Chaneque
A sculptor’s impression of a Chaneque. Photo: Myths and Folklore Wiki.
Chaneque are legendary creatures from Mexican folklore that are said to look like children with the face of an old person.
The Legend of the Chaneque
The Chaneque are creatures from Mexican folklore that were first described by the Aztecs.
The word "chaneque" means "those who inhabit dangerous places" or "owners of the house" in Náhuatl. They are believed to be small, sprite-like beings who serve as elemental forces and guardians of nature.
Similar mythical creatures exist in Mesoamerican and other Latin American folklores, commonly referred to as "duende" in Spanish. In the Yucatán Peninsula, they are known as "aluxob" in the Mayan language.
According to modern versions of the legend, chaneques are described as children with old men or women's faces who can make people disappear for three to seven days.
When the victims return they cannot remember anything that happened. It is believed that the chaneques took them to their home in the Underworld, also known as Mictlán or Chiconauhmictlán, through the entrance in a dry kapok tree.
In other cases, the Chaneque attacks a person and scares them so badly that their soul leaves their body. If the victim doesn’t perform a specific ritual to retrieve their soul, they become ill and die shortly after.
When angered, Chaneques can be disruptive and physically harm humans. In one account, a Chaneque threw a handful of hay into a prisoner's mouth. The prisoner frightened the Chaneque by saying he would start a fire and caused it to flee.
What does a Chaneque look like?
The Chaneque or duendes are described in several different ways. They are typically short and often don’t wear any clothes. They like to live in forests, rivers, or caves and have a close spiritual connection to the earth and water.
In Mexican folklore, Chaneque can be portrayed as either malevolent creatures seeking to cause harm or benevolent creatures attempting to aid others.
They are said to have the ability to communicate with animals in the jungle and offer protection. While they may not always be visible to adults, children can sometimes see them. They enjoy singing, screaming, and crying.
Author Pedro Cholotio Temo describes them as "a boy doll or a little man who hops and jumps" and wears a "wide-brimmed sombrero, as the Mexicans do; his color is black." Temo believes that duendes are real and connected to the devil, similar to centuries-old Spanish beliefs, and that individuals who practice Satanic rituals are more likely to see them.
Chaneque Sighting
In July 2008, a user named hidariman uploaded a video to YouTube titled "A chaneque appears." The video shows what the uploader believes to be one of these elusive creatures caught on camera.
At the beginning of the clip, a child points to something in the distance, and the camera holder turns just in time to capture the mysterious figure moving across the yard and into an alcove.
The man chases after the creature but finds that it has vanished completely.
This video has since gained popularity on the internet as a possible real-life chaneque sighting. The video's owner confirms that he is the original uploader of the mysterious footage, and although the video has been widely circulated, he is the true source.
Have you ever had an encounter with a Chaneque? Tell us about it in the comments.
If you enjoyed learning about the Chaneque you might also be interested in La Siguanaba or La Ciguapa.
