The 10 most interesting and memorable Peruvian legends

Peruvian legends are characterized by a mystical and religious content whose main characters are the elements of nature. Taking as scenery lagoons, forests, jungles, beaches, rivers, hills and mountains, Peruvian legends explore phenomena natural and supernatural, as well as daily experiences, religious events and historical accounts of the colonial era.

In the following article we will see several of the most popular Peruvian legends.

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10 Peruvian legends

Legends and myths are part of the historical and cultural heritage of humanity. They tell us about the origins of towns, cities, women, men, animals and ecosystems. They speak of loves, secrets, enigmas and fantasies, in addition to explaining a multiplicity of religious and supernatural phenomena.

Precisely, the legends of Latin America have common themes such as enchanted forests, witches and ghost women, mystical animals and protectors, among others. Along these lines, we will see 10 typical legends of Peru below.

1. The enchanted bull (Ayacucho)

In the province of Huanta, Ayacucho Region, there is a lagoon called Razuhuillca. It is the largest of three lagoons and is located at the entrance of the town, on a hill that has been converted into a dam. Legend has it that in this lake there is a beautiful and stout black bull that an old woman with white hair has fastened with a gold chain. They say that once the bull managed to defeat the old woman to surface, but this resulted in the flooding of Huanta. The villagers had no choice but to re-chain the bull and constantly watch that he does not escape again.

2. La Huega (Ica)

The city of Ica is home to this legend that tells about a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, who always saw herself in the mirror. One day, a traveler who was walking in the area got lost. He suddenly found himself among hills and palm trees, where he found the beautiful woman. Guided by her beauty, he approached her to ask why she was alone in the forest. The woman was shocked and scared, so she ran off, pulling her beloved mirror into the bushes. The villagers say that the Huega lagoon has been formed from this mirror.

3. The enchanted child (Lima)

Legend has it that one day, a 12-year-old boy lost his ration of meat and corn. She crying she went to a pond, from which a young woman emerged who asked her why she was crying. The boy explained that he was hungry and she offered him food. He took his hand and led him into the depths of the pond, where they never came out. After searching for it for several days, the parents found the boy and the girl in a cave in Huayanqui.

To remove the spell from the boy, the father wrapped him in a woolen scarf and then asked him how he had Once there, the boy explained that he had walked with the girl across the lake to the cave in search of food.

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4. The mysterious lagoon (Lima)

Near the city of Cañete there is a river It has a part shaped like a lagoon, which they call "the mysterious lagoon." They say that this lagoon has divine blessing, since, every time the river rises and increases its volume of water, the lagoon is the only part of which remains in its original channel, surrounded by beautiful trees and flowers. They say that every year, during the San Juan festivities, a beautiful leg appears in the lagoon followed by small ducklings, which represents a good omen.

5. The stone toad (Pasco)

Legend has it that many years ago an old woman dressed in black lived near the Pasco hill. Each harvest, the old woman had the largest potatoes, which aroused the envy and curiosity of the neighbors. One night, while the old woman was sleeping, a huge toad that had sneaked into her harvest wiped out all of her potatoes. Waking up to the toad scandal, the enraged old woman cast a spell so strong that she blew roofs and tree roots.

The toad flew through the air until it was attached to a gigantic rock, where it remains to this day, turned into stone. In addition to ending the life of the potato-stealing toad, the neighbors confirmed the suspicion that the old woman was actually a powerful sorceress.

6. The hill of the old and the old man (Lambayeque)

In the center of the road that goes from Lambayeque to Motupe there is a large hill. They say that a couple of old men lived there, to whom one day Jesus Christ appeared. He was thirsty and asked for water, but the elders refused to offer it. In punishment, Jesus Christ turned them into a pair of hills, and They say that every time a stone falls it is a sign of their laments.

7. The stone that cures lovesickness (Áncash)

This is the story of one of the many recipes for soothing wounded hearts. Many years ago there was a jealous father who decided to poison the suitor of his beautiful daughter, considering him unappealing. He soon realized the enormous sadness it had caused his beloved daughter, who had taken refuge in the Cotacocha lagoon indefinitely.

So, repentant, the father went to the hills of Quito, Educator, to collect an enchanted and healing stone that had fallen from heaven. He took her to the Cotacocha lagoon to heal her daughter's sorrows. He prepared the stone in a mate, and by drinking it, her daughter was cured and forgave her father. They say the stone is still there, and that she has been wasting for each sickness of love that heals.

8. The Lord of Chacos (Huánuco)

Legend has it that many years ago, in the town of Chacos, a shepherd woman heard a hammering coming from an old man carving a huge cross. The shepherdess asks the old man who he was and why he was doing this. He responds that he is a carpenter, and that he built a cross for himself. The shepherdess offers him her food basket and the carpenter refuses, but she asks him to bring her a bouquet of flowers the next day.

So the shepherdess returns with flowers, and to her surprise she finds the carpenter stuffed and crucified. The people of Chacos tried to move the carpenter and his cross towards the town, but it was impossible: he always reappeared in the same place. Since then, the carpenter is known as the Lord of Chacos and she has been credited with numerous miracles and annual celebrations. In other versions of this legend, it is not a shepherdess but a group of children who find the carpenter.

9. The mysterious little boat (Piura)

Legend has it that, mysteriously, the people who were dedicated to night fishing in the cove of Cabo Blanco, never returned from their work. What did return after several days was his boat, lonely under the current of the same waves.

They say that the disappearance of the fishermen is the product of a charm and that, at Easter, a luminous boat appears from midnight. This causes fear and even paralyzes those who observe it, while it disappears slowly when entering the cove.

10. The town of Narihualá (Piura)

Near the city of Catacaos there is a town called Narihualá. It is a town that has been inhabited by different tribes. Upon learning of the arrival of the conquerors, the last settlers of Narihualá decided to bury themselves alive, along with all their riches, so that they could not be possessed.

Among his most precious objects was a huge golden bell. It was hanging from a great temple that the Spaniards soon found. In the attempt to capture it, the bell collapsed in the dream and sank into the earth, and the conquerors could not find it. They say that every Good Friday a little man from this ancient tribe appears.

He carries in his hands a lighted lamp and a small bell that makes noise. Guide the villagers to the buried objects, who have found pearls and gold objects. They also say that there is a curse for any outsider who tries to possess these treasures.

Bibliographic references:

• Arguedas, J.M. and Izquierdo, F. (2013). Peruvian myths, legends and stories. Reading point: Peru.
• Ocampo, J. (2006). Latin American myths and legends. Plaza & Janes: Colombia.