Curupira or Currupira is a mythological figure that belongs to Brazilian folklore, known as protector of fauna and flora Amazon.
The curupira is an ancient character in national folklore, being mentioned for the first time in 1560, in reports by the Portuguese Jesuit José de Anchieta, as a "demon of the forests" who chases, tortures and kills people who enter the forest with intentions evil.
The folkloric figure of the curupira is typical of the Amazon rainforest, however its legend has spread throughout all regions of Brazil. Described as a "goblin" or "spirit of the forest", the curupira has the body of a child, with red fur "the color of fire", dark skin, green teeth and, considered to be its main feature, its feet are turned backwards, with the heel towards front.
Etymologically, the word "curupira" may have originated from the Tupi-Guarani kuru'pir, which means "body covered with pustules". But, the most accepted explanation to justify the appearance of the name is that curu would be a contraction of
curumim, "boy" or "child", and pyre which means "body" in the Tupi language, that is, curupira it means "boy's body".legend of Curupira
THE legend of the curupira tells that the little mythological being is a guardian of life in the forest, defending and protecting the plants, trees and animals that inhabit the forest.
In most stories, he always appears representing the figure of a vigilante, with no evil intentions towards human beings, except for those who disrespect "his house". The curupira is merciless with people who unduly exploit the forest, such as hunters and rubber tappers, for example.
The curupira makes the intruders get lost in the forest, makes the game invisible before the hunters' eyes and, in some situations, it even tortures and kills the man who disrespects it.
To enter the forest without offending the curupira, the Indians usually offer small "gifts" to the creature, such as tobacco (tobacco) or cachaça.
The legend also says that the curupiras usually kidnap children in order to play with them in the forest. The boys and girls who are bewitched by the curupira only return to the house after seven years, when begin to enter adult life and cease to be a pleasant company for the "spirit of Forest". However, there are children who never come back, as they decide to deny civil life and live the rest of their lives in the forest with the curupira.
Curupira and Caipora
Often confused with Curupira himself, the Caipora is another mythological figure in Brazilian folklore.
known for being the cousin of curupira, the caipora is represented by the image of a small dark-skinned Indian, who inhabits the forests and helps to protect all the life that exists in the woods, always riding a wild pig and holding a bamboo pole in the hands.
Some legends still tell that the caipora is cannibal, that is, if it sees someone hunting improperly in the forest, it attacks and eats the aggressor.
Like the curupira, the caipora loves to be presented with tobacco. So the hunters, in order not to be tormented by the caipora, must offer small amounts of tobacco to the forest spirits.
See also the Definition of Folklore.