Famous Cryptids and Folklore Creatures
As the saying goes, the legend of the Chupacabras originates in the town of Moca, Puerto Rico, where this terrible being was originally called the “Vampire of Moca.” Many animals were found lifeless, but the highly surprising thing was that these corpses were intact but had two holes in their necks and not a drop of blood. Some said that this was because a terrible beast drank their blood, obtaining it based on a large bite with sharp fangs.
The Hitchhiking Ghost: Rubia de Kennedy
A beautiful young woman with long, blond hair, dressed in a white coat, had hitchhiked on Kennedy Avenue, near Geronimo de Alderete Street. After getting the cars to stop, the girl always climbed into the back seat. But after about two or three kilometers, at the precise moment when the vehicles began to accelerate, the same woman whispered to the drivers, in a calm and soft voice: “Do not run, please, go more slowly. It is dangerous. I killed myself in one of these streets.” When the surprised drivers listened to the phrase and looked instinctively in the rearview mirror, the young woman was no longer in the car. She had disappeared without a trace.
The Trauco of Chiloé
The Trauco is a mysterious creature that, legend says, lives alone on the island of Chiloé, in southern Chile. This mythical figure is one of the best-known characters on this small island.
- It is said that the Trauco is a small man, only 80 cm tall, with a manly and ugly face, but with a special and sweet look that attracts women.
- He has no feet.
- They say that he wears a suit with a hat made of a plant called coralito, which is used for making brooms and baskets.
- In his right hand, he carries an ax made of stone, but when he meets a woman in the forest, he uses the implement as if it were a cane, so as not to frighten them.
The Historical Basis of Dracula
The story of Dracula is based on a real character, more specifically, Vlad III. Vlad III was king of Wallachia (present-day Romania) in the middle of the 15th century. This small province was under the tutelage, at that time, of the Holy Roman Empire (that of Charles V) and bordered the Ottoman Empire. Their situation was quite difficult, as it was the last step the Turks had to conquer to take Austria and therefore enter Europe fully; the center of Christianity.
Did he suck blood?
Not quite. He only liked to dip bread in the blood of his victims while they were being martyred. This cruelty responded to a form of humiliation rather than a need for blood to survive. This notion is left to the vampires that shine in the light of day.
Legend and Myth Distinction
Legend vs. Myth
The legend is usually a wonderful history that sometimes originates from some historical event, but the myths describe more clearly a story that has a close relationship with the religious.
Urban Legends Defined
The urban legend is a kind of story belonging to the literary text, which is a popular tradition that aims to cause fear and entertain. They belong to the city; some are based on real events, but they are distorted or exaggerated and mixed with fictitious facts.