Myths and legends are part of all culture. The difference between the two is that a myth is a fantastical Greek narrative used to explain phenomena that humans were unable to explain. The characters in the myth are gods and heroes.
In legends, the characters are strange and magical creatures. However, the legend also has the purpose of explaining mysterious facts. Furthermore, they also pass on several important lessons.
To know 60 myths and legends from Brazil and the world, check out this article!
Index
- boto
- Açaí
- Curupira
- Caipora
- Boitatá
- Saci-pererê
- Werewolf
- Iara
- head
- Mother of the Gold
- guinea fowl
- Oriole
- Redhead beard
- Matinta Pereira
- Headless mule
- Cassava
- water lily
- Guarana
- Santa Claus
- Blue jay
- Yemanja
- sinuhe
- Isis and the seven scorpions
- Dyoser of the pharaoh and the flood of the Nile
- The seven Hathores
- Ubuntu
- Narcissus
- Pandora's Box
- Hercules
- persephone
- Achilles
- the giraffe and the rhinoceros
- the fox and the camel
- Kitsune
- Hongxian
- Doi Nang Non Mountain Range
- big flood
- Dziú and corn
- Chom
- the princess and the maquech
- May's flower
- Uay Chivo
- Xkeban and Utz Cole
- Che Unic
- Alux
- Phoenix
- Odin
- Jellyfish
- Midas
- Kikimora
- Ivan the Fool
- nightingale thief
- Koschei immortal
- Vodianoi
- Vassilisa the Beauty
- pineapple
- Lotus flower
- Ganesha
- infinity traveler
- The search for the lost divinity
boto
O pink dolphin is a Brazilian legend inspired by the figure of the animal that gives rise to the name. According to popular imagination, the dolphin can become a handsome and flirtatious man who, at night, attends the city's parties.
In addition, the Boto seduces the pretty girls and makes them pregnant, so that, the next morning, he returns to his animal state and disappears.
Açaí
THE açaí legend originates in Amazonian folklore and tells the origin of fruit. In a populous village with scarce food, the chief Itaki ordered that all children born from that time on be sacrificed.
Some time later, Iaçã, the chief's daughter, had a daughter. As ordered, the girl was sacrificed and Iaçã was deeply saddened. Out of such loneliness, she asked the powerful god Tupã that no other mother would feel that pain and that she would show the chief an alternative.
One night, Iaçã heard the cry of a child and went in search of the source. Surprised, she saw her daughter, smiling beside a palm tree. Then the mother ran towards her daughter, who disappeared into her arms. At that moment, sadness took over and Iaçã died.
The other day, they found the chief's daughter hugging the tree trunk with an expression of joy. At the top were the purple berries, which later fed the entire village and no more children were sacrificed.
Curupira
O curupira is a picture of Brazilian folklore represented by a boy with red hair and feet turned backwards. It is believed that the curupira protects the forests and, if it is not benefited by the hunters, it causes them to get lost in the forest.
Caipora
THE redneck is a character from Brazilian folklore who can be represented as a woman or a man, being always indigenous and inhabitant of the forest. The caipora is similar to the curupira in that it is also the guardian of the forest, however, it does not have its feet turned.
Boitatá
O boitata is a giant snake of fire, alluding to the phenomenon of the wisp, a bluish light that appears in swamps. The snake is believed to eat people who try to set nature on fire and accumulate the victims' eyes in its body.
Saci-pererê
The legend of saci-pererê is widely known in Brazil. The character is represented as a one-legged young black man, dressed in red cloth, who plays tricks through the villages. If someone manages to capture it, the saci grants wishes.
Werewolf
O werewolf is a legend present in different regions of the world. It tells of a being half human and half wolf who turns into a monster at night, terrorizing the villages. In Brazil, it is believed that the seventh child in a streak of same-sex children will be a werewolf.
Another version claims that crossing a crossroads at midnight is capable of transforming a person. Other versions claim that the condition is transmissible by bite.
Iara
The legend of Iara comes from the Amazon region and tells the story of a beautiful mermaid who lives in rivers, singing with the aim of attracting men and then drowning them. Initially, Iara was the daughter of a chief and, because of the pride she inspired in her father, she caused great envy in her siblings.
So, foreseeing the murderous wrath of the family, she killed the brothers and fled, but her father found her and threw her into the River. However, the fish saved the girl, transforming her into a mermaid.
head
THE head she is a character portrayed as an old alligator-headed witch who kidnaps and eats children who disobey their parents.
Mother of the Gold
The legend of golden mother account of a female figure that manifests itself in two ways for two different reasons. The first would be a beautiful golden-haired woman who lures bad husbands to a cave and later finds good men for lonely women.
The second version of the legend tells of a fireball that guides good souls looking for gold to a quarry. Bad souls, on the other hand, are guided away from where there is gold.
guinea fowl
THE guinea fowl is African legend that teaches about the dangers of envy. There was a time when all birds lived in harmony, until they began to notice differences between them. The blackbird was considered very beautiful and the birds were envious of the two black feathers.
So, the blackbird bestowed shiny black feathers on those birds who abandoned envy. However, the guinea fowl continued to feel bad. For this reason, the blackbird gave white spots, in addition to leaving the bird weak and thin.
Thus, the jaguar saw that another animal had spots on its body and, filled with envy, it ate all the chickens.
Oriole
The legend of oriole It originates in the city of Recife and tells the story of a man with a terrible disease that would be cured with infant livers. So she sets out to find lonely children who disobeyed their parents' orders to return home.
Redhead beard
O Redhead beard is a Brazilian legend with Portuguese and indigenous origins. The story tells of the eldest daughter of a widow who became pregnant by her mother's deceased boyfriend. In such shame, she ran away from home and packed her son in a basket, sending him across the river.
Then, the mermaid Iara found the baby and adopted him. Enraged with her mother, she flooded the place, giving way to a lake. In this lake, the boy known as Redbeard could be seen, possessing a curse that aged him according to the day.
In the morning he could be seen as a child, in the afternoon as a young man, and at night as a gentleman. It is believed that only a woman can break the curse, while other versions argue that a holy water bath would be the solution.
Matinta Pereira
Matinta Pereira it is a witch who, during the night, turns into a bird, shrieking shrilly wherever she goes. To get to sleep, the inhabitants promise presents to the witch, who ends her screams and returns the next day to collect.
If there is no present, the witch brings bad luck to the house. It is believed that the witch could be imprisoned with objects such as a key, rosary, common scissors and a virgin broom.
In this way, the key is buried and the scissors are placed on top of the place, the rosary is placed over the scissors and, when the Matinta passes through the place, it will be stuck. After she's freed, she must sweep the place to undo the trap.
Headless mule
THE headless mule she is a woman who had a priest for a lover. As a curse, she was turned into a mule with flames in place of her head, wandering through pastures on Thursdays and trampling those in her path.
According to legend, there are three ways to break the curse: take the bit off the beast, strike it with a pin that has never been used, or the priest cursing his mistress seven times before mass.
Cassava
The legend of cassava tells the story of a chief's daughter who got pregnant and, when asked by her father, she said she didn't know her father or how she got pregnant. The chief was very disappointed for wanting a grandson of a great warrior, however, after being guided in a dream, he accepted the pregnancy.
The girl, named Mani, was very cheerful and active, but she suddenly fell ill. When she died, she was buried inside the hollow itself, the earth wet with her mother's tears. In the place where her daughter was, a plant different from the others began to grow.
So, seeing the cracks in the ground, her mother pulled the plant, looking to find her daughter. However, in place, there was only one root. In honor, the plant was named “cassava”, a combination of Mani and the CA.
water lily
The water lily is a Brazilian legend originating from the North region. According to legend, the Moon was a god who dated the most beautiful girls and, when hiding, took the girls with him.
In a village, lived the warrior Naiá, who dreamed of the day the moon would come to take her. So the rest of the village alerted the girl, saying that when she was taken, she would be turned into a star. However, with so much passion, the warrior followed her will, even stopping eating to admire the Moon.
One night, he went to the edge to one side and saw the moon reflected in the water. Naiá believed to be the god, who had decided to bathe there, so she threw herself into the water. When she finally realized that the god was not present, Naiá could no longer swim and drowned.
Moved, the god transformed her into a different star: the star of waters. Therefore, the water lily only blooms at night.
Guarana
The legend of guarana tells the story of an indigenous couple from the Maués tribe who had been longing for a child for years. For this, they asked the god Tupã, who granted their wish. So the boy grew up to be a handsome and generous young man, so the god of darkness, Jurupari, feeling envious of the boy's joy, decided to take his life.
One day, while collecting fruit, the boy was bitten and killed by the Jurupari, who had turned into a poisonous snake. When the news of the death spread, strong thunder echoed, being a message from Tupã for the mother to plant the child's eyes, thus giving life to a new plant: the guaraná.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a world-renowned legend originating from the figure of St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Catholic bishop who lived in the city of Mira, in what is now Turkey.
On his birthday, December 6th, the kind man distributes presents to the good children.
Blue jay
The blue jay is a legend of South region which tells the story of a black bird that received a blue hue when he gained the mission to spread Araucaria seeds throughout the territory.
Yemanja
Yemanja is an African orixá who was born from the marriage of heaven (Obatalá) and earth (Odudua). The deity represents the oceans and fertility, being the mother of many orishas.
sinuhe
According to the legend egyptian, Pharaoh Amenemhet was killed by a conspiracy of his subjects while his eldest son and successor was absent. Sinhué, one of the trusted men of the Pharaoh, he learned of the crime and decided to flee, as he would be accused of being an accomplice.
In the desert, after collapsing, he was taken care of by the Bedouins. The king, Amunenshi, offered his daughter's hand to Sinhué, who married and had three children. Sinhué gained fame and respect by becoming a great warrior, victorious in one of the region's wars, however, he yearned for the Egypt and his return to have his final rest.
Thus, in his homeland, the eldest son, Sesostris I, was the new pharaoh, and upon learning of the plight of his father's former trusted man and his innocence, he called him back to Egypt. So Sinhué shared his wealth with his children and was granted a beautiful house and the title of advisor to the pharaoh.
Isis and the seven scorpions
the god seth deeply envied your brother osiris, married to the goddess Isis and whose son Horus born of union. Overcome by envy, Seth tried to separate the couple, capturing Isis and Horus. So, the god of wisdom, Thoth, he decided to help them, sending seven scorpions named Tefen, Befen, Mestat, Matet, Petet, Mestefef and Tetet, in charge of protecting the family.
After managing to escape, Isis and Horus sought shelter in the company of their protectors, however, they were denied by a wealthy woman named Usert, for fear of the scorpions. Then the family was welcomed by a poor woman. During the night, the scorpions organized to take revenge, accumulating the poison in Tefen's tail.
At Usert's house, they stung her son, leaving him severely injured, as well as starting a fire. Usert, in despair, asked the goddess Isis for help, who understood her son's innocence. So a rain fell and put out the fire. Also, the goddess ordered the poison to leave the child's body.
Embarrassed and grateful, Usert gave all her wealth to Isis and the poor woman who took her in.
Dyoser of the pharaoh and the flood of the Nile
Egypt fell out of favor after a series of droughts in the Nilo river, which resulted in the growing hunger and despair of the population. Seeking help, Pharaoh Dyoser asked his advisor Imhotep for a solution.
So the advisor and a magician consulted the temples of the god of wisdom, Thoth. Upon returning to Pharaoh, they indicated that the birth of the river took place between two caves on Elephantine Island, as well as the birth of living beings.
However, the caves were protected by the god Jnum, who with his feet held back the outflow of water from the Nile. So Pharaoh went to the island and pleaded with the god, but, without an answer, he fell asleep. In the dream, the god asked the source of the affliction, the reason for which was told.
Thus, the god reported being angry at the lack of construction and maintenance of the temples. Pharaoh promised to repair the error and the Nile was flooded again.
The seven Hathores
A pharaoh, after longing for a son for many years, had his wish fulfilled by the deities. However, the seven Hathores, deities who knew the fate of beings, warned the father that his son would die by dog, snake or crocodile.
To protect the child, the father raised him in a distant palace. However, with the little social contact he had, he asked for a dog for company. So the father, reluctantly, acquired a dog, which proved to be tame.
The son, tired of loneliness, ran away from home and met Princess Naharin, who became his wife. One day, the young man killed a snake that had tried to attack him, giving its meat to the dog. However, the dog changed and became aggressive, attacking the prince.
The young man ran to a river to save himself, but was attacked by a crocodile. However, the crocodile was old and asked for help to survive the turbulent waters. So, the young man helped the animal and got out of the water, to then be attacked again by the dog.
The prince killed the dog, releasing the snake that was in its belly, which finally injected its venom into the young man, fulfilling his destiny.
Ubuntu
The ubuntu legend tells the story of an anthropologist who was visiting the Africa. The researcher created a game in which everyone had to run towards a tree and the first one to arrive would win all the fruits.
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At the start, the children joined hands and ran together, ensuring everyone's success. When asking the reason for the tactic, the researcher was answered ubuntu which means “I am who I am because we are all of us”.
Narcissus
the greek myth of Narcissus explains the dangers of narcissism. The oracle said at Narcissus' birth that the child would have a long life as long as he didn't look in the mirror. However, the young man grew up to become arrogant and, in rejecting a nymph, was cursed to marvel at the river's reflection to his death.
Pandora's Box
the greek myth of Pandora's box starts with the first woman created by Hephaestus and Athena, Pandora. Thus, Pandora received qualities from all the gods and, after a warning from Prometheus not to accept gifts from the deities, she was introduced to the titan Epimetheus. The Titan, bewitched by the woman's beauty, took her as his wife.
As a wedding gift, the couple received a box, the interior of which contained all the evils of humanity. Pandora, overcome by curiosity, opened the box and released the evils, leaving only hope trapped.
Hercules
Hercules is a Greek myth that tells the story of a young man cursed by the goddess Ivy, who ended up killing his wife and children. To redeem himself, he had to carry out the famous “Twelve works of Hercules”.
persephone
This Greek myth explains how the seasons change. According to the story, Hades, god of the underworld, kidnapped the beautiful persephone, goddess of flowers and fruits. Persephone, in turn, is the daughter of Demeter, goddess of agriculture and harvest.
By kidnapping Persephone, Demeter became inconsolable, causing a period of severe drought and famine. Upon discovering where his daughter was, he went to the kingdom of Hades to retrieve her, however, Persephone had accepted pomegranate seeds, demonstrating that she had not totally rejected the god.
From this relationship, an agreement emerged that the god would spend half the year with her parents, away from the underworld, and half the year would stay with her husband. In the period when it is free, nature flourishes, and in the period in the underworld, plants die.
Achilles
Greek myth tells about Achilles, a great hero who fought in the war against troy. At birth, Achilles would have been bathed in the River Styx, a river that runs through the underworld and is also known by its name river of invulnerability.
In this way, Achilles' entire body became impenetrable, except for the heel, the part of the body by which it was suspended. In the war against Troy, she took a poison arrow right in her heel, causing her death.
the giraffe and the rhinoceros
This African legend tells of the need to honor promises. There was a time of great drought in Africa and the giraffe was an animal without a neck or long legs. One day, tired of looking for food and seeing green leaves in the tops of the trees, she spoke to a rhinoceros about her desire to reach for food.
So the rhino suggested a visit to a powerful wizard, who asked the pair to return the next day so that he could prepare the magic. However, the next day, the rhinoceros forgot the appointment, letting the giraffe go alone.
Then, the giraffe was transformed into a long animal, able to reach the tallest and most leafy trees. The rhinoceros, in turn, missed the opportunity to receive the gift.
the fox and the camel
The Fox and the Camel is a South Sudanese legend that teaches the importance of keeping promises as well as thinking about others.
Fox Awan was hunting geckos at the edge of a river when she thought she might have more food on the other side. So he called his friend, the camel Zorol, to cross the river, as he would have barley fields at his disposal.
Awan climbed onto Zorol's back and they crossed the river. Awan showed where there was barley and went hunting his geckos, however, he finished before his friend, who was still in the field. So Awan got impatient, started screaming and got the attention of the farm's owners.
In turn, the owners went out and beat Zorol. The camel managed to get away, and as it crossed the river back, it swayed until Awan fell. According to the camel, Awan deserved to receive the same treatment he had received in the field. Awan was thus carried away by the river.
Kitsune
Atjapanese mythology, TheKitsunes are foxes sacred or cursed with magical powers. Anyone who breaks a promise with a kitsune suffers severe consequences.
In addition, kitsune become wiser over the years, gaining a new tail every 100 years. By accumulating nine tails, she becomes a demigod, and can even transform into a human.
Hongxian
Hongxian meansred thread. That legend chineseaccount that, at birth, humans are tied to their soul mate by an invisible red thread. This way, the thread will never break, and the further away, the greater the unhappiness of the couple.
Doi Nang Non Mountain Range
Thai legend tells the origin of the mountain range. According to the story, a princess fell in love with a horse caretaker and, as romance was impossible, they fled to a cave. During an outing, the caretaker was killed by the king and, in her grief, the princess stabbed herself to death.
In this way, the blood gave rise to the water and from the fallen body the mountain range was born.
big flood
Chinese legend tells of the Chinese ruler Da Yu, who, with the help of the goddess Nu Kua, helped to dig the canals that controlled a massive flood and allowed the population to cultivate the land.
Dziú and corn
The legend mayan tells the story of the bird Dziú, who was tasked by Yuum Chaac, the god of rain, to dive into a burning field to save the corn seed, responsible for maintaining life on Earth.
The bird fulfilled the mission and was left with gray feathers and red eyes, in addition to being recognized by all animals. Thus, the Dziú could leave its eggs in any nest, confident that any bird would care for the chicks as if they were theirs.
Chom
According to Mayan legend, the chom were birds of colorful plumage. One day, I was flying over King Uxal's palace during the celebration in honor of the Lord of Life, Hunab Ku. The chom ate the food intended for the occasion and were punished with a preparation of black ink in the feathers.
Furthermore, they could only eat garbage and dead animals. So they became birds that fly high, coming down only to pick up garbage.
the princess and the maquech
The Mayan legend tells of Princess Cuzan who, betrothed to Prince EK Chapat, had young Chalpol as her lover. The prince spared his bride's life in exchange for breaking up with her lover. Also, Chalpol was forgiven by the princess's father, however, he received a spell that turned him into a maquech, that is, a beetle.
So the princess kept the beetle as a jewel, next to her heart, where her love was.
May's flower
This Mayan legend explains the origin of the May flower. After much asking the gods, a devotee and his wife had a daughter in the light of constellation of the Southern Cross. However, the girl died during her adolescence under the same light and time of year in which she was born.
Therefore, in her grave, in May and under the constellation, the flower blooms.
Uay Chivo
Mayan legend about creatures with glowing eyes and horns on their heads that frighten villagers.
Xkeban and Utz Cole
According to the Mayan legend of Xkeban and Utz Cole, both women were humble and gentle prostitutes. When Xkeban died, all over the city there was a sweet perfume, just as in her tomb were born beautiful fragrant flowers, the Xtabentún.
When Utz Cole died, a fragrant flower with many thorns appeared in her grave, known as the Tzacam cactus. ÇI'm jealous of Xkeban, Utz Cole came back to life with the help of evil spirits and made men fall in love with her.
Che Unic
The Mayan legend tells of a man of the forest, great and feared for eating human flesh. He had his feet turned backwards and could be tricked by whoever made him laugh and fall, so the person could run away from the creature.
Alux
This is a Mayan legend about invisible elves that do evil things. It was believed that by capturing an alux, peasants would have seven years of good harvests.
Phoenix
The legend of the phoenix has an Egyptian origin, being a bird that constantly dies in flames and is reborn from its ashes, which symbolizes the resilience and hope.
Odin
Odin it is the main Norse god, being responsible for terrible storms, for life and for death.
Jellyfish
According to the Greek myth, Jellyfish she was a priestess of the temple of Athena, the place where Poseidon had besieged her. Athena, furious with disrespect, turned the woman into a monster, whose hair was snakes and her eyes turned men to stone.
Midas
Midas is a character from Greek mythology who asked the god Spleen the power to turn everything it touched into gold. However, this gift meant that Midas was unable to eat, touch people, or live peacefully.
Kikimora
The legend russian of Kikimora has two versions. The first account of Kimímora, an evil old witch from the swamp, married to a goblin. The second version describes the witch of the house, married to Domovôi, a house spirit of Slavic folklore.
In this version, Kikimora stays in her house and doesn't disturb anyone.
Ivan the Fool
This Russian legend tells of a character known as Ivan the Fool, who is often the youngest son of a peasant family. Ivan is unable to perform the simplest tasks, however, he sometimes manages to perform the most difficult challenges with some miraculous help.
nightingale thief
The nightingale thief is a classic Russian legend about a flying man who scares travelers to death.
Koschei immortal
The immortal Koschei is an evil king who, according to Russian legend, could only be killed with a magic needle. broken, which is hidden in an egg, which is inside a duck, inside a hare, which is in the trunk of a Oak.
Vodianoi
Vodianoi is a Russian legend of a water spirit, or king of the deep, who can change form.
Vassilisa the Beauty
Vassilisa the Beauty is, according to Russian legend, a beautiful, good girl and the daughter of a merchant who faced many challenges after the death of her mother as a child.
pineapple
Ananse is an African god who is shaped like a spider, endowed with a lot of intelligence. Ananse was able, after a long test, to give stories to humans.
Lotus flower
The legend indian tells the origin of the lotus flower, created by the elements of nature (water, earth, air and fire) to remind humanity of the perfection they could achieve.
Ganesha
Ganesha is one of the most celebrated gods in the Hinduism, representative of wisdom, intellect, fortune and prosperity.
infinity traveler
This Indian legend explains about the power of the mind. One day, a traveler entered paradise by mistake and, tired, he rested under the tree of desires.
Upon waking up, the man desired food and drink, having his wishes granted. Then, questioning what was going on, he imagined the spirits appearing. As expected, the spirits showed themselves, scaring the man and causing his death.
The search for the lost divinity
According to Indian legend, there was a time when humans lost their magical powers through misuse. To hide the divinity, the god Brahma decided to place it inside the human, a place that would never be sought.
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