Enchanted by El Sombrerón
El Sombrerón appears at dusk, dragging along a group of mules carrying coal, with whom he travels around the city and its neighborhoods. When a woman corresponds to his love, he ties the mules to the house’s pole where she lives, unhooks his guitar and starts singing and dancing. Some residents from the neighborhoods of La Recolección and Parroquia Vieja say he still wanders at nights when there is a full moon…
Interesting enough, the other night was not only a full moon night, but was also the one night of the year when we get to watch a super moon, a “Perigee” moon to be precise.
El Sombrerón likes to mount horses and braid their tails and manes. When he cannot find horses, he braids dogs. He also likes to court young ladies who have long hair and big eyes. When he likes one in particular, he follows her, braids her hair, serenades to her with his silver guitar; but he also puts soil in her plate and she is not able to eat or sleep…
By the way, I didn’t see any horses or chuchos near or around the Parque Central while El Sombrerón was there. The problem with not knowing about the Guatemalan leyends is that you are ignorant to what’s coming to you when encountering an espanto. Case in point here is the boyfriend who not only allow El Sombrerón to court and sing to his girlfriend, but also encourage it. Poor man, he doesn’t know what’s coming to them.
This character is also known with other names, like Tzipitio, the goblin, and sometimes Tzizimite, his main characteristics are always the same: a short man with black dress a thick and brilliant belt; he wears a black, large hat and boots that make a lot of noise when he walks.
El Sombrerón is a fictional character and one of the most famous legends of Guatemala, told in books and film.
“Fictional character” claim the editors of Wikipedia, but they have never been to or live in Guatemala. All quoted texts come from El Sombrerón entry at Wikipedia, as always, follow the white rabbit to read all the other stories surrounding El Sombrerón.
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