Some Legends of Guanajuato Most popular and widespread are the alley of the kiss, the mummies of Guanajuato, the ghosts of the Sierra Nevada hotel or the house of the witches.
These stories were passed on from generation to generation orally, with some additions or changes. Although they may be something extraordinary, they are believed to be unquestionably real.
Guanajuato, Mexico
The strange architecture and location of Guanajuato It made it very easy to create myths and legends about this mining city.
People talked about the enormous amount of gold and precious stones that existed there, as well as their exquisite and unknown cuisine.
Thanks to the narratives that reached the European continent, a great wave of migration began in search of gold and riches. This contributed to enrich all the narratives of this city.
List of the most popular legends of Guanajuato
1- The Alley of the Kiss
It is assumed that this story occurred in a narrow alley, only 27 inches wide, where numerous balconies are located.
These balconies are located one in front of the other, at a distance that allows two people to kiss each other.
It is believed that this alley got its name from the following story:
The daughter of a rich landowner kissed during the afternoons with a poor miner. When the woman's father discovered them kissing, he took a dagger and stuck it in his daughter's heart.
The legend says that couples who kiss stops on the third step of the stairs under the balconies will enjoy 15 years of happiness , while those who forget or do not do so will go through 7 years of suffering.
2- La Bufa
According to this legend, there is a spell in Guanajuato that promises love and fortune to whoever breaks it.
This spell can only be broken by a stranger, who fascinated by the beauty of a woman who asks for his help, must pass several tests.
This man must carry the woman and always look ahead, without turning around in spite of the numerous voices that call him.
If at any time she turns around, the woman will become a snake and lose her chance to reach great wealth.
It is said that until now nobody has been able to break the spell.
3- The Mummies of Guanajuato
During 1833 there was an epidemic of cholera that ended the lives of many people. The legend says that for fear of spreading the disease even more, some sick people were buried alive.
These people were mummified and it is said that this is why mummies have a face of pain and suffering. These mummies are displayed in a mausoleum located just below where they were found.
4- The Ghosts of the Hotel Sierra Nevada
Legend has it that two ghosts appear in this colonial building. The first is a butler dressed in around 1910.
This phantom interacts with people and it is said that you can feel it when it appears as you feel a strong smell of coffee in the environment.
The other ghost that appears in these facilities is a girl of the 19th century. Although no one knows her story, it is said that she can usually be seen walking alone through the gardens.
5- La Llorona
It is said that a woman with long and abundant hair breaks the silence of the night with desperate cries.
Legend has it that La Llorona leaves a house on Hidalgo Street at midnight, wearing a white dress and carrying something in her arms.
Walk from Cantarranas Street to Plaza Hinojo and place 'something' in front of an old house. Then he starts screaming and crying, upsetting everyone who hears her.
It is said that you can listen to it if you walk through the streets of Guanajuato at midnight.
6- The House of Witches
This peculiar mansion is located in the Paseo de la Presa, where it stands out for its particular architecture. It is an old building where the Falcon School used to be.
Although nobody knows its history, supposedly it is haunted; sometimes it is possible to see the furniture moving by itself.
7- The Legend of the Singer
José Carpio was the son of a miner, born in a mining industry. When he was 22 years old, he was a man who attracted many young women thanks to his beautiful tenor voice and his guitar. Each day his fame grew so much that he began to be known as El Cantador.
But one day his father died in an accident at the mine. After this, José abandoned the music and vowed never to play a guitar again.
He started working in the mine and later, he found wealth. Thanks to that, he was able to start his business in the mining operation.
As Jose was reaching prosperity, the sounds of his guitar began to be heard around his neighborhood.
Eventually, the area around this place, called the Garden of Flowers, began to be known as El Cantador.
8- The Trick
This is the story of a man who lost his wife in a bet with the devil.
In a street called Los Guadalajareños (now known as El Truco), every day at 6:00 p.m., the richest people of the city gathered to play and bet large sums of money. The best known game was called 'the trick'.
A man with great fortune and a beautiful wife started visiting this house and playing the trick. But one day, an elderly stranger wanted to play against the man; little by little, the man began to gamble until losing his lands, possessions and finally, his wife.
It is said that this elder was the devil, who took away the wife and the little son of man. After these hardships, the man took a gun and committed suicide.
The legend says that some nights you can still see the man walking through the streets to stop at La Casa del Truco where he waits for his revenge.
9- House of the Laments
In this house several crimes took place from 1890 to 1910; serial killer Tadeo Mejia lived there and murdered hundreds of people in that place.
The legend tells that to this day you can hear screams and people crying in the mansion.
10- The Pipila
It is said that Juan Jose de los Reyes Martinez, nicknamed Pipila, was a humble and courageous miner who made Don Miguel Hidalgo take Guanajuato.
Without their help, Mexico would have gained independence long after and in different conditions.
During the insurgency, the Spaniards took refuge in the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. Pipila placed a slab on his back and carrying a torch slid towards the Alhóndiga, where he burned the entire area.
The fire made it impossible to use the weapons, making the battle a hand-to-hand combat.
Thanks to this fire, it was possible to continue towards Valladolid and eventually it was possible to defeat the Spaniards.
References
- Guanajuato leyends: the Pipila. Recovered from donquijote.org
- Haunted Guanajuato (2013). Recovered from bruisedbanana.travel
- List of reportedly haunted locations in Mexico. Retrieved from wikipedia.org
- Guanajuato leyends: La Bufa. Recovered from donquijote.org
- Guanajuato: city of leyends. Recovered from bestday.com
- The Legend of the Singer. Recovered from ciudadmuseo-gto.com
- Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Recovered from plazamexico.com
- The legend of Trick Street. Recovered from ciudadmuseo-gto.com