TFK Extra: Guatemalan Folklore, The Legend Of El Sombreron

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With spooky treats and decorations reminding us that Halloween is close at hand,  we’re in the mood for a good scary story. We all know about Michael Myers, Freddy Crougar ad the Boogie Man. But I am sure many of you are not familiar with Guatemalan folk stories and legends, so we will share one of them with you: The Legend Of El Sombreron.

So you can picture the scenery, most, if not all of Guatemala’s legends and tall tales date back to more than 200 years and usually take place on the outsides of the city, near rivers, woods, or farms.

El Sombrerón

Celina had big, black eyes and long wavy hair. Everyone admired her.

 One day, at about 6 in the afternoon, four tied up mules appeared down the corner of Celina’s house. Two neighbors walked by and one of them said “This is odd! Could these be el Sombreron’s mules?”  “Lord save us!” said the other, and they ran off.

At that hour, Celina felt unusually tired and started to drift off to sleep.  She started to hear a very beautiful melody and a very soothing voice that sang “you are a white dove, white as the lemon blossom, if you don’t give me your word I shall die from passion”.

Since that day, every night Celina happily awaited that music only she could hear.  One day, she couldn’t resist the curiosity and she peeked to her window.  She was surprised to see a tiny man wearing very shiny black boots with gold spurs, and a very large “sombrero” that sung and danced playing his silver guitar below her window.

Celina could not stop thinking of the little man. She would not eat, she only lived for the moment she would hear his voice again.  The little man had cast a spell on her. Legend has it that el Sombreron is the devil, he seduces his victims with songs, visits their rooms at night to braid their hair with thin and impossible to detangle braids.  He drives the women crazy with his songs and slowly kills them so he can take their souls forever.  Sometimes, people find thin braids on horses at their stables, which lets them know that el Sombreron is around, and looking for a soul to take.

The neighbors took notice, and advised Celina’s parents to take her to a convent where she would be safe, because that man… was the devil.  So, Celina was promptly taken to the convent where she grew sadder and sadder each day, missing her songs and melodies.  Meanwhile, the little man frantically looked everywhere for her.

Finally, beautiful Celina couldn’t stand her sadness anymore and died on the day of Saint Cecilia.  Her body was taken home for the wake.  Suddenly, a sad cry was heard.  It was el Sombreron, who had arrived with great sorrow to serenade her beloved: “oh… oh… tomorrow when you leave, I shall meet you on the road to give you my handkerchief with tears and sighs”.

Those who were able to see him, tell that thick tears rolled down while he sang, and that every year on the day of Saint Cecilia four mules are seen near her grave, and a sweet voice is heard singing.  El Sombreron never forgets the women he has loved… and taken.

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This post is also available in / Esta entrada también está disponible en ESPAÑOL (SPANISH)