Season 3 was created to share stories that are common to the Spanish-speaking world. These stories are ingrained in memories and the culture of the regions they hail from. Some are scary and others are fascinating. Some explain the existence of birds or volcanoes, others remind children (and adults) that they shouldn’t be out after dark because that is when monsters come to take you away.
The links below will bring you to the audio, transcript, video, and pdf handout of each of the stories.
Episode 1: La llorona The most well-known legend of the Spanish-speaking world is that of “La Llorona” or the weeping woman. She floats near water in search of her lost children. But you must be careful, because she may mistake you for one of her sons! This story features repetitions of the phrase “tiene miedo” (is scared) as well as the words “niño” (child), “mujer” (woman), “hombre” (man), “hijos” (sons/children) and “río” (river).
Episode 2: Iztaccíhuatl y Popocatéptl Outside of Mexico City there are two impressive mountains. But perhaps, they are more than just mountains. According to legend, the mountains are two star-crossed lovers who couldn’t be together in life. Iztaccíhuatl is an extinct volcano while Popocatéptl is active, and watches over her. This story features repetitions some lesser known vocabulary such as “cacique” (tribal chief), “guerrero” (warrior) and “proteger” (protect), cognates such as “tribu” (tribe), “violento” (violent) and “batalla” (battle) and some hard to pronounce names!
Episode 3: El Caleuche In southern Chile there is an island named Chiloé. The people of Chiloé are fishermen. Thus many of their legends focus on the sea. The most famous legend from Chiloé is about a ghost ship: the Caleuche. This ship is different from other stories of ghost ships because it is driven by a lovely mermaid who throws a party for her crew every night. But the way she gathers her crew, and their zombi-like state, is chilling. This legend features seafaring vocabulary such as “océano” (ocean), “barco” (boat), “pescador” (fisherman), “pez” (fish), and “sirena” (mermaid).
Episode 4: La Mocuana In the mountains of Nicaragua, a young woman roams the mountains inviting young men to come see her treasure. Those who follow la Mocuana visit a cave full of gold before disappearing forever. Is la Mocuana evil, or just the victim of a broken heart? This legend repeats vocabulary such as “tesoro” (treasure), “oro” (gold), “se enamora” (falls in love), “tiene miedo” (is scared), and “cueva” (cave).
Episode 5: Quetzal In the middle of the Guatemalan flag there is a beautiful green bird with a bright red chest and a long flowing tail. It is the quetzal, a symbol of liberty and a nahual, or spirit guide, of the Maya and Quiché people. Todays simple story explains one of the many legends surrounding this stunning bird. This legend repeats vocabulary such as “lucha” (fights), “cacique” (chieftain), “pecho” (chest), “guerreros” (warriors), and “va a” (is going to) to express the future.
Episode 6: El Silbón A tall young man strolls the plains in the Llanos region of Venezuela. He is the Silbón, or Whistler. You know he is near when his whistle (silbato) is faint, but you are safe when he whistles loudly. The origin of el Silbón is not for the faint of heart and explains why he also carries a sack of bones. Todays simple story embellishes the origin of el Silbón and his love of whistling (silbar). This legend repeats vocabulary such as “silba” (whistles), “venado” (deer), “cazar” (to hunt), “tripa” (tripe/intestines), and “cuerpo” (body). It even includes a few verbs in the past tense (cocinó = cooked, mataste = you killed).
Episode 7: La Pachamama Incan mythology tells of a mother of all living. She is la Pachamama, or Mother Earth. She controls fertility and the land and gives freely to those who give back to her and causes problems for those who take too much. This legend repeats vocabulary such as “mundo” (world), “tierra” (land/earth), “alimentar” (to feed), “dar” (to give), “tomar” (to take), “cuida” (care for), and “temblor” (earthquake). The second half ventures into the past tense with verbs such as “vio” (saw), “le gustaba” (he liked) “cazaba” (hunted) and “hablaron” (they spoke).
Episode 8: Juan Diego y la Virgen de Guadalupe In the year 1531 the Virgen Mary appeared to humble Mexican peasant by the name of Juan Diego. She had a message for the bishop. Initially, he didn’t believe Juan Diego. He thought we has telling “mentiras” (lies), not “la verdad” (the truth). He asked for a “señal” (sign). Later, Juan Diego returned, and the Virgen’s image miraculously appeared on his tilma, or cloak. That image has become known as “La Virgen de Guadalupe” and is celebrated and honored every December. This religious legend repeats vocabulary such as “obispo” (bishop), “cura” (priest), “milagroso” (miraculous), and “iglesia” (church), The legend is mostly told in the past tense, with some present tense in the dialogue and at the end.
Episode 9: El Ratoncito Périez Alfonso XIII became king at birth. When he was about to lose his first tooth, the author Luis Coloma wrote him a story about a mouse (ratón) named Pérez. That mouse visits children all over the Spanish-speaking world when a child loses a tooth. The legend is mostly told in the past tense, with some present tense in the dialogue. Repeated words include “almohada” (pillow), “diente” (tooth), “rey” (king), “cayó” (fell), and “debajo” (under).
Episode 10: La Patasola Today’s legend comes from Colombia. La Patasola is a deformed ghost creature. As her name indicates, she only (sola) has one leg (pata or pierna). What caused her demise? Why does she hop around on her leg tormenting others? The answers to those questions and more appear in this retelling of “La leyenda de la Patasola”. The legend is mostly told in the past tense. Repeated words include “infiel” (unfaithful), “enamorado” (in love), “celoso” (jealous), “patrón” (boss), “lavar la ropa” (wash clothing), and “mujer” (woman/wife).
Episode 11: Los Cadejos In Central America, large dogs roam the mountains. They are los Cadejos. Legend says God created white dogs to protect humans. Not to be outdone, the devil created black dogs to terrorize humans. In either case, cadejos appear when they are most needed, to either do good or harm depending on the person. This legend is told in both the present and past tenses. Repeated words include “protege” (protect), “aparece” (appear), “defiende” (defend), “atacar” (attack), and “cachorro” (puppy).
Episode 12: El Pombero Today’s legend comes from the Guaraní culture in the countryside of Paraguay. The Guaraní tell of a short, hairy man who comes out at night to cause a variety of problems. He is “El Pombero”. While the Pombero is not necessarily considered “peligroso”, or dangerous, he is “travieso”, or mischievous. You can get on the Pombero’s good side by leaving him “regalos” or gifts. But you can also get on his bad side by saying his name at night or copying his whistle. This legend is told in the present tense. Repeated words include “cree” (believes), “tiembla” (trembles), “silba” (whistles), and “tiene miedo” (fears/is scared).
Episode 13: El Carruaje de la Muerte Today’s legend comes from the country of Guatemala, although it is a popular story in many countries. According to the legend, a “carruaje” or carriage appears in the night driven by death (“la muerte”) himself, or herself, to carry souls to the afterlife. This legend is told mostly in the present tense. Repeated words include “tiene miedo” (is scared), “ruido” (noise), “sonido” (sound), “espantoso” (scary), “se esconde” (hides) and “caballos” (horses). No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way.
Episode 14: La Ciguapa A woman roams the mountains of la República Dominicana. She is not like other women. She is a protector of nature. Many have tried to trap her, but she is difficult to find because her feet are backwards and lead you in the wrong direction. This woman is a “Ciguapa”. She hypnotizes men with her dark eyes and beauty and leads them to their death. This legend is told in the present tense. Repeated words include “protege” (protects), “naturaleza” (nature), “bosque” (forest), and “tiene miedo” (fears/is scared).
Episode 15: El Coco Listener discretion is advised for this episode. El Coco, el Cuco y el Cucuy are the Spanish equivalent of the Bogeyman. Parents tell stories of this creature to scare their children into behaving. But el coco is not just a myth. This character is based in a very real, very disturbing event from Spain in the early 1900s. I hope you enjoy today’s exploration of the origin of “el coco”. This legend is told in the present, past and future tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “comerá” (will eat), “lleva” (takes, carries), “sangre” (blood), “fue” (was/went), “llegó” (arrived).
Episode 16: El Chupacabras Few Hispanic legends have spread as far as the rather recently discovered “chupacabras. Formed from the words “chupa”, meaning “sucks” and “cabras”, meaning goats, this legendary creature sucks the blood of animals and leaves their corpses behind. I hope you enjoy today’s overview of the legend of “el chupacabras”. This legend is told in the past tense. Repeated words and phrases include “chupa” (sucks), “sangre” (blood), “heridas” (wounds), “monstruo” (monster), “reptil” (reptile), “patas” (legs, paws), and “vacas” (cows).
Episode 17: La Tunda Today’s legend comes from the African communities on the Pacific coast of Colombia and Ecuador. According to legend, the diablo, or devil, seduced a beautiful African princess who arrived on a slave ship. Not knowing he was the devil, she loved him and had many children. One of those children is La Tunda – a very smelly woman who can change her appearance and put people in a trance by feeding them food cooked in her “trasero”, or bum. This legend is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “jungla” (jungle), “esclavos” (slaves), “apesta” (stinks), “trasero” (bum), “víctima” (victim), “diablo” (devil), and “rezar” (pray).
Episode 18: Huatyacuri Today’s legend comes from Perú. Huatyacuri lived a lonely life in the Andes mountains. While his father, Pariacaca, the god of wind and storms, loved him, he could not physically hug him, as he only existed in the wind, rain and snow. Huatyacuri longed for ams to hold him. Then he met the beautiful Chaupiñaca and called upon his father to help him overcome the trials presented by her brother Kamachiq to be able to marry her. This legend is told in the present tense. Repeated words and phrases include “viento” (wind), “hermoso/hermosa” (beautiful), “flauta” (flute), “promesa” (promise), “casarse” (marry), “ropa” (clothing), and “abraza” (hug).
Episode 19: La Siguanaba There are many legends of monstrous women that roam the streets looking for victims. We have already heard the stories of la Llorona, la Patasola and la Tunda. Today’s legend of la Siguanaba has many similarities. Like the three other women, she did not begin as a monster, but became one because of her own bad choices. Now, she is doomed to cause havoc and scare away the men that once adored her. I hope you enjoy la leyenda de la Siguanaba. The first half of this legend is told in the past tense and the second half is in the present tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “hermoso/hermosa” (beautiful), “cara” (face), “piel” (skin), “cabeza” (head), “caballo” (horse), “estaba enamorado/a” (was in love), “se enamoró” (fell in love) and “cambió” (changed).
Episode 20: La Yerba Mate Mate is a popular drink in South America and is becoming ever more prevalent around the world. Known for its high caffeine content and, some claim, health properties, it is possible to find cans of Yerba Mate in health shops and even on grocery store shelves. The original mate, however, is drunk from a hollowed out gourd through a metal “bombilla” straw. The plant itself was a gift from the gods. Today’s legend explains the origin story of this popular plant. This legend is told in the both the present and past tenses. Repeated words and phrases include “bebe” (drinks), “vaso” (cup), “tierra” (land, earth), “regalo” (present, gift), “luna” (moon), “dioses” (gods), and “cielo” (sky).
No matter where you are in your language journey, stories will help you on your way. Happy listening!