November 1, 2005

Mexican Bogeyman … El Cucuy and El Chupacabras

In an article in the Brownsville Herald yesterday, come tales of the bogeyman from down south. The phenomenon is a cross-cultural one.

In Mexico, one of these is a creature called el cucuy. It is described as a "small humanoid with glowing red eyes that hides in closets or under beds."

The book "Creepy Creatures and other Cucuys" describes el cucuy as "childlike with red eyes, and somewhere between life and death." 

"Anthropology professor Tony Zavaleta explained that the “shadow figure” is a common myth passed between parent and child. Fathers traditionally tell children that there’s nothing under the bed or in the closet, while mothers tell the child to fear cucuy."

“In every culture, there is that mythological monster,” Zavaleta said. “In modern times, it could be the chupacabra. It’s always a feeling that there is something just waiting to get you.”

"people often try to explain the unknown using terms that are familiar to their culture, such as spirits, ghosts, aliens or monsters."

"Once night falls, that’s when the creatures come out," Zavaleta said. "Those fears are universal, it’s not just children."

Here in the south, we hear tales of the booger, the bogeyman. It’s a story used to keep children from straying where they should not. But it may be more than just a story. One of the regional names for Bigfoot in the south is the swamp booger.

Here there be monsters…

Filed under Bigfoot, Bigfoot Report, Chupacabras, Cryptozoology, Folklore, Swamp Monsters