10 Examples of Etiological Legends

The etiological legends are those narratives that include fantastic events and that relate how meteorological phenomena, plants, animals and other elements of nature originated, such as rivers, seas, lakes, deserts and mountains.

The legends they are popular and anonymous stories of oral transmission that arose to give explanations about various events, to respond to concerns or to transmit teachings.

Although these stories include wonderful or extraordinary beings, events or places; Generally, they mention places, dates or characters that exist or existed in reality. In addition, many people believe that they are true stories.

• See also: legend types

Characteristics of etiological legends

• Topics. The themes of the etiological legends can be: the emergence of elements of nature and the cause or origin of the characteristics or behavior of animals.
• Characters. The characters of the etiological legends are people, animals, plants, gods and fantastic beings.
• Time. The time of the etiological legends is real, because it is usually specified when the narrated events occurred, although in some cases it is not mentioned.
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• Places. The places of the etiological legends are usually places that exist or existed in reality.
• worldview. The etiological legends reflect the worldview of the society in which they arose, that is, their way of thinking and conceiving the world.
• purpose. The purpose of etiological legends is to explain how beings or objects of nature originated and, in some cases, transmit a moral teaching.

Examples of etiological legends

1. The legend of the giant stone of Paraná

This legend narrates the origin of a giant stone found in the Paraná, a river in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, and which has the shape of a woman who is carrying a vessel on her head.

It is said that many years ago a young woman lived with her grandfather and she never helped him with the housework. Once the old man was very thirsty and asked his granddaughter to go get water from the river. She protested, but finally accepted the assignment.

The girl grabbed a pot, went to the river, filled it with water, put it on her head and began to complain about the task she had been assigned. God listened to the woman's comments and turned her to stone as punishment.

1. The legend of the Puna wind

This legend narrates the origin of the Puna wind, the high plateau that is located in the central zone of the Andes mountain range.

It is said that the hills of this region experience feelings and emotions, so when they are afraid or angry, they blow a very strong wind that causes people to move away.

There are other versions of this legend, for example, the one that explains that the wind lives between the hills and if it feels that a person is approaching, it expels them.

1. The Legend of the Devil's Stone

This legend tells the story of a stone found in Boyacá, Colombia, and that has the shape of a throne. It is said that a man was walking on the hill, he met a crying child and approached him to ask what was wrong with him. The little boy told him that he was hungry and thirsty.

The lord went to fetch water and food for the boy, who, when he had finished eating and drinking, transformed into a beast and sat on a rock. The man ran away and the stone became a throne, more specifically, the devil's throne, since the boy was truly the king of darkness.

The inhabitants of this place say that howls and strange sounds are heard at night and that it is not convenient to walk near this stone.

1. The legend of the volcanoes of the Valley of Mexico

This Mexica legend tells the story of how the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes were formed. It is said that Iztaccíhuatl was a princess and Popocatépetl, a warrior. The young people lived very close and the first time they met, they fell madly in love.

At that time the Mexicas were at war with other peoples and Popocatépetl had to go fight. The battle was over, but the young man had not returned. Iztaccíhuatl was so saddened by the absence of the warrior that he fell ill and later passed away.

A few days after the tragic event, Popocatépetl returned to his house, found out that his beloved had died and took her body to a valley, where she became a volcano and he, another.

1. the legend of the hummingbird

This Mayan legend narrates the origin of the hummingbird. It is said that the gods created all living things and objects on earth out of mud and corn. Each animal and each object had a specific function, but the gods realized that an entity that was in charge of transporting ideas and feelings was missing. It occurred to them that such a task could be performed by a small bird, however, they had already used all the materials available to them.

They didn't know what to do, until a god had a great idea: he took a jade stone, carved it into the shape of an arrow, and gave it life. This is how the first hummingbird was born, the bird that carries good thoughts and feelings from one place to another.

1. The legend of the cempasúchil flower

This Mexica legend explains the origin of the cempasúchil flower. It is said that two young men, Xóchitl and Huitzilin, were very much in love and, for this reason, they climbed to the top of a mountain to ask Tonatiuh, the divinity of the sun, to bless their union. The god, without hesitation, accepted the request of the couple and told them that their love would last forever.

Everything was going well until Huitzilin had to go to war and soon died in combat. Xóchitl felt very lonely and sad, she returned to the mountain and asked the sun god to unite her forever with her beloved. Tonatiuh transformed the young woman into a flower, which remained closed for a long time.

A few months later, a hummingbird approached the flower and the flower, realizing that the bird was Huitzilin, opened up and was happy for her because she had finally been reunited with her lover.

1. The legend of Lake Camécuaro

This Purepecha legend narrates the origin of Lake Camécuaro, which is located in the City of Tangancícuaro, Mexico. It is said that Huanita, a princess, and Tangáxhuan, the young heir to the Purépecha empire, were very much in love.

One day a priest kidnapped the princess and locked her in the Cutzé pyramid. Huanita was very sad, she cried non-stop and there were so many tears that came out of her eyes that a lake formed. For this reason, Camécuaro means “place of hidden bitterness”.

Soon after, Tangáxhuan found out what had happened and was able to find out where his beloved was. She went to the pyramid, she saw the priest and shot an arrow that he hit a sabino, a type of tree.

The young man was able to rescue the princess and a spring of crystal clear green water began to sprout from the tree.

1. the legend of the kangaroo

This Australian legend explains the origin of why kangaroos move on their hind legs. It is said that long ago these animals walked on all fours. But one day, everything changed. A kangaroo was resting quietly in the shade, he saw a man with a spear and thought that the human being had no good intentions and that it was best to flee as soon as possible.

The kangaroo started to run and the man chased it for several hours, until it got dark. The animal hid, but realized that the human was still stalking it. Then he thought that if he went on two legs like the hunter, maybe he would walk faster. He tested the idea on him and not only could he move faster, but he could also make big jumps.

This is how the kangaroo managed to escape from the man and learned to move on two legs.

1. the legend of the sunflower

This Guarani legend explains the origin of the sunflower. It is said that there were two neighboring tribes that were separated by the Paraná River and that they had a very good relationship. One day Mandió, the cacique of one of the tribes, told Pirayú, the cacique of the other:

—In order for our peoples to be more united, I would have to marry Carandaí, your daughter.

"That will not be possible, because my daughter is destined for the Sun God. Pirayú answered.

She commanded that he did not take no for an answer and sent his men to the neighboring tribe to capture Carandaí. But they not only did that, they also set some houses on fire.

Carandaí was very afflicted and for the fire to end, she asked the Sun God to help those of her tribe. The divinity put out the fire and transformed the young woman into a flower, which always turns in search of the sun.

1. The legend of the Iguazú Falls

This Guarani legend explains the origin of the Iguazú Falls. It is said that Panambí and her mother lived very close to the river. Every day the young woman went upriver with her canoe to look for food.

One day Panambí was returning to her home by canoe and she saw a man who was sailing in the river and he left her hypnotized. When she came to, it was already night and the moon was reflected in the water. She hurried to go home, where her mother was waiting for her very worried.

One night Panambí was sitting on the river bank, she heard a canoe, she saw the same man sailing, she began to walk through the water without noticing that she was sinking and, finally, she drowned.

The man, who was actually Pyra-yara, the god and owner of the river, grabbed the girl's body and put it on a stone. The rock and Panambí were transformed into a great jump and thus the Iguazú Falls arose.

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• mayan legends
• ancient legends
• japanese legends
• mexican legends
• Colombian legends
• Ecuadorian legends

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References

• Cherudi, S. (1975). The folkloric legend in Argentina. Relations of the Argentine Society of Anthropology, 9, 69-75. Available in: SEDICI
• Rosalia, P. and Rionda, P. (2015). Notes for conferences: The revaluation of oral traditions as an educational strategy. Tales of the Wind.
• Vidal de Battini, B. AND. (1984). Popular tales and legends of Argentina. Volumes VII and VIII. Argentine Cultural Editions.