The Chaneques (from Nahuatl, "those who live in dangerous places" or "owners of the house") are creatures of Nahua mythology, entities associated with underworld whose main activity is to take care of the forests and wild animals; Different aspects, of which the small man (or woman) stands out. These beings inhabit forests and jungles, take care of springs, trees and wild animals.
It is believed that they are able to scare people and make them lose their tonalli, the spirit associated with the day of their birth (v. Tonalpohualli), which is not corrected through a ritual destined to recover The tonalli lost can cause the death of the individual, leave white traces. Currently, in southeastern Mexico, the chages are naughty spirits, with the aspect of children, who hide things and appear people distracting them to make them lose their way or disappear them; A popular belief was to wear clothes upside down when walking and only by the mount to prevent chaneques from caught and take it.
Characteristics[]
Chaneques allocate an important part of their time to realization of what they could be pranks, such as throwing stones, breaking things, shaping the hammocks, pulling the tails to the dogs, scare the animals of Corral and take objects. Its relationship with the health or absence of it is manifested by the fact of provoking diseases, especially those related to the loss of the soul. However, it can also reward man with riches and good fortune. In the Tuxtlas, Veracruz, the term denotes two groups of entities, an associated with the good, and the other, to evil: the first type chaneques appear in the man's room area, those of the second, are only in seated places, not disturbed by the activity human; Chaneques are described in different ways; We usually live in caves, forests, rivers, ruins, mountains, streams, ditches, hills, springs, lakes, lagoons, ponds, quarries and water eyes. They have the ability to cause diseases to human beings, it is enough to gently go through their hand on the face of someone. It also refers to the popular belief that such sufferings are caused by the "air" that leave in its path. In the TUXTLA (Veracruz) These beings are classified into Chaneques de Monte Rio and Chaneques, depending on the place where they have their residence. * It is said that they are people approximately one meter or subway twenty; They have their feet upside down, the deformed body, possess cola and lack the left ear, others assure that they are dwarves with a children's face.
Some more ensure that they are short stature, huge head and chocolate skin. But the most widespread description is the one that looks like small children and that, like these, adore the pranks. Chaneques are the owners of the mountains, the animals and the plants. In the region of the tuxtlas, they are organized under the command of Chane or Chaneco, God of Earth and the Water, who resides in the Talyogan, cantaxotalpan or Ta'altampa, the underground world, where nature is a prodigal. The subordinates of Chane, the minor chages, live as a couple and are married; They can be beneficial for man (white chages), or malignant enemies (black chages); The Chane presents both facets: sail through humans, but punishes sinners, especially adulterers, using two magical animals; The donkey lútu'ti, and the kitten Shúnu'ti. The first appears to the adultere, the naked and then "eat them as ladies"; The second is presented before the infidel women, becomes tiger and devours them; Sometimes, "love" children and take them to their homes; There is someone who says they do so to turn them into their servants. Mothers, to protect their little ones, place them as a deer's eye (coffee seed) or palm crosses, or wear clothes upside down. On the other hand, the Nahuas and popurs of the Verracruz isthmus classify them in whites or benevolent, and black or evil enemies. The first live in places close to the villages and do not hurt humans, unless they receive some damage from them. Instead, the blacks place their homes in large rivers or in the jungles; They are usual to kidnap the lonely travelers or provoke them falls to steal their soul, these souls are placed in some pots to be later devoured.
Tabasco and Chiapas[]
In the areas of Tabasco and Chiapas in Mexico, they are supposed to live the most aggressive chages. In specific in the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco near the vicinity of the Laguna de "Las Carolina" (where today is the Campestre Colonies, Club del Lake and Real de Minas) inhabit a kind of chages known for its violent character. There are many cases of children who have been mistreated by these strange beings after having earned the confidence of the infants. The stories tell that they generally prefer male children, especially those who are the elders between their brothers. They appear generally at night, especially when children are alone and after doing their friends attack them violently. There are many cases of missing children that are presumed have been kidnapped by chaneques; The most effective defense against chages are two: one of the Norwegian posters that prevent their entrance to a home and the other to carry a necklace made from walnuts and river stones, which manage to scare them.
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