El folclor latinoamericano


 

El chupacabras–  This legendary creature is rumored to roam Puerto Rico, Mexico and the United States.  According to legend, el chupacabras attacks livestock, especially goats, and sucks their blood.  Eyewitnesses describe the creature as bipedal (walking on two feet), with spines down its back to its tail.  Some say it is gray, others green.  Some report its height as about three feet, others as tall as six.  As for its movements, some say it walks like a human, that it hops like a kangaroo, or that it flies.  How about you: do you believe the chupacabras exists?

 

 

 

El Ratón Pérez– When children in Mexico lose their baby teeth, they leave them not for the Tooth Fairy, but for el Ratón Pérez.  Children either place the tooth under their pillow or in a glass of water by the bedside.  When the children are sleeping, el Ratón comes to take the tooth, leaving a small gift or money in its place.  Children are also warned that el Ratón Pérez likes white teeth the best, and leaves better gifts for the whitest teeth.  Why do you think parents tell their kids about the Tooth Fairy or el Ratón Pérez?

 

 

 

 

 

Gaucho Gil– Argentinians seeking miracles often pray to Gaucho Gil, the spirit of a gaucho (a South American cowboy) from the 19th century.  According to legend, Antonio Gil, a gaucho who became an outlaw when he began to steal from the rich to give to the poor.  He was arrested and hung by local authorities, but not before he pledged to become a miracle worker after his death.  While in fact there is no historical record of Antonio Gil, thousands of Argentinians make pilgrimages each year to the supposed site of his death to ask his blessing and assistance in any number of problems.  Can you think of another character who stole from the rich to give to the poor?

 

 

 

El cucuy– Also known as el coco, or el cuco, is the boogeyman of Latin America.  Children know that if they do not obey their parents by refusing to eat supper, obeying their bedtime or fighting, el cucuy wil kidnap and/or eat them.  A popular “lullaby” goes, “Duérmete niño, duérmete ya… Que viene el cucuy y te comerá” (“Sleep, child, sleep, or else the cucuy will come and eat you”).  What is the U.S. equivalent of el cucuy?

 

lisboncentralspanish47

This blog is maintained by Heidi Sheldon for the 7th and 8th grade Spanish classes at Lisbon Central School.

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