The 10 Best Short Bolivian Legends

Bolivia is an Andean country full of history, folklore and beliefs of all kinds. Its culture is the result of the combination of that of the pre-Hispanic peoples with the Catholic beliefs of the Spanish who conquered the region back in the 16th century.

There are many Bolivian legends, both indigenous and more modern. We have stories that tell us about pre-Hispanic gods, the fight between good and evil, Christians against the devil and the origin of the well-known Bolivian coca. Let’s discover several of these interesting Bolivian legends which express the ideas, beliefs and values ​​of the society of this country.

10 Bolivian legends to learn about the country’s culture and folklore

Bolivia is the result of the mix between pre-Hispanic cultures and the contributions of the Spanish conquerors. In this country we can find all types of ethnic groups such as Quechuas, Chiquitanos, Guaraníes and Aymaras, in addition to the Creoles descendants of the conquerors of the 16th century, which is why the official name of this country is the Plurinational State of Bolivia. There is no single national reality in the Andean country, but each person from each culture has their own vision of what their country is.

This cultural diversity is manifested in its rich folklore, which is very far from being considered monolithic and homogeneous. Each region, city and ethnic group that inhabits this beautiful country has its beliefs, legends and stories told from generation to generation that make up its worldview. There are also more modern stories, which occurred during the 20th and 21st centuries, that talk about ghosts in hospitals and ghosts from beyond the grave.

Wherever we go, each corner of Bolivia will tell us different stories. Below we present our selection of 10 most interesting Bolivian legends.

1. Chiru Chiru

Many Bolivians tell the story of Chiru Chiru, a character from the culture of the Andean country who shares elements with the English Robin Hood, since He is known for stealing from the rich to give to the poor although this legend has a rather bitter ending.

The people of Bolivia say that one day, a miner found Chiru Chiru stealing and badly injured him before he managed to escape. Our character sought refuge after the attack, with such bad luck that this would be his last misdeed since, and according to this brief story, the corpse of poor Chiru Chiru was found next to an image of the Virgin inside from a cave.

Since then, that cave that was the last place where our Andean Robin Hood was became a place of worship, a symbol of those who donate what they earn to those who need it most.

2. The Uncle

Mining exploitation in Bolivia has a long history Started in times of the Spanish colony, this type of activity has brought many benefits to both the ancient metropolis and the current Andean republic.

However, it is also true that it has led to thousands of deaths, there are even those who speak of millions. Going down the mine is a dangerous activity, and those who do it pay tribute to a supernatural power by placing figurines in their honor surrounded by beers, cigarettes, and even animals sacrificed to the one who protects the lives of the miners when they are in their domain.

In the Potosí region, all miners know the legend of “El Tío”, the one who they say takes care of them when they are underground The underworld is the domain of El Tío, which is nothing more than a euphemism for the Devil. Those who believe in this legend consider that God’s dominion does not reach underground and, therefore, the miners surrender to the Devil’s tutelage when they are down there.

Worshiping El Tío, the men and, sadly, the children who today are exploited in the mines of Bolivia hope to receive protection. As long as El Tío is happy, they can return home.

3. The Jichi

The Chiquitano, Mojo and Chané peoples believe in a guardian genius that can take various forms depending on who tells it Some say it is a toad, others say it is a tiger, although the most common manifestation in which this mythological being appears is in the form of a snake. His name: Jichi.

In its reptilian form, the Jichi has the appearance of half a snake and half a saurian, with a thin, oblong and flat body and a hyaline color, so transparent that it blends in with the waters where it lives. Its tail is long, narrow and flexible, which helps the agile movements of its short, plump limbs, ending in simple nails joined by membranes.

The Jichi is a spirit that protects the waters of life and, therefore, likes to hide in rivers, lakes and wells, any place where you can drink delicious and fresh water. Water is a resource that must always be protected and well managed, a fundamental element for life that, when wasted, puts the Jichi in a very bad mood and will flee from those who misuse water. As he leaves, the water also leaves with him and leaves behind a devastating drought.

The three towns always make sure to pay the appropriate tribute to Jichi, knowing what happens if they don’t make him happy. You should not spoil its environment by uprooting the aquatic plants that decorate its abode, nor remove the pochi granules that cover its surface. To disturb this guardian of the water is to risk crops, fishing and the survival of the towns.

4. Rain and drought

One of the oldest legends of the indigenous people of Bolivia is the one that tells that Pachamama, Mother Earth, and the god Huayra Tata, the god of the wind, were a couple. Huayra Tata lived at the top of the hills and abysses and, from time to time, she came down and emptied Lake Titicaca to fertilize Pachamama then letting the water fall making it rain.

This god sometimes fell asleep in the lake, which caused the waters to become disturbed. Despite this, he always returned to the summits, which was his habitual residence and, when he wished, he returned to visit the lake to be able to become intimate with his partner again. This is the story that Bolivian groups tell to explain the reason for rainfall, the ecological richness of their land and the water cycles.

5. Origin of corn

A long time ago, the god Ñandú Tampa was walking through the green Andes when he found some twins playing alone in the mountains, whose names were Guaray (Sun) and Yasi (Moon).

The god, seeing them so jovial and full of life, considered that they would be a very good company for his father, the god Ñanderu Tampa, so Before the children realized his presence, Rhea caught them and flew away to deliver them to his father

The mother of the children heard how her children screamed in despair while the unscrupulous god kidnapped him. She was unable to stop him and only gave him time to take her children by the toes, who remained in her hands while the god Ñandú continued without stopping on his way to give the offering to Ñanderu Tampa.

After some time, the father god spoke with Guaray and Yasi’s mother in her dreams. Through them he told her that her children were well, and ordered her to sow her children’s thumbs. The woman obeyed the divinity and, after a long period of sun and rain, From the planted thumbs, spear-shaped plants began to sprout that produced fruits full of grains of all kinds of colors: yellow, white, purple, black…

Ñanderu Tampa had given the mother the corn plant as compensation for having lost her children.

6. The guajojó

Once upon a time there was a young indigenous woman, as beautiful as she was graceful, daughter of a powerful chief of a tribe who lived in a clearing in the jungle. The girl, who never went unnoticed, was loved by a guaje from the same tribe, a love to which she also reciprocated. The young man was handsome, brave, a warrior but also a boy with a very tender heart

Upon learning that his daughter loved and was loved by a boy who he did not believe deserved his progeny, the old chief, who was also a powerful sorcerer, decided to end the love between the young people in the easiest and most effective way. One day he called his daughter’s lover and, through his magical arts, took him to the deepest part of the forest where he ended his life without regard

As time passed, the young woman began to suspect her father’s hatred towards her boyfriend and, already fed up with his absence, she decided to go in search of the man she loved, entering the depths of the jungle. There she discovered the remains of her lover and, full of pain, she returned to her house to berate her father, threatening him that she was going to tell everyone about the vile murder that she had perpetrated.

The old sorcerer, a coward, decided to silence his own daughter by instantly transforming her into a night owl so that she could not recount the crime. But although he managed to transform his daughter from human to feathered animal, She was unable to make her voice disappear and, now converted into a bird, the young woman expressed with deep sadness her lament for the death of her beloved

Since then, when one enters the jungle of Bolivia, one can hear a sad and weak cry, capable of driving some men crazy. It is the guajojó, the bird that was once a beautiful young woman in love.

7. Legend of the Guaraní people

According to Guarani mythology, long ago there were two brothers named Tupaete and Aguará-tunpa, gods of antagonistic powers The first was the personification of good and creation, while the second was the personification of evil and destruction.

Aguará-tunpa, jealous of his brother’s powers of creation, decided to burn all the fields and forests where the Guaraní lived. To prevent this people from being left without protection, food and shelter, the good god Tupaete recommended that this Tupi-Guarani ethnic group move to the rivers, where he believed they would find safety. This plan did not work, since Aguará-tunpa decided to make it rain throughout the region where the Guaraní lived in order to drown them all.

Surrendered by the fate his children were experiencing on earth, Tupaete spoke to them frankly: they were all going to die. However, to save the race, he ordered these people to choose from among all of them the two strongest sons and, in order to save them from the imminent flood, He placed them in a giant mate

Thanks to this, the two brothers were protected while Aguará-tunpa flooded the land until he believed all the Guaraní were extinct, then leaving the fields to dry out.

The children grew up and came out of hiding, surviving thanks to encountering Cururu, a giant toad who gave them fire so they could warm themselves and cook food. The children lived protected by Tupaete and other Guarani spirits until, once adults, they were able to reproduce and recover their race.

8. The ghosts of the La Paz clinical hospital

They say that the General Hospital of La Paz is a place frequented by ghosts, specters that abandon their afterlife rest to wander through the rooms of the house for the sick and badly injured. There are many stories that are told about this place that, although it is friendly during the day, at night it seems to be surrounded by a halo of mystery and darkness, but what happened to a nurse named Wilma Huañapaco, in charge of the care, is especially interesting. Intensive Care room on the first floor of the building, who will never forget what happened on August 4

Just five minutes before two in the morning struck, Huañapaco transcribed, like every night, the report on the patients’ status. A truly delicate task, so much so that it does not allow any error and required that whoever carried it out was alert, awake despite how late it was.

But suddenly, her body was invaded by a sudden heaviness that paralyzed her. She couldn’t move her arms or legs, not even her eyelids. He had remained as if in a vegetative state, absolutely motionless but well conscious at all times Her desperation upon entering such a state led her to make a great effort to turn around. Upon achieving this she managed to see the silhouette of a tall man, outlined by an olive green aura and without a head! that vanished in moments…

When she told her colleagues, some were incredulous, although not that much. That hospital contains something, something mysterious within its walls. In fact, Wilma is not the only one who has seen apparitions in that mysterious place, nor is she the first to see the silhouette of a decapitated man.

Both some patients and some of the most senior doctors there tell the story of a man who walks through the gardens near the hospital every night of the Thorax, heading to the morgue. Some have baptized him with the name of the Headless Horseman, although it has no relation to the famous story by the American writer Washington Irving.

9. The Devil’s Cave of Potosí

The good people residing in the Imperial Villa of Potosí They believe that the dark spot found around the place is a trail left by the Devil after crashing on the rock

According to legend, before the intervention of Saint Bartholomew, at certain times of the day people who heard calls coming from the cave were lost in its depths, forever. Others say that a horseman came out of it who, running at full speed, did not stop until he managed to tear an unfortunate passerby to pieces

To remedy such a macabre situation, the Jesuits took action. They placed the figure of Saint Bartholomew and placed a large cross in the Devil’s cave to scare away the evil one whose powers were still in it. Since this Christian feat took place in colonial times, Spaniards, Creoles and indigenous people go every year to celebrate their festival with great solemnity.

10. The legend of Coca

Legend has it that, during the reign of the Inca Atahualpa, there lived in the temple of the Sun, on the island of Titicaca, an old wise man and diviner priest named Khana Chuyma. At that time, the Spanish conquerors arrived in present-day Bolivia and, in search of gold, desecrated temples and subjugated the indigenous people in some regions.

In order to prevent the sacred gold of the Sun from falling into the hands of the invaders, Khana Chuyma hid it in a place on the shores of the lake and, daily, he went up to a watchtower to see if Pizarro’s armies were approaching. That was what happened one day, seeing them coming in the distance and, without wasting a second, the priest threw the entire treasure into the deepest part of the waters.

When the conquerors arrived and learned that the priest had hidden the treasure, they set him on fire to force him to confess the whereabouts of such valuable loot, but Khana Chuyma stoically endured the torment and, like a true Andean saint, did not utter a single word to protect the valuable offering for the gods.

Tired of torturing him, his executioners gave up and left him dying in a field when they saw that there was no point in continuing the suffering since he was not going to confess. In the midst of his painful agony, the priest had a vision that same night: the Sun God Inti appeared to him shining behind a mountain and said to him:

• My son, your heroic sacrifice to save the sacred offerings deserves to be rewarded. Ask me for whatever you want, whatever you like most, because whatever you desire will be granted to you.

Khana Chuyma answered:

• Oh, beloved God, what else can I ask of you in this hour of mourning and defeat but the redemption of my race and the expulsion of the invaders?

The Sun answered him:

• I’m sorry to tell you that what you ask of me is now impossible. My power against intruders is no longer worth anything. Their god has defeated me and I too must flee to hide in the mystery of time. But first I want to grant you something that is within my powers.

The priest said:

• If it is now impossible to restore freedom to my people, my father, as we leave I ask you for something that will help them endure the slavery and hardships that await them. I do not gold or wealth because I know that the invader will snatch it away full of greed. I ask you for a secret consolation that gives my people the strength to endure the work and humiliations that the conquerors will impose on us

The god Inti granted such a noble and generous wish of the priest, answering him:

• I grant it to you. Look around. Do you see those plants with green, oval leaves that have just sprouted? Tell your people to cultivate them, with great care, and without hurting their stems, tear off the leaves, dry them and chew them afterwards. Its juice is the balm of the sufferings that are to come.

The god told Khana Chuyma that this leaf was the remedy to relieve hunger and cold, the harshness of the road, the humiliations of destiny He told him that it would be the coca plant that would help them survive such bitter times, and that by throwing a handful of its leaves at random the mysteries of destiny would be revealed to them.

These leaves were reserved for the indigenous people to bring them health, strength and life, and were totally prohibited for the conquerors. If an invader tried to bite the leaf, his mouth would feel so bitter, with a disgusting and perverted taste that the only thing he would get from it would be vices, pain and suffering. The coca plant is the sacred plant of the indigenous people of Bolivia, those who survived the conquest.