The 10 best myths in Mexico (with their explanations)

March 25, 2024

In each country, there are legends that become representative stories of the place. Something that fascinates locals and strangers are the myths of Mexico and knowing each of them is interesting and revealing of the culture of this country.

The myths of Mexico are mostly of pre-Hispanic or colonial origin ; however there are some of the modern era that by their popularity have already become traditional myths of the country.

Related article: "7 customs and traditions of Mexico that you will like to know"

The 10 Most Popular Mexican Myths

Mexico's myths are rich in surprising traditions and stories, sometimes varying from region to region but the essence is the same.

1. The weeping woman

In places where there are lagoons or rivers, in the evenings a woman is heard to shout: Oh, my children! with a sad and heartbreaking voice. This woman scorned by the lack of love of the father of their children, drowned in the river and then committed suicide by not bearing the guilt of having committed the crime.

Since then he is heard at night shouting that lament. This story has variants according to the region , but without a doubt it is one of the most widespread and recognized Mexican myths.

2. The rabbit of the moon

This Mexican myth is told to children to explain the spots that are seen on the moon.

The god Quetzalcoatl went down one day for a long walk on earth, at nightfall he was tired and hungry without knowing what to eat when a rabbit that offered him his food passed in front of him, to which the god refused, Well, it was not something I used to eat.

The rabbit offered himself in sacrifice to be eaten and Quetzalcoatl in gratitude promised him that from then on he would be remembered . He took it and raised it to the moon to stamp his figure there saying "In homage to your nobility so that you are remembered by all".

3. The eagle, the snake and the nopal

The shield on the flag of Mexico is the image of an eagle standing on a cactus devouring a snake , and this icon responds to a part of Mexican history that is counted as part of the origin of what is now Mexico City.

According to pre-Hispanic mythology, the Aztecs received a message from Huitzilopochtli to leave the place where they were living and search for the promised land. The signal they had is that they would see a snake standing on a cactus devouring a snake. So They undertook the journey of 300 years until they reached what they later called Tenochtitlán .

This story is part of the most relevant myths of Mexico, as it is a historical passage that led to the founding of Mexico's capital today.

4. Quetzalcoatl

This god was very kind and envied by his brother who worshiped war and violence, so he invented a story about Quetzalcoatl to humiliate him in front of the rest of the gods. Quetzalcoatl, which in Mayan means feathered serpent, embarrassed by humiliation decides to burn himself to disappear.

However, what Quetzalcoatl had actually done was a plan to be able to go down to the underworld , where he stole a splinter of the first humans and combined with his blood create a new race of humans on earth.

For this reason, thanks to this Mexican myth, Quetzalcoatl He became the most revered and revered god of the Mayan culture .

5. The chupacabras

This is a contemporary Mexican myth that dates back to the year of 1995. Across the country they began to rumored apparitions of a strange animal that attacked mainly goats sucking the blood. Although it was never possible to obtain a single video or photographic evidence of such an animal, people claimed to have seen it.

6. The black charro

A girl named Adela, who was very besieged by men and who liked to play with them, as she walked towards a date she met a very handsome man dressed in a black charro suit and riding a horse that invited to upload. Without thinking, she agreed; when riding they were engulfed in flames and between the desperate cries of Adela they disappeared. The people say that this black charro was the devil himself, making Adela pay for her arrogance.

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7. The alley of the kiss

This is an original myth of Guanajuato , Mexico. It is said that a lover bought the house in front of his beloved to be able to see her and be with her before her father's prohibition of not seeing him. When they looked out onto the balcony, the houses were so close that they did not need much to get close and to kiss each other. Her father, upon discovering this, killed her by nailing a dagger, and the lover stayed close to her until he finally died.

8. Chaneques or Aluxes

It is said that the alunxes are small beings that inhabit the region of Veracruz, Yucatán or Chiapas . They are similar to elves but even smaller, because they do not exceed one meter in height. They dedicate themselves to taking care of the fields of their owners and doing bad things to the people to obtain food and water in exchange for leaving them alone.

9. The goddess of the moon

In southern Mexico, it is said that Ixchel was a very beautiful young woman wanted by two men who decide to fight for it to death. However, attacking treason, they kill the man that Ixchel loved and commit suicide to be with him, they ascended together to heaven to become the god of the sun and the goddess of the moon.

10. Nahuales

They are known by that name to human beings who according to the legend they have the ability to become animals to fulfill some mission . It is a Mexican myth widespread throughout the country and it is believed that owls, eagles, jaguars and coyotes are the animals that most people use nahuales to be present as animals.