10 Examples of Eschatological Legends

The scatological legends are those narratives that include fantastic elements and that refer to events related to life after death or the underworld.

The legends they are anonymous stories of oral transmission that originated to give explanations about various phenomena, to respond to concerns or to transmit teachings.

Although these stories include wonderful or extraordinary beings, events, or places, they generally 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 eschatological legends

• Topics. The themes of eschatological legends are the end of the world, life after death, the apocalypse, the destruction of one or several civilizations, ghost appearances, among others.
• Characters. The characters of eschatological legends are spirits, demons, the living dead and ordinary people.
• Time. The eschatological legends occur in real time, because it is usually mentioned when the events happened. But it can also refer to events that are supposed to happen in the future if the legend is related to the end of the world.
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• Places. The places where eschatological legends take place are usually places that exist or existed in reality, but they can also be hell or the underworld.
• worldview. The eschatological legends are a reflection of the way of thinking and understanding the world of the society in which they originated.
• Purpose. The purpose of the eschatological legends is to transmit moral teachings, to produce comfort in the face of concerns or to scare.

Examples of eschatological legends

1. the legend of the widow

This legend circulates in northwestern Argentina and tells the story of a man to whom a ghost appears. It is said that on the road between Villa Castelli and Vinchina, two towns in the province of La Rioja, a spectrum, better known as the widow, manifests itself.

One night, a man who was in Vinchina had to go to Villa Castelli, but the inhabitants of the first town told him They recommended that she do it during the day, because at that time the widow used to appear to scare the people who were passing by. lonely road.

The man ignored the advice of the villagers and went on his mule. Halfway through the journey he was terrified, because he felt that a presence was sitting behind him. Her animal, which was also very scared, began to gallop uncontrollably.

They were going very fast, they came to a stream and began to cross it, which caused the spirit of the widow to vanish, because this type of being cannot be near water. The traveler felt relieved, saw that there was a town in the distance and together with the mule he headed there.

When she got to the first house, she got off the animal and banged on the door. A man and a woman came out who listened in amazement to the man's dark story and offered him to spend the night in the guest room.

The next day, the man and the mule fell ill and a few hours later, both died.

1. The legend of the visit from beyond the grave

This legend is a traditional Puerto Rican story. It is said that in colonial times a woman, Leonor, had married the ruler of the island, Don Antonio. They were very much in love and led a happy life.

One day Don Antonio had to travel to Spain, because he had been called by the Council of the Indies. Soon after, Leonor received a letter mentioning that her husband's ship had sunk on the high seas.

She was very depressed by the death of her husband and she spent her days in bed and without eating. She later became ill and the doctors could not determine what was wrong with her. But one afternoon a strange doctor appeared in the house and said that he could cure the sad widow.

The relatives did not see the doctor leave Leonor's room and as the days went by, she began to feel better. Therefore, it is believed that the doctor was a good ghost who helped the woman.

1. The legend of the nurse at La Raza National Medical Center

This legend tells a ghostly story of the La Raza National Medical Center, located in Mexico City. It is said that a nurse, Élida, was very responsible and dedicated, and she fell in love with a doctor who worked in the same hospital. Over time, they became engaged and then engaged.

However, shortly before the wedding, he told his girlfriend that he had to travel for work. A few days later, she found out that it was all a lie and that, in reality, her fiancée was married to another woman.

Élida continued working at the hospital despite the fact that she was very discouraged. Because of her sadness, she fell ill and soon passed away. Many people who come to this hospital assure that they have been cared for and comforted by a nurse named Élida.

1. The legend of the nun of the Convent of the Conception

This Panamanian legend narrates a story that supposedly occurred in the 16th century. It is said that a woman, María de Ávila, was engaged to a man, Arrutia. Maria's brothers believed that the young man did not want to marry her for love, but for money. But when they told her sister, she strongly denied it.

Then it occurred to them that they could offer Arrutia money to leave, since if he accepted, it would confirm that he was not really in love with her. They went to talk to the young man, who took the money without thinking and left without saying goodbye to his fiancée.

Maria could not understand why the love of her life had disappeared and she fell into a deep depression. Her brothers took her to a convent, where she died due to her lack of love.

A few months later, the nuns of the convent claimed to have seen the ghost of María desperately screaming the name of her lover.

1. The legend of the Black Charro

This is a legend that is transmitted throughout the Mexican territory. It is said that many centuries ago a man, the Charro, sold his soul to the devil in exchange for a large amount of gold coins. She was able to buy many things and have a good life, until one day the lord of darkness appeared to warn her that in a short time she would collect her debt.

El Charro couldn't stop thinking about his fate, he took the little money he had left, put it in a bag, kept it and escaped on his black horse. Within a few days the devil found the man and told him that he would take him to hell, but that he would release him if someone else accepted his gold coins.

For this reason, it is believed that the Charro wanders dressed in black on his horse through unpopulated areas, looking for someone who agrees to sell his soul in exchange for gold coins.

1. The legend of the Soatá viewpoint

This is a Colombian legend that announces the end of a city. In Soatá (Colombia) there is a viewpoint in the center of which is the monument of Santa María. It is said that the sculpture of the Virgin rotates one millimeter on its axis every certain amount of time.

The inhabitants of this place believe that when the statue has its back to the cathedral, the city will sink and disappear completely or fall to Hell.

1. the legend of the suns

This legend has different versions, since it is part of the beliefs of different native peoples, such as the Aztecs and the Nahuas. In the Nahuatl version, it is said that before our existence, there were four stages and each one corresponded to a sun.

Our era is that of the fifth sun or that of the Sun Movement and, as it happened with previous eras, it will end with earthquakes, which will destroy natural resources and civilizations.

However, after this event, a new sun will rise and, thanks to it, other forms of life.

1. The legend of the lady in white

This legend has different versions depending on the place, but in all of them the lady in white is the spirit of a woman who appears to announce that someone will die or that a catastrophe will occur.

For example, it is said that this ghost manifested itself at critical moments in the House of Habsburg family. It is believed that in 1588 the monks of the Yuste monastery saw the white lady, who told them that Carlos V was going to die soon, and, indeed, the emperor died a few days later.

1. The legend of the Meabe-Pampín mansion

This is a legend from Argentina. It is said that in 1922 Ana María Meabe and Fernando Pampín got married, but when they went to the mansion that had been built especially for them, they could not enter, because it was impossible for them to open the main door and they had to sleep in a hotel.

A few days later they left for Iguazú Falls to spend their honeymoon, the ship they were traveling in sank and they both died. Ana's mother was very sad and, therefore, she did not want any family to occupy the house that should have been her daughter's.

A few years later, they bought the mansion to transform it into a hospital and, according to the patients and doctors, from time to time there appear two ghosts that wander as if they were in their home.

1. The legend of the ghosts of the valley of San Luis de Potosí

In relation to the valley that is near the Sierra Álvarez in San Luis de Potosí, Mexico, there are several legends of ghosts. It is believed that when there is a full moon, many spirits appear on this site, some are good and others not so much.

Many of the people who camp in this place claim to have seen ghosts, which are known as the soldier, the kings, the monk and the ship.

Follow with:

• Horror legends
• ancient legends
• Chilean legends
• mexican legends
• japanese 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.