Latin American Folktales

by John Bierhorst

  And I? I went in one end and came out the other so you, my friends, could tell me another.

  Costa Rica / tía Panchita (Aunt Franny)

  22. Death Comes as a Rooster

  A woman’s husband was sick in bed. She did nothing but take care of the man, and every chance she got she prayed to the Lord, “Dear God, don’t take him first. Let Death come first for me.”

  She repeated it constantly. Her compadre overheard her and said, “You’ll know Death when you see him, comadre. He comes as a plucked rooster.”

  The woman kept on, begging Death, “Don’t take my poor husband, take me instead.”

  Then the compadre caught a rooster, plucked its feathers, and put it out in the sun until it was crazed. When he turned it loose, it ran screeching into the sickroom. The wife took one look and said, “My God, it’s Death!” She jumped behind the door and pointed her finger at her husband. “Over that way,” she said. “The sick man is in the bed.”

  Cuba / Isabel Castellanos

  23. The Twelve Truths of the World

  There was a poor man with so many children that he had run through all the available godparents in his village. Just when there was no one left to ask, his wife had another child. She said to her husband, “Who’ll be godfather this time?” and the poor man stamped his foot and replied, “I’m going to invite the Devil!” With that he stormed out of the house.

  After wandering awhile, he entered a forest, where a well-dressed stranger suddenly appeared from behind a cottonwood and asked the poor man, “Where are you going, my friend?”

  “I’m trying to find a godparent for a child.”

  The stranger, who was none other than the Devil himself, said, “How about me?”

  “I’m ashamed to accept,” said the poor man. “You seem very rich, and I am very poor.” To this the Devil replied, “Don’t give it a thought. If you let me be the godfather of your child, you won’t be poor anymore. There’s a condition, however. You may keep my godson for twelve years less one day, and you must take away all the crosses and images of saints that you have in your house. Also you must not teach the child to pray. And after the twelve years less one day, I will come to claim him.” The poor man agreed to everything. He told his wife, and she said nothing.

  When the Devil arrived for the baptism, the poor man took him into the house and said to him, “I’m sorry to say that all I can give you to drink is coffee.” The Devil told him not to worry. He ordered his servants to bring food and wine. They arrived with four wagons full. The Devil also had carpenters come, and in a just few hours they had built a palace for the poor family.

  Soon after that, the Devil’s wife appeared in a beautiful carriage, and the Devil and his wife took the child to have him baptized. When they came back, they said, “The boy’s name will be Twelve and Less.” The tables were set, and they had a feast. Then the godparents left, saying, “We’ll see you again in twelve years less one day.”

  The years passed, and at precisely the time agreed upon, the Devil arrived for his godson. He had ordered that the child be placed in a room without crucifixes or images of saints. The mother of the child was the first to hear the compadre’s footsteps, and she began to pray to God, asking him to free her child from the godfather’s clutches. The Devil knocked at the door. No one opened. He cried out to his godson, “Open the door, Twelve and Less!”

  There was no answer. He cried out again, “Open the door, Twelve and Less, for I am your godfather!” But the child was fast asleep.

  The child’s guardian angel then appeared and replied for the child, “I just can’t open the door right now. I’m too sleepy.”

  “That’s no excuse. Open the door!” said the Devil. And the child’s guardian angel replied, “I’m telling you, I will not open the door! I’m too sleepy! Don’t bother me!”

  “If you don’t open the door, I’ll break it down!” said the Devil. “I’m in a hurry!” And indeed he was, for after twelve midnight his power over the child would be ended. For the third time the Devil said, “Open the door!”

  “I will not!” said the guardian angel.

  Finally the Devil got tired and said, “Tell me the Twelve Truths of the World, and I won’t break down the door. Let’s see if you can. I dare you to try!” The guardian angel replied, “But I can! I’ll tell them!” Then the Devil said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the One.” And the angel replied,

  “The One is God, Christ who came down to bless the holy house at Jerusalem, and there he dwells and will reign forever and ever, amen.” The Devil gave a jump backwards and cried out,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Two.” And the angel replied,

  “The Two, the two tablets of Moses, the One is God, Christ who came down to bless the holy house at Jerusalem, and there he dwells and will reign forever and ever, amen.” The Devil gave another jump backwards and cried,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Three.” And the angel replied,

  “The Three, the three persons of the Holy Trinity, the Two, the two tablets of Moses, the One is God, Christ who came down to bless the holy house at Jerusalem, and there he dwells and will reign forever and ever, amen.” The Devil gave another jump and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Four.” And the angel replied,

  “The Four, the four gospels, the Three, the three persons of the Holy Trinity . . .” Again the Devil gave a jump and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Five.” And the angel replied,

  “The Five, the five wounds, the Four, the four gospels . . .” Again the Devil gave a jump and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Six.” And the angel replied,

  “The Six, the six candlesticks, the Five, the five wounds . . .” Again the Devil gave a jump and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Seven.” And the angel replied,

  “The Seven, the seven joys, the Six, the six candlesticks . . .” Again the Devil jumped and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Eight.” And the angel replied,

  “The Eight, the eight choirs, the Seven, the seven joys . . .” And again the Devil jumped and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Nine.” And the angel replied,

  “The Nine, the nine months, the Eight, the eight choirs . . .” And again the Devil gave a jump and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Ten.” And the angel replied,

  “The Ten, the ten commandments, the Nine, the nine months . . .” And again the Devil jumped and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Eleven.” And the angel replied,

  “The Eleven, the eleven thousand virgins, the Ten, the ten commandments . . .” And again the Devil jumped and said,

  “Catholic and faithful Christian, tell me the Twelve Truths of the World. Tell me the Twelve.” And the angel replied,

  “The Twelve, the twelve apostles, the Eleven, the eleven thousand virgins, the Ten, the ten commandments, the Nine, the nine months, the Eight, the eight choirs, the Seven, the seven joys, the Six, the six candlesticks, the Five, the five wounds, the Four, the four gospels, the Three, the three persons of the Holy Trinity, the Two, the two tablets of Moses, the One is God, Christ who came down to bless the holy house at Jerusalem, and there he dwells and will reign forever and ever, amen.”

  The Devil disappeared with a roar of thunder, and the parents, no longer poor, kept their child and all the Devil’s riches.


  New Mexico / José Tranquilino Olguín

  Folk Prayers

  I. BEFORE RECITING THE ROSARY

  II. FOR THE DECEASED

  III. AGAINST WITCHCRAFTT

  Bendita sea la cera del Santísimo Sacramento del Altar, la Hostia Consagrada y la Cruz en que murió Jesucristo. Mil veces me he de encontrar el Domingo de Ramos frente al Crucifijo de Jesús. En la planta del pie izquierdo traigo una cruz: ¡Malditos sean los mojanes! . . . Y para siempre, amén, Jesús.

  Blessings on the votive candle of the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar, of the consecrated host, and of the cross where Jesus died. I will do it: stand a hundred times before the crucifix of Jesus on Palm Sunday and carry a cross on the sole of my left foot. A curse on witches! Always! Amen, Jesus.

  IV. TO REMOVE A CURSE

  Jesucristo, hijo de Dios vivo, por donde quiera que vaya y venga, las manos de mi Señor Jesucristo adelante las tenga; las de mi señor San Blas, adelante y atrás; las de mi señor San Andrés, antes y después. Mi Señora la Virgen vaya y venga en mi compañía; con mis enemigos tope; ojos traigan, y no me vean; manos traigan y no me aten; armas traigan, y no me ofendan. El velo que mi señor Jesucristo trae puesto, tenga yo puesto; el manto que mi Señora la Virgen tiene puesto, tenga yo puesto; y que sea mi cuerpo cubierto, que no sea preso ni herido, ni de malas lenguas perseguido. Tan libre sea yo en este día como fué mi Señor Jesucristo en el vientre de la Virgen María. Paz, Cristo; Cristo, paz. Corpus, paz. Corpus, paz, Espíritu Santo. Justo Juez Jesucristo, sálvame, sálvame. Padre Nuestro y Salve.

  Christ Jesus, Son of the living God. From where I’ve come To where I go I hold Lord Jesus’ hands; Before me and behind me Hold my lord St. Blaise’s hands; Before and after Hold my lord St. Andrew’s hands. My Lady the Virgin, be with me, Intercept my enemies; Let them seek But not find me, Stretch their hands And not reach me, Bear arms And not touch me. May I wear the cloak Lord Jesus wears, Wear the mantle My Lady the Virgin wears; Let my body be covered. Let me not be seized or wounded Or hounded by evil tongues. May I be safe as my Lord Jesus In the womb of the Virgin Mary. Peace, in Christ’s name. In Christ’s name, peace. In Christ’s body, peace. Christ’s body, peace. Holy Ghost, Christ Jesus, Judge of the living And the dead, Save me, Save me. Our Father. Hail Mary..

  V. AGAINST ENEMIES

  Padre Nuestro, Santo inmortal, fuiste clavado en la cruz con los tres clavos de acero. Así te pido, Señor, con la fuerza con que derribaste a los fariseos, me derribes a mis enemigos y a todos aquellos que quieran venir contra mí.

  Tres tembló el infierno; tres tembló el infierno; tres veces fueron a tierra; tres veces los miraste y tres veces fueron desarmados. Así creo yo, Señor, cuerpo mío no sea preso ni mis brazos amarrados. Hicos traigan, se revienten; puertas de cárceles se abran de par en par y grillos se partan. Así creo yo, Señor, que puertas y candados sean falsos para mí.

  Our Father, immortal santo, you were nailed to the cross with three nails of steel. By these I ask you, Lord, with your power that overthrew the Pharisees, throw down my enemies and all who come against me: Hell trembled three times, three times Hell trembled, three times they walked on earth, three times you gazed at them, three times they were powerless.

  This I believe, Lord. Let my body not be taken or my arms be tied. Though ropes be brought, the ropes will break.

  Let prison doors be opened wide and shackles break apart. This I believe, Lord. Let doors and locks be powerless against me.

  VI. TO ST. ANTHONY

  PART THREE

  24. The Mouse and the Dung Beetle

  A rich couple’s son was soon to be married. Next door lived a girl as poor as could be, who loved the son desperately. Her mother, who worked for the boy’s parents, would come home at night and tell her daughter what the talk was. The daughter kept hoping the boy would take an interest in her, but he never gave her a thought.

  One evening the old woman came back and said, “They’ve set a date for the wedding.”

  “Who is he marrying?”

  “A girl whose parents are as rich as cream. Who else would he be marrying?”

  The daughter felt sick but said nothing.

  The mother kept a statue of St. Anthony in the house. The next morning when she’d gone off to work, the daughter closed the doors and the windows. She stood before St. Anthony and asked him to give her the boy next door for her husband. When she prayed to the saint, he smiled. She prayed a little harder, but he was a sly one and made no answer.

  The day before the wedding, as soon as her mother had left for work, the girl took St. Anthony out of his niche and stood him on the hearth. She kept talking to him while she heated a spindle over the fire.

  “St. Anthony, listen to me, Blue Robe, I’ve asked you over and over again to give me that boy. They say you’re powerful, but I’m beginning to wonder. You don’t help me at all. And here he is, getting married tomorrow. I’m going to clean out your ears with this hot spindle, then maybe when I talk to you you’ll hear me for a change.”

  St. Anthony just laughed. When she came toward him with the heated spindle, he ran from one corner of the room to the other.

  Just as he ducked under the bed, the mother knocked at the door. Flustered, the girl opened up. The old woman asked, “What’s going on?”

  “Oh, nothing.”

  The mother noticed St. Anthony was not in his niche. She saw his feet sticking out from under the bed.

  “I took him down to clean him,” explained the daughter, “and I laid him there temporarily.” The mother picked up the saint and put him back in his niche, all the while describing the banquet that had taken place next door. Hearing this talk, the girl felt sicker than ever.

  The following day was the ceremony. Before the mother left for work she asked her daughter to come along and help her. The girl refused. “I can’t,” she said. “My heart’s not in it.” Later, when the wedding procession passed in front of her window, she couldn’t even bear to look. She turned to St. Anthony and said, “I’ll never pray to you again.”

  St. Anthony laughed and said, “Here’s a mouse and a dung beetle. They’re at your command. Give them orders and they’ll obey.”

  When her mother returned, the girl asked which room had been prepared for the bridal chamber. The mother went to the door and pointed to a certain window in the bridegroom’s house. That night the girl gave orders to the mouse, “Go look in the window and tell me if they’re in bed yet.”

  “Not yet,” reported the mouse.

  She waited awhile, then sent him back. “They’re getting into bed now,” said the mouse.

  “Gnaw a hole in the casement so the dung beetle can squeeze through.” Then she instructed the dung beetle, “Crawl all over both of them and smear them with whatever you can find.”

  The dung beetle obeyed. First the bride and then the bridegroom leaped out of bed and ran to the bath. They threw open the doors to air out the room. The next night it was the same, and the night after that. After three nights, the bride and the bridegroom began blaming each other.

  On the fourth morning the bridegroom was stopped by a little old man in front of his parents’ house. “What’s the matter?” said the little man. “You’re in such a state! Weren’t you married just three days ago? You’re as haggard as a man who’s been married a year or more.”

  “May I tell you something?” said the young man. And he spilled the whole story.

  “You’ve married the wrong woman,” said the little old man. “And this is the proof of it. You’ll never be happy until you find the woman who’s right for you. Better a poor woman whose heart is true. Believe in my advice and you’ll know what to do.”

  The unhappy bridegroom turned away and for the first time took a look around the neighborhood. He went straight to the one who had prayed so hard to St. Anthony, who himself was none other than the little old man who had given the advice. St. Anthony blessed their union, and they lived happily from that time on. As the old people u
sed to say: Eyes up before you sit down.

  Colorado / Eva Martínez

  25. The Canon and the King’s False Friend

  A man and his wife who were childless vowed they would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem if God would give them children. And at long last the wife delivered a son and a daughter. The children grew up, and when they were nearly of age the husband announced to his wife that it was time to be off for Jerusalem, as they had promised. Away they went, leaving the children with His Reverence, the canon.

  When the parents arrived in Jerusalem, they wrote home to ask how the children were doing. His Reverence replied that the girl had not done well, while the boy had turned out to be a fine young man. The girl, he reported, had become a tramp.

  The parents wrote back that since it had come to this the daughter was to be taken out and thrown to the animals after removing her eyes and one little finger, which must be shown to them as proof upon their return. Then the canon paid two ruffians to carry the girl off to the woods and bring back her eyes and her little finger.

  But the girl moved those two men to pity, and they allowed her to go free after taking only the finger. They took the eyes from a wild boar, and when they’d gone off, the boar and a little coyote stayed with the girl and took care of her in their cave.

  A king who lived nearby was out in the woods one day when he spotted the boar and the coyote. He chased them, driving them into their cave. Then, peering in, he saw the girl and ordered her to come forward. “I can’t,” she said. “I have nothing to put on.” So the king took off his cape and threw it at her. She came out of the cave, the king fell in love with her, and what should happen but they rode off to his palace and got married.

  Time passed and the king was called to war. Meanwhile the queen gave birth to a child. One day when the king had returned from the battlefield, the queen said to him, “Am I ever going to see my parents again?” So the king made arrangements for her to travel, selecting as her escort a friend in whom he had complete confidence. While on the road the friend became amorous, and when the queen rebuffed him he turned around and rode back. She, prepared for any emergency, had brought along one of the king’s outfits. She slipped it on and continued her journey dressed as a man. When she reached her old home, her parents had no idea who she was.