which makes many curious people come closer. According to local tradition, many years ago, a gold bush was planted on its paths, which was cut every year by several families and made the hill grow along with it.
They say that that time was very good, because everyone lived in harmony, without selfishness, envy, or ambition. However, they say that after a priest placed a curse on the hill, it stopped growing and the gold bush was no longer seen, although some nuggets still remain inside.
The cave of the Goblin
The cave of the duende, is naturally set by a beautiful coast known as "Encantos del Duende", where you can take walks and even a little agritourism. This magical cave is surrounded by more than a hundred steps of forest, where many girls went on weekends to sell delicious griddles or tortillas made with flour from their baskets.
They say that when they finished their tasks, those women were surprised by the presence of some sweaters, just in front of the spa, which surrounded them and when they suddenly disappeared, it was possible to see that with them was a very naughty little boy, who when he was seen, ran out to hide in the bushes.
It is said that this was a pixie, hiding inside the famous cave, located within a rock formation so wide, that it stretches from El Salvador to Guatemala. According to legend, all those who go after the elf search, when entering the cave, they find a huge stone that makes it difficult for them to pass.
Until now, no one has dared to cross the stone for fear of being trapped forever, getting lost on the way, or being captured by the enigmatic goblin. It is also said that you can not be accompanied by any pet, because some who entered the mysterious cave doing so, never left.
the witch pig
In El Salvador, the pig or pig is usually called pig and it is this animal precisely, who stars in the next of the Salvadoran legends. According to tradition and myths, women who practice sorcery have the power to turn into any animal, however, the pig or pig is the most common case.
To achieve such a transformation, they must comply with a ritual, which consists of repeating a powerful spell or prayer, while they jump three times and then turn back, closing with another couple of steps forward. In this way, they say that the soul of the person leaves his body, coming out through the mouth and being deposited inside small cages typical of this type of curse.
Once converted, witches take the forms of "pigs” Very big and strong, but also somewhat aggressive. Detailing their appearance a little more, it can be said that they are generally black. When they manifest, they appear speeding through the muddy streets, growling at anyone who gets in their way.
Witches turn into pigs so they can harm the people they want revenge on. They use their great size and strength to charge quickly, and once they manage to knock them down, they begin to beat and bite them until they are unconscious, and even, in some more extreme cases, they cause death.
During the attack, they leave their victims without clothing or jewelry, stripping them of even their money. They also break into adjacent farms to steal animals and food. There are those who say that they transform to take revenge due to a lack of love or abandonment.
If you run into one of them, you must throw salt at them so that they never return to their human form, or you can also call them by their names so that they walk away out of shame. They say that witches need a lot of vital energy to be able to transform, which is why, when they return to their human form, they get sick and lose heart, having to stay in bed to recover from the transformation into an animal.
the gaunt
La Decarnada, is one of the Salvadoran legends of terror and mystery, which deals with the story of a woman, whose spirit seeks revenge on the outdated, drunk and unfaithful men whom she seduces with her beauty, to later show herself with her true appearance, which it is none other than that of a living skeleton.
The legend of the Discarnate is related to other myths such as that of the continued and Crybaby, albeit with some variations. This legend is located on the road that leads from Santa Ana to chalchupa in El Salvador, where a slender woman was always seen late at night.
She had gotten into the habit of asking solo travelers on the road, specifically men, for a ride. They say that when they asked her where she was going, she always indicated the address of a nearby place, and without much hesitation, they put her in the vehicle, resuming the trip.
Shortly after the trip, that mysterious woman began to look at the drivers in a quite provocative way, ending up seducing them. At the moment of her caresses, that beautiful lady was transforming, gradually shedding her skin, leaving only remains of skin and muscles in the man's hands.
Paralyzed by fear, the man immediately stopped, however, the process of decomposition and degradation continued until the woman was exposed as a living skeleton. All the victims of "La Descarnada" are shocked and even lose their speech, making it difficult for them to explain what they witness.
The goblin
El Duende, is one of the Salvadoran legends, whose theme is very similar in other Central American countries. He tells us about a specter or supernatural entity, who falls in love with the young and beautiful women of the region, whom he has no intention of harming, but on the contrary, he is only playful with them, performing endless mischief.
But, despite this, it is said that he has a sense to detect only those who are good, which is another of the qualities that girls should have, given that realizing that the chosen young woman has a character negative, his behavior towards her changes radically.
This character from El Duende usually goes out at night to see the beautiful ladies pass by him, although they say that he watches over others and when they notice his presence, that's when he begins to play pranks on them. Those who have seen him describe him as the size of a 10-year-old boy, with big ears and wearing a harlequin-like hat and a tight-fitting green suit.
Chalchuapa's burial
Chalchuapa, is a small town of Santa Ana in El Salvador. He says that for several nights, a group of people could be seen participating as in a procession, which were heading towards the cemetery, apparently to carry out a burial.
Those who have observed them indicate that this group of people are carrying a black coffin, while others are carrying lighted candles, from the entrance of the town of Chalchuapa to the cemetery, every night.
In the town they have the tradition of waiting for the procession to pass out of respect and education towards the deceased, and they say that while the night owls waited, one of the participants gives them a lighted candle as a souvenir.
The person was even more surprised when he saw the candle transformed into a human bone the next day. It is said that the person went crazy from the shock and from so much shock, then ended up dying. Since then no one goes out at night to avoid running into the funeral procession.
The Flower of Amate
In a surprising way they characterize these Salvadoran legends related to La Flor de Amate, all those who know them, because their myth keeps many mysteries. This flower comes from the Amate tree, specifically from the top of the tree.
It is a beautiful white flower, with the power to grant any wish to the person who is capable of achieving it. But, being able to obtain it is not so easy because it implies the development of a whole process to be able to capture it, so you must strictly follow the following steps.
The first step is to get a white handkerchief, since the delicate flower cannot be grasped directly with the hands. The second thing is to wait until midnight to be able to do it. When it is already cut, it should be kept inside the handkerchief, which should be folded in the shape of a cross.
The person must watch that the flower does not disappear, since in the same way his luck will. Another detail of this legend is that according to tradition, only children and deaf people can see the flower. It is also said that although its tree is very leafy and gives very good shade, Salvadorans are afraid to lean on it because, they comment that at the foot of the tree it usually causes fear.
The Midnight Screamer
Salvadoran legends say that the screamer or as it became popular, the midnight screamer, was the son of an Indian woman who was expelled from her tribe, after being possessed in the middle of the jungle by the devil. They say that it was from this union that "el Gritón" was born, whose characteristics are those of a large mystical being and who is half demon and half human.
It is distinguished by the emission of a terrifying scream, with which it is capable of making the earth tremble and uproot trees. It has also caused streams to overflow, frightening everyone who listens. He lies in wait for men who dare to cross the jungle at midnight. It has been commented that those who have listened to it, after several days, get fevers and fevers.
Other versions indicate that the Cryton is the soul in pain of a carter, who from a very high mountain, shouted very loudly at midnight and his lament could be heard several kilometers away. His cry was peculiar, similar to when mules are herded. They say that when someone sang his shout, then he shouted harder until they were deaf.
The landowner of Zapotitán
The kind and beautiful Valley of Zapotitan, there is a hacienda that serves as the setting for these Salvadoran legends. In this farm, various types of vegetables and fruits are harvested, the best in the country. Among the names of the owners and land, that of Mr. Emeterio Ruano, known as The Squire of the Valley of Zapotitan.
Tradition has it that it was an ancient custom in El Salvador, that landowners made diabolical pacts to obtain their riches. According to a rumor created by his servants and farmhands, Mr. Emeterio Ruano he had made a pact with Satan himself, offering him his soul, in exchange for a lot of money, goods, women and joys.
Even though I don Emeterius, he was already a very rich individual, he was moved by greed and the desire to have much more power, to the point of sacrificing his spirituality for the material. After the day the pact was made between the landlord and the devil, a stone of a mystical black color and marked with strange symbols was formed at the entrance of the hacienda.
That was the place where the agreement was given, also remaining as a meeting point to deal with other macabre businesses. With the passing of the years, Mr. Emeterius he became richer and more powerful, while his soul became poorer.
It got to the point where his soul was already totally lost, and the strangest things began to happen. In anxiety, he wanted to take his own life to end the suffering, but he continued to suffer because his soul no longer belonged to him. This served as an example for all the greedy.
The Siguanaba hammock
Amate trees have always had a place of honor in Salvadoran legends, since they are trees with mysterious aspects, which contain many secrets, which are revealed, especially at night.
These mystical trees serve as a refuge for supernatural beings, which is why they say that although they give very good shade, you cannot rest at the foot of an amate tree, because they scare you there. One of these mysteries is that of the siguanaba hammock, which can be seen when the branches of the tree move from one side to the other, without the wind blowing, it is because the continued it is rocking
Similarly, it is said that the sinaguaba, waits patiently under the tree to be able to scare whoever approaches, especially at night, when men roam the area, after 10 pm. She appears to them as a beautiful woman who tries to seduce them and then transforms into the horror that she is.
The possible victims flee in terror, claiming that they will never again be near the amate trees at night. It is said that this specter especially attacks married and unfaithful men, as a punishment for seeking adventures far from home.
The Just Judge of the Night
Another of the scary Salvadoran legends is El Justo Juez de la noche, a ghost that appears to those who walk late at night on rural roads. They say that he is a mysterious horseman, mounted on a black horse, and without a head, manifesting behind a column of smoke.
In general, it is used to tormenting and torturing its victims, making terrifying noises, in addition to possessing their bodies at night, while they sleep, stealing their sleep and causing them insomnia until the wee hours of the morning, so that later they believe that their visions, They are the product of exhaustion and fatigue.
His legend is venerated by part of the descendants of sorcerers and witches, however, if you want to face him, you must do so specifically at 4:13 am, raising a prayer and various prayers. This specter assures that the night belongs only to him, so when meeting someone, he warns them to return to their homes and that no one goes out.
The Mona Bruja
The story of the Salvadoran legends about La Mona Bruja is very similar to that of the pig witch, since it indicates that they are witch women who transform into some animal, only this time, instead of a pig, they are monkeys. They are said to be abandoned women, seeking revenge on their former partners, practicing sorcery and creating all kinds of spells.
Legend has it that after they become apes or monkeys, they go in search of the man who abandoned them or who did them some sentimental damage, to torment him at night, running on the roofs of their houses, or attacking them physically.
Said enchantment requires a ritual, where women must take a flower from the chilamate tree and recite some very secret words, only for a few moments and at midnight.
This is only the first part of the ritual, because then they have to do three laps, followed by three steps back and another three forwards, thereby transforming into animals. In the middle of this ritual, they must be prepared with a kind of crate, which is where the soul of the person will fall, turned into a thick liquid, while transforming into the desired or invoked animal.
The monkey witch walks through the branches of the trees and the roofs of the houses, playing pranks on people, throwing objects at the roofs of the houses, or simply running and making noises in the form of annoying squeaks, with the intention of frightening and make life miserable for their victims.
According to the grandmothers, the only protection that men can use against this attack is to wear red underwear and inside out. Tired of these things, the neighbors get together and organize to try to catch the witch monkey, but when she feels cornered, she disappears as if by magic.
However, the person who makes the transformation, when returning to their human state, feels weakened, as it is said that these changes take away vital energy, shortening the time of these witches, or aging them rapidly.
They say that one way to confront the witch monkeys is to throw salt at them or destroy the container where they are supposed to have left the soul. If they succeed, then the witches will keep forever the shape of the animal they have summoned, in this case the monkey.
The death of the sorcerer of Nahuaterique
Salvadoran legends tell, that nahuaterique, was a town known for the cattle and agricultural work developed with great boom, rather than for the manifestation of any witch or sorcerer, which makes this story even more interesting.
The population of Nahuaterique, it was characterized by being a community inhabited by hard-working and honest people, who did not know of evil, sorcery, or bad customs. Despite this, they say that at night, a creature in the shape of a huge owl began to appear, which assaulted the animal pens, properties of humble peasants and producers, and sucked their blood.
These events became more and more constant, creating fear and anxiety among the population, because nobody wanted their animals to be attacked by this mysterious and nocturnal being. The fearsome attack on farm animals, in addition to fear, was generating large economic losses for the owners.
They say that one day, tired by the situation, one of the farmers set out to capture the mystical creature, so he steeled himself, took his old rifle and began the search. For several nights he set up surveillance, but without any luck, until on one of those nights he heard a strong flapping of wings, and greater surprise when he had before him the enormous owl, whose size he says was enormous.
The man fired two shots at her, then observing how the feathers came off from the impact, hearing a loud blow when she fell to the ground wounded. However, despite having heard the loud bang, the farmer could not see anything in the middle of the dark night, so he decided to withdraw and wait until the next one, convinced that he had ended the life of the stranger. bird.
The neighbors who knew about the event got up very early and went to the place to see the feathers and the creature that supposedly lay on the pavement. To everyone's surprise, there was absolutely nothing in that place, not even traces of feathers, or footprints to indicate that something had fallen on the ground.
A week after those events occurred, and despite the fact that it was not certain that the hunter had killed the mysterious creature, it never reappeared in the surroundings. Shortly after, the neighbors learned of the death of a hermit sorcerer, who lived in some caves near the community of Nahuaterique.
Upon also learning of the causes of death, which had been precisely from two shots, the neighbors realized that the sorcerer of Nahuaterique, it became the huge owl that attacked farm animals.
the witch stone
The mystery of the Salvadoran legends referring to the Witch Stone, dates back to a very old time, back in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It tells the story that this mysterious stone was nailed to the top of the hill that was called in the same way, the witch hill.
According to tradition, many specters, ghosts and goblins frolic at night, emitting strange sounds that came from the mythical hill. Apparently, the place where the stone was placed served as a mark to locate the specific area where various evil pacts were supposedly made.
It is said that it was in that place where the settlers came to make pacts with the Devil, selling their souls in exchange for favors, riches and other benefits. They even reached the point of giving the soul of their loved ones to Satan, giving them as an offering in exchange for material riches.
All those who made a pact with the devil were seen to have a great fortune overnight, having pots and jars full of gold and silver coins in the patios of their houses. But, it was useless, because that money was cursed.
In addition to these diabolical pacts in exchange for fortune, power, and money, other frightening things are said to have occurred at the site of the mysterious Witchstone. There were people who came to the place of the witchstone to cast sorcery and other curses on those they considered their enemies.
There are those who say that this stone was so powerful that many came to it to request it through the performance of rituals, to be granted extraordinary powers, through which they could change their appearance, transforming mostly into some type of animal, which gave rise to the Salvadoran legends of the witch pig or the witch monkey.
The devil's door
Two rocks located on the El Chulo hill, in the Panchimalco municipality of El Salvador, have become the great wonder of the place. Depending on their shape, they give the image of a crack over which the entire surrounding territory can be seen from its top.
This place is known as The devil's door, title also of one of the popular Salvadoran legends. His real name is chulo hill, but the locals have baptized it as The devil's door, derived from the mysterious stories that contain the way in which the rocks were formed.
One of these stories is located in the time of the Colony, where these extensions of land were owned by a family with the surname renders. He says that they had a daughter, a very beautiful young woman who was being seduced by the very same Diablo.
The parents, alarmed by the situation, sought help from the neighbors and together, they decided to put an end to the evil creature. Salvadoran legends related to this theme tell that they chased him throughout the town, and once he was cornered by the mob of people, he broke a rock, leaving the way he is today.
Another of the stories comments that the devil when he was cornered by the neighbors and the parents of the young woman, using a satanic spell he became a bull, to be able to face them. In the middle of the fight, they broke a huge rock, which automatically split into two parts, taking the form of a huge door, which today is visited by thousands of tourists, locals and foreigners.
the serape
El Serapio, is one of the Salvadoran legends that is related to other stories where the characters get involved with mysterious treaties and pacts in exchange for a lot of fortune and money, as well as greed. Precisely, the story of Serapio tells that he was the richest man in the entire region.
He had a wide variety of material goods, and every day he appeared with something new: a table, a bed, a mattress and so on, he had more and more things. But not only that was the strange thing that happened in Serapio's life, he was also always visited at night by a little black mule, who when he got on her, suddenly, appeared somewhere other than where he was.
Residents and curious people began to investigate what was behind these events, until they realized that Serapio had a pact with the devil. The little black mule that went to her house every night was sent by the devil, loaded with money so that she could buy all the things and that she could make long trips in a short time.
The locals took action on the matter and sent for a priest. He asked Serapio to take all his texts on witchcraft and throw them at the bottom of a pool, in order to undo the curse. Serapio carried out the priest's request, and when he got rid of the books, all his things also disappeared, leaving him with nothing.
Over the years, Serapio began to miss his past life and the enjoyment of all his material things, so he returned to the pool to try to rescue his sorcery books and resume his pact with the devil, but when he got there, a supernatural force dragged him to the bottom of the pool, drowning him. It is said that they never found his body, nor his books. Now this famous pool is named after him.
The snake of Lake Coatepeque
In the department of Santa Ana in El Salvador, El Lago de Coatepeque is located, which is also the title of one of the popular Salvadoran legends. The mysterious legend tells of the existence of a great serpent, which supposedly inhabited the abysses of that place.
Said creature was of enormous proportions and had, as signs, a single eye and a horn on its forehead. It is said that once a year he was heard to grumble loudly and when he did, the waters of the lake shook and shook. These sounds were heard by the riverside residents of the region.
Another sign of their presence was the strong smell of sulfur that distilled from the lake for three days. This smell was perceived by the inhabitants, who related it to hell. For many years, these circumstances kept the inhabitants of the place confused, who until now, do not know what the reality of the case was.
The Coral Pool Serpent
One of the favorite themes of Salvadoran legends has been snakes, which is why, since ancient times, they have been spoken of in myths to warn about their appearance, considering them to be mysterious and highly dangerous creatures.
In some of the stories, these snakes have even been attributed supernatural powers with which, most of the time, they influence the lives and activities of humans. One of these cases is the story about the snake in the Coral pool, which takes place in San José Villanueva – El Salvador.
They say that in that region, snakes and snakes roam among the stones, and then go out to swim in the lake in front of visitors, who manage to see them only for a few moments, because then they disappear instantly. The lake has a pool where people claim to have seen a coral snake with a red head and that is why the place took the name of The Coral Pool Snake.
This snake is very clever, since it usually comes out from between the stones or sometimes, even from a small waterfall, to then swim in front of the eyes of the curious who are amazed, and then hide again between the stones, as if it were not past nothing. The rains that have fallen in the area turned the pool into a stream framed around small caves, where many more snakes are supposed to live.
The Siguanaba
One of the best-known Salvadoran legends, not only in El Salvador but also in various parts of the world, is the one referring to the Siguanaba, a mythical character symbolized by a woman, branded as a bad mother, since it is said that she used to leave her children alone. , to meet various lovers.
This woman was of indigenous origin and was married to the god Tláloc. Legend has it that he left his poor son who was still very small, going hungry and in great need, leaving him alone and unprotected. One day her husband, the god Tláloc, realized the situation that had been presented behind his back, so he cast a curse on him that would last all eternity.
Since then, it is said that this woman can be seen as a soul in pain without forgiveness or consolation. Her name in the native language is written Sihuanaba, which means horrible woman. Rural residents point out that she has been seen very late at night, wandering everywhere, appearing to the late night, drunk and infidels who also walk down the street.
From afar, she appears to be a beautiful slender woman, but when she approaches the men and they see her, they realize that she is a horrible being. Although this legend closely resembles others from Central America, this myth is typical of El Salvador, recorded as native Salvadoran legends.
The taboo
Lake Coatepeque is once again the scene of another of the Salvadoran legends. This time it is the story of "El Tabudo", a spirit that despite being good, keeps that natural place in El Salvador enchanted. This is a very popular legend among coastal fishermen, since it is said that it appeared to them, initially in a small size, until little by little it became very large.
They say that one day, a man went out to the lake to take a ride on a handmade raft, in the vicinity of an island called Teopan, known for being a place full of snakes. Mysteriously, that man was dragged by an underground current, which was taking him to the depths of it, where they say that a goddess of fresh water called Itzqueye.
They say no one else has heard from him since that day. But, a few months after the event, he appeared to the people who took care of his house and other of his properties, who were shocked to see him.
It had elongated legs and flared lips, looking more like a sea creature than a human. There are those who indicate that when people are in the lake fishing, he usually appears to them suddenly, sitting in the front of the boat.
The locals have nicknamed him the Tabudo, because of the length of his legs, which even exceeded the smallness of his head. It is said that the fishermen who fear him flee in terror without achieving any catch, but on the other hand, those who stay to face him get good fish that day.
Religious Legends
As in many Latin American countries, El Salvador maintains its religious aspects linked to history and culture, which is why within its folk stories some of the following legends stand out.
Our Lady of Santa Ana
Our Lady of Santa Ana is one of the Salvadoran legends of an ancestral and religious nature. They say that in the middle of a procession, a group of indigenous people were carrying the statue image of the Virgin Mary. In the middle of the transfer, upon reaching the town of Santa Ana, the night caught up with them, so they decided to spend the night there.
Thus, they chose the area where there was a large ceiba tree, located in the only square of the place, which in those days was known as Sihuatehuacan. As soon as it dawned, the group was preparing to continue on their way, but they got a big surprise when trying to carry the image of the Virgin, because it was so heavy that it was impossible for them to even move it.
They then made the decision to leave it on that site, where some time later a hermitage was built and then a church was founded, calling the image of the holy virgin as Our Lady of Santa Ana. It also tells that during the events of the "Revolution of the 44”, which occurred on the Techan hill, there was a group of desperate and unarmed soldiers, surrounded by the opposing side.
Suddenly, a strange lady appeared to them, beautiful and very tall, carrying a pitcher of water on her head, with which she gave those soldiers a drink. The soldiers soon learned that this strange woman was the Virgin of Our Lady of Santa Ana, who came to her aid to help them in battle as a miracle.
The Headless Father
Salvadoran legends have the story of El Padre Sin Cabeza as one of the most precious garments, for being one of the favorites of readers. This myth refers to the existence of a soul in pain that usually enters and leaves churches. Those who claim to have seen it say that it is a character that has no head.
They have also indicated that he carries a rosary in his hand and wears a cassock as clothing, ensuring that he goes to meet the party people, drunks and late nighters who go out on Friday nights. In addition to entering and leaving the churches, they say that this soul walks through the bell towers, only to mysteriously disappear later.
In relation to the origin of this Salvadoran legend, two stories are woven, one of them indicates that it is about the soul of a priest who wanders the world because he died without being able to confess his sins. It is said that he was excommunicated for having been discovered in an affair with a woman.
The second of the versions speaks of the existence of a priest who died along with some peasants when he actively participated in a revolt. It is said that he has no head because he was decapitated during those events, officiated by the authorities of the region. Legend has it that he goes in and out of churches looking for where his head was.
The priest's cave
Among the myths and traditions, this is one of the little-known Salvadoran legends. The story takes place in the vicinity of the Agua Caliente River – hot springs, where there is a cave that remains semi-hidden under a small waterfall. This was the hiding place for couples of young lovers, who met secretly in that place.
However, this refers to the legend of a priest from the town of caluco in El Salvador, a beautiful and quiet western town in Sonsonate, neighbor of the town Izalco, which is why it is famous for being inhabited by sorcerers and other powerful shamans.
It is said that by carrying out their activities, they seriously offended the Catholic Church, so the high command of the religion sends one of its priests to restore faith among the inhabitants of caluco, which, in those times, were mostly indigenous.
The people of caluco They openly practiced nahualism, a belief based on the fact that through spells and other incantations, men could be turned into various types of animals. Upon reaching the town, the priest called a mass, but the people did not attend.
On the contrary, they approached the door of the temple, all kinds of animals, this left the priest very surprised and without an explanation of what was happening. Every time he convened a mass or sermon, noisy animals would appear bothering the priest, preventing him from fulfilling his obligation to offer the word of God.
Supposedly, these animals were none other than sorcerers and shamans who had been transformed, only with the intention of annoying the priest. Already desperate for not knowing what to do in this situation, the priest decided to leave the town of Caluco, but not before launching a terrible curse on the town.
To comply with the ritual, the priest left buried at the entrance of the church, an image of Christ placed downwards. Shortly after, a series of earthquakes began to hit the place, suffering serious damage to the entire town and completely destroying the temple.
The people blamed the priest for what had happened and were about to lynch him, so the priest fled in the direction of a cave located on the river. It is said that this is the reason why the Agua Caliente river cave in caluco, then became known as the cave of the priest. Since then it is also said that it serves as a hiding place for all the unfortunates who flee the town just like the priest did.
Our Lady of Sorrows
This is from the Salvadoran legends of a religious nature. It is the image of the Virgen de Dolores, which the faithful venerated in a temple of very simple architecture, since the years of 1781. However, many people report that said historical value was lost because of a priest who ordered the remodeling of the temple, erasing the indications of the historical richness that was in the place.
According to the narration of the story, the figure of the holy Virgin was found accidentally in a place where today there is a Catholic church. The discovery was made by some peasant workers, who encouraged the rest of the inhabitants to worship him.
They were carrying the image of the Virgin as if in a procession, but they say that it became heavier and heavier, making it impossible for them to continue carrying it. It was then that they decided to leave her in the same place where she was found, building a temple to be contemplated, under the authorization of the highest hierarchs of the Catholic Church in the country.
They say that the same virgin indicated the exact place where she wanted her temple and her statue to be, achieving the building with large adobe walls and wide doors and windows. According to the oldest inhabitants of the region, they said that the image of the Virgin of Dolores was found by a priest, who moved it to the place it occupies today.
The Virgin of Izalco
Another Salvadoran religious legend is the one that tells the story of the Virgin of Izalco, when the Virgin Immaculate Conception intervened to save the region from being destroyed by the constant action of the Izalco volcano eruptions.
As part of their tradition, many Izalqueños take a tour every year, every December 10 in the morning, towards the slopes of the Izalco Volcano. For their part, the members of the pilgrimage carry the monument of the Virgin, performing several Marian songs along the way.
This procession is part of the gratitude towards the Virgin that the faithful believers make her, after the miracle that occurred in the year 1935, when she contained the lava that threatened to destroy the entire town of Izalco. After being inactive for almost a century, the Izalco volcano began to release lava, running the risk of overflowing.
The parish priest of the Church of those years gathered several parishioners and took the image of the Blessed Virgin of the Conception, walking it around the volcano, raising various prayers. The volcano calmed down and the lava was contained, now taking the date of December 10 of each year, to commemorate the miracle and thank the Virgin.
As part of the activities, not only is the procession made, but masses and Eucharists are also celebrated on the slopes of the volcano, in honor of the Holy Mother and a statue of the Virgin is placed right in the place where the lava changed course. .
The Virgin of Peace
The Virgin of La Paz is the national patron saint of El Salvador, which is why her story could not be missing from Salvadoran legends. The events begin to be narrated, pointing out the location of a boat that was ambushed on the high seas, being attacked by a group of freebooters who wanted to steal a wooden box that was closed and nobody knew its contents.
In the midst of the revolt, the mysterious box fell into the sea, being found later by some merchants who were on the beach. However, they could not open that box, so they mounted it on a mule, bound for the community of San Miguel. The trip took a few days.
Upon reaching the intended destination, the poor little donkey fell exhausted in the middle of the main square, being right in front of the old parish church. It was there precisely where they managed to open the box, and after removing several wrappers that came inside, everyone was surprised by the content, which was an image of a Virgin with a child in her arms.
Soon this news was known throughout the city, and the faithful believers then approached the image to talk to her about their sorrows, ask her for a few favors or simply seek a little peace in the midst of their anguish. That image found on the beach was given the name "Virgen de la Paz".
