O curupira, one of the most famous characters in Brazilian folklore, is known as a mythical being who protects the forest. Her legend has its origins in indigenous peoples, being very famous in the North of Brazil, especially in Amazonas and Pará. This legend is quite old, with mention of it from the 16th century.
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legend of the curupira
The curupira is often portrayed as a dwarf who owns the hairred and the footto thecontrary (with heels forward). It is important to emphasize that the physical description of the curupira may vary according to the place where the legend is reproduced.
in certain places, the curupira is bald; in others, there is the bodyhairy and teethgreen. Anyway, the characteristics that stand out are the ones mentioned: short stature, red hair and backwards feet. In addition, its great physical strength.
The curupira as protector of the forest turned against all those who destroyed it and, therefore, was seen with great fear by the indigenous people. The indigenous people believed that the curupira
terrified and killed those who went into the forest to hunt or fell trees.The fear was so great that the indigenous people offered gifts when they entered the forest to prevent them from being victimized by the curupira. The legend says that the curupira loved to receive smoke and liquor as gifts. In addition to terrifying the hunters, the curupira was also responsible for making them get lost in the forest and forget the way they would leave it.
A way of torment the hunters it was the curupira's act of continuously whistling. To escape from him, if he finds you in the middle of the forest, it is necessary to tie a knot in a piece of vine. Now, finding the curupira in the forest on your own is almost impossible, as its backwards feet make its location unlikely.
The curupira is a natural inhabitant of forests, so, to find it, it is necessary to enter the dense forest. Therefore, this being avoids being in places with a large human presence, only going after humans when they enter the forest to hunt or cut down trees.
Where does the name curupira come from?
Curupira comes from tupi and there is disagreement among experts about its meaning. The best known definition is the one that determines that curupira means "boy's body”, but there are other definitions, such as “covered in pustules” or “scab skin”.
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When did the legend of the curupira appear?
The first mention we have of the legend of the curupira was made by José de Anchieta, in 1560.
It is not known exactly when the legend of the curupira appeared, but it is known that it is one of the oldest Brazilian legends because it was one of the first to be mentioned by the Portuguese who settled in Brazil. In 1560, the Jesuit priest José de Anchieta, established in São Vicente (current coast of the state of São Paulo), made a mention of the curupira.
This mention was in a letter written by him and which was reproduced by historian Luís da Câmara Cascudo:
|1|It is well known, and it is common knowledge that there are certain demons and that the Brazilians [indigenous people who inhabited the Brazil] they call corupira, which often attack the Indians in the forest, they whip them, hurt them and kill them. Witnesses to this are our brothers, who sometimes saw the dead for them.
Other reports about curupira are linked to the Portuguese Jesuit Ferdinandcardin, in 1584, or to the priest simoninVasconcelos, in 1663, and to the priest JoãoDaniel, in 1797|2|. These mentions reinforce the fact that the legend was in fact well known and spread throughout the Brazilian territory.
In addition, scholars say that as the myth spread, the curupira became known as othersnames, like caapora. Caapora is better known as c.celery and it is very related to the curupira and also to the saci-pererê, because of the number of similarities that exist between these legends.
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There are also scholars who point out that the curupira myth emerged among the nauas, indigenous people who inhabited the region of Acre. The myth was being transmitted to other peoples, such as the caribbean and, finally, the Tupi Guarani. It may be related to mythical beings from other cultures, such as the chudiachaque, present in the culture inca, for example.
Scholars also usually relate the curupira with a legend that is known in the Paraguay and on Argentina. This Argentine and Paraguayan legend is about the curupi, known as the protector of forests and animals, but also a being with great sex appeal.
Grades
|1| CAMERA CASCUDO, Luís da. Brazilian folklore dictionary. São Paulo: Ediouro, s/d, p. 332.
|2| CAMERA CASCUDO, Luís da. Geography of Brazilian myths. São Paulo: Global, 2012, p. 94-95.
By Daniel Neves
Graduated in History
