The most popular myths and legends of Mexico

Who is fan of the legends from Mexico?

Characters from ancient time and stories that will surprise you

The legends of Mexico are undoubtedly surprising stories, from the incredible feats of the Mexican Revolution to the great Mexican icons we know today. However, other stories have transcended time due to their historical importance, and that combine fantasy, the surreal, and reality.

These anecdotes became very common for us as we grew up and learned from them. Today we will share a post dedicated to Mexican legends and myths, so if you like this type of content, turn off the lights and enjoy.

The Yeguatzihuatl in Chiapas, Mexico

In the streets of this Mexican town, you can see a woman with white clothes and dark hair wandering at night. Those who are unlucky enough to run into her flee immediately, but some feel very brave and begin to follow her once they are close to her.

What these brave men do not know is that the mission of the Yeguatzihuatl is to lead them until they are lost among the swamps. Once trapped by the mud of the swamp, this woman lets out a heartrending scream that disturbs the environment while, as a joke, she gives cigarettes and sweets to her victims while they wait to be rescued by a traveler who passes by chance. When the sun rises, all those sweets and cigars take their real form: bones and manure.

Read more: 5 mysterious ghosts towns in Mexico

The Xtabay in Yucatan, Mexico

This is the story of two sisters who lived a long time ago in Yucatán. Their names were X’keban and Utzcolel; the first was a libertine woman who indulged in carnal passions with men, earning a certain repudiation amongst the people. However, she had enormous kindness and enjoyed helping the sick, who after being healed adored her.

As for the second sister, she was a woman with a conservative character, but she never showed sympathy for others since she thought they were inferior and did not deserve her help or attention.

One day, X´keban disappeared and all the townspeople and especially the people who loved her wondered what had happened. One day, everyone began to feel a sweet aroma in the environment that led them to X’keban’s house. There they found the inert body of the woman. All those who appreciated her took her body to the pantheon while her sweet perfume spread throughout the town.

The next day, a rare flower called “xtabentún' appeared on the grave from which emanated an elixir as intoxicating as it was sweet, just like the love that X’keban gave to men.

Utzcolel said that the perfume that emanated from X’keban’s body was the work of the demons. She affirmed her body would smell much better after dead since she was a much better person than she was. Time passed, and the second sister passed away, and all the sad people attended the funeral. Contrary to what everyone thought, there was no sweet aroma, instead, a plague flooded the town.

In a hurry, Utzcolel was buried and her grave was surrounded with flowers to disguise the bad smell. The next day, a strange flower appeared on her grave, it was a very thorny cactus called “tzacam”, which with the smallest touch could cause pain.

Even in the afterlife, Utzcolel felt envy for her sister then she thought that the reason why her body emanated a sweet aroma was because of her behavior towards men but it was because of her great goodness and essence.

Utzcolel invoked the demons of the underworld and agreed with them to return when she wanted to this world with the appearance of X’keban to seduce men and end their life among the thorns of a ceiba tree.

La Maltos, the Witch of the Arches of Ipiña in San Luis Potosi, Mexico

During the colonial era, the Holy Inquisition oversaw the punishment of all those who dared to practice rites and customs that were not part of the Catholic faith. One of its members was a female nicknamed La Maltos.

This woman held a high position in addition to being a powerful inhabitant of San Luis Potosí. She resided in a large building that today is known as the Arcos de Ipiña in the center of the city. In those days, a curfew was imposed at night for all the inhabitants, however, La Maltos was so influential that she had the luxury of strolling in her great carriage to walk through the streets.

Rumors in the city were that this woman practiced rituals and black witchcraft in her home. One bad day, La Maltos executed two people who enjoyed the protection of one of the most powerful families in San Luis Potosí. Such deaths were unjust, and La Maltos was accused of murder in addition to witchcraft and sentenced to death.

In her last moments, the woman made one last wish; to allow her to draw her carriage in the grave that would be her last resting place. La Maltos began to trace her carriage and at the end, all those present witnessed how her drawing came to life and she came out of the wall. She gave a dark, mocking laugh as she climbed in and sped away from the place.

Since that day, she was never seen again, but stories tell that in the Arcos de Ipiña occur paranormal events.

The lady known as “La Mulata of Cordoba” in Veracruz, Mexico

Do you remember I told you that these stories had some truth to them? In Mexico’s General Archive of the Nation, there is a file that tells a story that occurred many years ago in the state of Veracruz.

During the 16th century, the Holy Inquisition blamed a woman named Soledad who lived in Cordoba to be a witch. The rumor was that she had a pact with the devil to look young forever. However, Soledad was a very skilled herbalist who was dedicated to cure any illness in her community as well as possessing great beauty that caused envy.

She was known for being a lonely and somewhat sullen woman in rejecting many suitors regardless of whether they were rich or poor. Among those suitors was the mayor of Cordoba: Don Martín de Ocaña, who, feeling angry, started the rumor that Soledad was a witch and that she had given him a potion that made him feel in love with her.

Although many illnesses had been cured by her, the townspeople were afraid of going against the Catholic faith and being judged by the Holy Inquisition. When questioned, many said they saw her fly over the rooftops, laugh ghoulishly at night and some women claimed that Soledad harassed them to sell love potions.

For these accusations Soledad was locked up in the San Juan de Ulúa prison and sentenced to the stake. During her isolation, she used her beauty to convince a jailer to give her a piece of charcoal with which she amused herself by drawing on the walls.

The day before she was executed, Soledad showed the jailer a beautiful sailing ship that she had drawn on one of the walls and asked: “What is missing from this ship?', the jailer replied: “To navigate, my Lady', and she replied: “Well, look how it navigates'. In amazement, he watched as Soledad mingled with her drawing and began to move away and disappear forever.

Noticing the lack of the jailer, the other soldiers descended only to find the cell empty and the jailer dead.

The Pantheon Boy of Momoxpan in Puebla, Mexico

The small town of Santiago de Momoxpan is located between the city of Puebla and Cholula. Many years ago, the inhabitants told legends about the appearance of strange beings, the noises of chains and metal at night, as well as the appearance of small blue flames that made those who saw them scream with fear.

One day, a girl named Guadalupe Xomitl who lived in Momoxpan came across a little boy in huaraches and a loincloth. She was petrified when she saw the appearance of this little boy, but she came out of her astonishment when he asked her to dig under the place she had chosen to put her mat to sleep. She asked him: “Why are you asking me that?”, to what he replied: “Because my parents are buried there and will not rest until they are in a sacred place”. After this, the boy added: “There are many people buried throughout the town due to the fights and aggressions of the conquerors against us indigenous people”.

Faced with this statement, Guadalupe could not bear it any longer and fainted. These apparitions continued for some time until she became ill and passed away. Other inhabitants narrated that they had also encountered these apparitions and confirmed what was said about Momoxpan; that it was a huge indigenous cemetery.

Over time, the villagers have found the remains of people to whom they have given a Christian burial to find eternal rest.

The Kissing Alley in Guanajuato, Mexico

Many years ago in Guanajuato, lived a beautiful young woman named Carmen, who was the daughter of a man who saw in her the opportunity to increase his material assets. Her fate was already chosen; she had to marry someone rich in Spain, which was the reason why her father had forbidden her to interact with the other men in Mexico.

One day, while Carmen was at mass, she met Don Luis, a humble miner with whom she fell deeply in love. They began a beautiful romance in secret. However, Carmen’s father discovered them and threatened to send her to a distant convent if she kept seeing Don Luis again. Upon hearing the terrible news, Don Luis began to plan how to see Carmen, so he bought the house across the street from where Carmen lived.

Both houses were only separated by a narrow alley that allowed the couple to be very close, so much so that they could hold hands while enjoying their love. One day while the young couple swore eternal love from their balconies, Carmen’s enraged father entered her bedroom and suddenly stabbed a dagger right in his daughter’s back while Luis held her hand. He could do nothing except give her a tender kiss on her hand as life left Carmen’s body. It is said that Don Luis could not bear losing Carmen, so he took his life by jumping from the highest part of La Valenciana Mine.

Now, all travelers who go as a couple to visit the Kissing Alley must climb to the third step and kiss, or else they will have seven years of bad luck.

Did you like these stories? There are still many more that people share in Mexico. If you would like the second part of them leave us your comments to compile our favorites to share with you.