Mythological Creatures of the Mayan Culture

Or: Behavioral Tips for Fantastic Encounters in the Heart of the Yucatan

The Mayan culture, which has survived to this day on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, knows many mythological creatures. Many of today’s Maya still believe in their existence, and that they still wander along old Mayan paths in the forests to bring mischief and harm to anyone who passes them on their way. But no worries, I’ve got you covered! Luckily, the old Mayan legends know how to handle possible encounters to emerge from them unharmed. So get ready, and be well prepared for your next trip to the Yucatan 😉

From Giants with Twisted Feet

Our first legend tells us about the giant Che Uinic (pronounced “TSHE-ooi-NEEK”), the Man of the Forest. This mythological creature is an extremely tall, impressive figure that’s roaming the forests looking for lost wanderers to devour. However, he lacks bones and joints and therefore can’t lie down to sleep on the floor, otherwise, he would only be able to get up again with great effort. We’ll see shortly how this comes in handy for us. But first, you need to know how to avoid coming across this giant. For this, you have to know that his feet are twisted so that the heels point forward and the toes point backward. So if you come across giant tracks in the Yucatan forest, it’s advisable to follow them, otherwise, you’ll run straight towards the giant. Should you still come across the giant himself, you should cut a green branch to hold in your hands and perform an extremely ridiculous dance. This will cause the Che Uinic to laugh so hard that he’ll lose his balance. Once lying on the floor, he’ll need quite some time to get back up on his feet. Enough time for you to escape!

Aluxes – Tiny and Cheeky Mythological Creatures

From big mythical creatures to small ones: The Aluxes (pronounced “a-LOO-shes”) are gnome-like beings. They usually wear sandals and a hat, hold a shotgun in their hands, and are often accompanied by a small dog. If you hear gunshots and dogs barking in the forest, the Aluxes are on the hunt. The animals they hunt are made of “thin air” as are the Aluxes and their dogs. Best avoid their paths! They are similar to our “little people” (or the German “Heinzelmännchen”), only perhaps a little more cunning and mischievous. At night they go into the houses and turn everything upside down so that the residents can’t sleep. If an Alux runs his hand over the residents’ faces, they become sick and develop diarrhea and fever. It’s therefore advisable to give them food or other gifts. Out of gratitude, they’ll then protect the residents and their houses and fields.

The Deceiver Xtabay

If you meet Xtabay (pronounced: “ISH-ta-buy”) in the forest, you should definitely not court her if you don’t want to meet death. The Xtabay is also called “The Deceiver”. She’s a beautiful woman who can be found sitting on the edge of a well at night, combing her long hair. You can find her under a Ceiba tree, which is the sacred tree of the Maya. The Xtabay appears especially to drunk men at night. They easily fall for her charm and follow her into the depths of the wilderness from which they never return. The few who do make it back die a few days later, delirious from fever. So be prepared, and don’t walk the forests drunk at night! And stay away from any seductive women trying to lure you deeper into the forest.

Safe Encounters of Mythological Creatures

Incidentally, these mythological creatures are rarely found in cities but rather in the forests and caves of Yucatan. They prefer to travel at night along the wide white streets of Yucatan built by the ancient Maya (called sac-beob in Maya). They’re said to be often found in major ancient sites, such as the pyramids and temples of abandoned archaeological ruins, like Chichen Itza and Tulum. So be especially aware of your surroundings when you travel these places, and stick to the behavioral tips given above. And of course, if you don’t believe in any mythological creatures still roaming our world of today, there’s no need to worry at all! But if you do, and you end up in the Yucatan on your next trip, you now know how to behave to escape giants, avoid angering gnomes, and escape ruin at the hands of beautiful deceiving women😊