The 12 best myths of Mexico (with explanations)

Stories from different regions and historical moments in Mexico.

In every country, there are legends that become representative stories of the place. Something that fascinates locals and strangers are the myths of Mexico and knowing each one of them is interesting and revealing of the culture of this country.

The myths of Mexico are mostly of pre-Hispanic or colonial origin; however, there are some from the colonial era.However, there are some from the modern era that due to their popularity have already become traditional myths of the country.

The 12 most popular myths of Mexico

The myths of Mexico are rich in traditions and amazing stories, sometimes they vary from region to region but the essence is the same.

1. The Weeping Woman

In places where there are lakes or rivers, at night a woman is heard screaming "Oh my children! with a sad and heartbreaking voice. This woman, scorned by the lack of love from the father of her children, drowned them in the river and then committed suicide because she could not bear the guilt of having committed the crime. Since then, she is heard at night screaming this lament.

This story has variations depending on the regionelements of its narration are modified to fit the folklore and values associated with each belief system, but it is undoubtedly one of the most widespread and recognized myths of Mexico.

2. The moon rabbit

This Mexican myth is told to children to explain the spots seen on the moon.

The god Quetzalcoatl went down one day to take a long walk on the earth, at nightfall he was tired and hungry without knowing what to eat when a rabbit passed in front of him and offered him some of his food, which the god refused, since it was not something he was used to eating.

The rabbit offered himself as a sacrifice to be eaten and Quetzalcoatl in gratitude promised him that henceforth he would be remembered. He took it and raised it up to the moon to stamp his figure there saying "In homage to your nobility so that you will be remembered by all".

3. The eagle, the serpent and the nopal cactus

The coat of arms on the flag of Mexico is the image of an eagle an eagle standing on a nopal cactus devouring a snake.This icon corresponds to a part of Mexican history that is told as part of the origin of what is today Mexico City.

According to pre-Hispanic mythology, the Aztecs received a message from Huitzilopochtli to leave the place where they were living at the time and seek the promised land. The sign they had was that they would see a snake standing on a nopal cactus devouring a snake. So they they undertook the 300-year journey to reach what they later called Tenochtitlán..

This story is part of the most relevant myths of Mexico as it is a historical passage that led to the founding of the present-day capital of Mexico.

4. Quetzalcoatl

This god was very kind and envied by his brother who worshipped war and violence, so he invented a story about Quetzalcoatl to humiliate him in front of the rest of the gods. Quetzalcoatl, which in Mayan means Feathered Serpent, embarrassed by the humiliation decided to burn himself to disappear.

However, what Quetzalcoatl had actually done was to make a plan to be able to descend to the a plan to be able to descend to the underworldwhere he stole a splinter of the first humans and combined it with their Blood to create a new race of humans on earth.

For this reason, thanks to this Mexican myth, Quetzalcoatl became the most revered god in Mexico. became the most revered and respected god of the Mayan culture..

5. The chupacabra

This is a contemporary Mexican myth dating back to 1995, based on an urban legend from Puerto Rico. Throughout the country rumors of a strange animal that attacked mainly goats and sucked their blood. sucking their blood. Although no video or photographic evidence of the animal was ever obtained, people claimed to have seen it.

6. The black charro

A girl named Adela, who was very besieged by men and who liked to play with them, while walking to an amorous date found a very handsome man dressed in a black charro suit and mounted on a horse who invited her to get on. Without thinking about it, she agreed; As they rode on, they were engulfed in flames. and amidst Adela's desperate screams they disappeared. People say that this black charro was the devil himself, making Adela pay for her pride.

7. The alley of the kiss

This is a myth originating in Guanajuato, Mexico.Mexico. It is said that a lover bought the house in front of his beloved so he could see her and be with her when her father prohibited him from seeing her. When they looked out on the balcony, the houses were so close that they didn't need much to get close and kiss. Her father, upon discovering this, killed her by stabbing her with a dagger, and the lover stayed close to her until he finally died.

8. Chaneques or Aluxes

It is said that the alunxes are small beings that inhabit the region of Veracruz, Yucatan and Chiapas.. They are similar to goblins but even smaller, as they do not exceed one meter in height. They take care of their owners' crops and do mischief to people to obtain food and water in exchange for leaving them in peace.

This is an example of the importance given in agricultural societies to the conservation of plantations, a work context in which having a good or a bad season can be a matter of life or death.

9. The goddess of the moon

In the south of Mexico it is said that Ixchel was a very beautiful young woman who was sought after by two men who decide to fight to the death for her. However, attacking treacherously, they kill the man Ixchel loved and committing suicide to be with him, they ascended together to heaven to become the god of the sun and the goddess of the moon.

As it happens in many other myths of Mexico, in this one appears the recurrent topic of the justice that is fulfilled in the beyond, out of the reach of the limitations of the material world and its violent dynamics. It also offers an explanation of a mythical nature about the origin of two of the main stars.

10. Man on the tracks

This is one of the Mexican legends originating in Durango.. It is said that several decades ago, in the middle of the 20th century, a railroad worker got drunk and fell asleep on the railroad track. When the first locomotive passed by, it cut his head off with the wheels. Legend has it that at night it is possible to see his ghost along the railroad track, the figure of a man carrying his head under his arm.

11. Nahuales

This name is given to human beings who, according to legend, have the ability to According to legend, they have the ability to turn into animals to fulfill some mission.. It is a Mexican myth widely spread throughout the country and it is believed that tecolotes, eagles, jaguars and coyotes are the animals most commonly used by nahuales to become animals.

12. The Devil's Casino

In the city of Hermosillo there is a casino in ruins in a relatively isolated area.. The story goes that many years ago a young girl disobeyed her parents to go out one night partying with her friends, escaping from home through the window.

Once they all got together, they went to the casino, where there was music for dancing and drinks; in that place the young woman met a handsome guy who asked her to dance, and after several minutes having a good time, she realized that in the part of the young man where her shoes should be, there was a cock's foot and a goat's foot. At that moment the room was filled with the smell of sulfur and the casino began to burn quickly.