Legends and myths in Extremadura February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens Spain is adorned with a rich varied corpus of legendary stories and myths which can be traced back in time to the dark times before the Iberian Peninsula was visited by Phoenicians, Greeks and later Romans. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens Our region, Extremadura, presents stories and legends, especially, in the Northern Mountainous area. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens Sheep and goat shepperds, cattle mountain migration, trade are elements which relate exchange and transfer within folklore. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens A story sometimes turns into myth due to repetition and uncanny reinforcement along the persistent steps of oral transmission. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens And these traditional stories are told in a thousand ways which retain extraordinarily imagined details and which lead to tale or legend. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens The current situation of these myths could be considered as vividly established in local parties and celebrations. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

There are a number of mythical figures and legends in Extremadura. Picture of El Jarramplas, from Piornal February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

1. The lady of the Highlands February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens This traditional character that lives in the mountains can be found in the literary tradition. The interpretations of this myth brings us back to the bucolic context, the defence of our own land and the moral warning against disorderly pleasures. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens The legend tells us about a fairly big lady, with features that characterize her as primitive, passionate and warm-hearted. This “serrana” leaves her land in order to find what she needs, that is, sex. The rest can be easily figured out. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens The amazon-like figure meets a woodcutter or some other male character who she tries to seduce with music, food and her loving cares. She even shows her victims the skulls of previous conquests that she keeps in her cave. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens 2. The Heralds of Death February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens This legend refers to the appearance of two riders, an elderly man and a woman, mounted on a horse. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens This legend refers to the appearance of two riders, an elderly man and a woman, mounted on a horse. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens Once the witness spots the ghostly riders, they disappear in the middle of the gallop just as mysteriously as they had emerged. Their purpose is spooky: they want the soul of someone who is about to die that very night. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

3. The procession of penance souls February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens A phenomenon which is present in other parts of Celtic Spain, this procession of frustrated souls showing white robes and carrying candles definitely means death to those who see them. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens 4. Bewitched Ladies February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens Extremadura presents plenty of legends about charmed ladies. These ladies subject to a spell or curse are often described as very attractive and wanting to confuse the unwary traveller. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens They have paranormal powers and live in derelict castles or fortresses, next to fountains or water springs and spend their days brushing their hair till a good man comes to release them from their curse--a process that must be taken very good care of. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens 5. Horned men February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens These goat-like creatures often present throaty human voice and mishaped face. The mysterious beings have horns, massive bodies and walk on two legs. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens It is characteristically one of the characters of the carnival celebration in some places in Northern Extremadura. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens 6. Elves and fairies February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens These creatures have been described in a variety of ways, from grotesque dwarves to humanoids wearing monk habits. Home eeries that mess up are often placed in the least accessible parts of the house and once they settle down, it is almost impossible to get rid of them. Some others, although can sometimes be naughty, simply want to protect the family whose house they are occupying. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

7. Sirens and fresh water eeries Architectural detail showing a siren in Talavera February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens There are legends about sirens in Extremadura, that is to say, water creatures that live in rivers and lakes. These creatures have acquired their shape, half woman, half fish owing to a curse, often from a member of her family. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens

I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens These are just a few examples of legends and mythical creatures from our region, Extremadura. There are a lot more, but we understand that this quick vision transmits the present status of folklore narrations, how they started and can be observed nowadays in festivals and other attemps to collect and establish their contents. February 2011 I.E.S. "Reino Aftasida" visiting Athens