Tag Archives: : legend

Familial Witch Legend

Age: 19
Hometown: Rifle, Colorado
Location: Mexico

Context: My friends family lives in Mexico. His family has passed down this story for years, with his mom eventually telling him the story.

Legend:

Interviewer: “Can you tell me about the with legend that has been passed down in your family.”

Interviewee: “They lived in Mexico my great aunt my grandma’s sister and I think she’s always had diabetes or something and they used to go to a witch and then she would like do prayers or whatever, over her so she could get better.

But she wasn’t getting any better so then they were like we need to go see someone else like this girl is false. So they went to go see someone else and the second witch told her the reason you’re not getting better is because the first which she had was doing harm to her. She was actually like making spells against you. And then they were like the only way you can get rid of this is if you kill her (the witch).

So my grandma and my great aunt and my great uncle were like OK well she needs to get better so we’re gonna kill her. They asked her to come over to do a prayer worship and my great uncle murdered her with a machete. And then I think he fled to the US and she stayed and she went to jail for like conspiracy and then like authorities found him in the US and sent him back to Mexico and he like went to jail and stuff. And like I know they got out like on good behavior or something.”

Analysis:

This legend reflects how traditional healing beliefs and the fear of harm from the supernatural can influence real-life decisions. Feelings of trust and desperation are also present, as there is a need to explain illness with no clear solution.

“How the Stars Came to Be”

Age: 20

Date: 03/27/2025

Language: English

Nationality: Taiwanese/ Chilean

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: United States


1. Text:

“My grandpa used to tell me this story when I was little. He said that a long time ago, the night sky was completely dark — no stars, just blackness. People didn’t know when it was safe to travel, and they were always afraid of getting lost. But there was this girl — young, maybe my age at the time — and she decided to do something about it. She climbed up a mountain, carrying this big clay pot full of glowing stones. It was heavy, but she didn’t stop. When she finally reached the top, she threw the stones up into the sky, and they scattered and became stars. That’s why we can travel at night now. And the gods were so impressed that they gave her a star too — so she could keep watch over everyone from above.”

2. Context:

Told by J, who heard this myth from her grandfather when visiting her family in Chile. It was told as a creation story, and Jessica says she loved how it centered a girl as the hero. She said the myth helped her feel proud of being brave and of her cultural roots.

3. My Interpretation:

This myth beautifully blends cosmology with gendered heroism. Many creation myths center men, but this one presents a girl as the bringer of light — literally and symbolically. It reinforces the idea that girlhood and courage are not separate, and that folklore can reflect deep cultural values through simple stories.