The 7 Guaraní myths

Pick a mythand start the journey

Teju Jagua

Lizard dog

Mbói Tu'ĩ

Parrot snake

Moñái

A name of uncertain origin

Jasy Jatere

A fragment of the moon, according to Colmán

Kurupí

A relative of Brazil's Curupira

Ao Ao

Imitates his cry: ao, ao, ao

Luisón

The werewolf, also called Lobisón or Huicho

How it began, according to Colmán

  1. Taú and Keraná

    Taú and Keraná

    Taú, spirit of evil, wanted Keraná and took the shape of a young man to get close. Angatupyry, spirit of good, fought him for seven days and seven nights.

  2. The curse

    The curse

    Arasy, who lives on the moon, heard the people's pleas and cast a curse on Taú.

  3. The seven

    The seven

    Keraná gave birth to a child every seven months. There were seven, and each was born a monster.

  4. Porãsy

    Porãsy

    Porãsy, sister of Tumê Arandú, offered to put an end to them. She pretended to love Moñái and gathered the siblings in a cave.

  5. The fire

    The fire

    The cave was sealed and set ablaze. Porãsy chose to die with them, and the seven burned for seven days and seven nights.

  6. The stars

    The stars

    Porãsy became the morning star and the souls of the seven formed the Seven Sisters. Keraná died of grief on Yaguarón Hill.

How to read these myths. These tales traveled by word of mouth and the family of seven was written down in 1929, in Narciso R. Colmán's poem. Several beings already roamed folklore, the Luisón has European roots and this saga adds its own view. That is why every fact carries a label. TraditionVariantSaga With art by José Baez.

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