Federico Stories

A long time ago, a mystical cave connected Cuscatlán and Chalatenango (figure 1). People for generations used it to make all kinds of businesses. Some of them were good, and some of them were evil. Figure 1. The Stinky Cave.  ¹ However, one day, one of the bad deals went completely wrong and a powerful stinky smell started to come from its mouth. It was so powerful that people tend to believe it was sulfur, but no one dares to investigate to know what it is. What’s more, the cave became darker and darker than its extreme darkness scares the bravest of the men. Also, some people believe the exit vanished after the wrong deal, but who knows what really happened. Will you be brave enough to enter? Inspired by  Leyendas de El Salvador ’s version. Credits: ¹  Gaceta Suchitoto

In the 1900s, in the San Pablo canton in Cuscatlan, many women made amazing hand-made comals (kinds of large pans made from clay). They were the best in entire El Salvador, and everyone wanted to know their secrets. These women used to sell their comals in some unique baskets every Sunday at noon around the municipality. Many people, especially the pupusa makers (las pupuseras in Spanish) , jumped to them when they heard those women saying: "Comals! Comals! 2 for 0.15 cents! Comals of all sizes! Do you want a comal?" Everyone ran and approached them because they wanted one.  Over the years, in the 1920s, a man decided that he deserved to know these women’s secrets. He went to spy on them. He found that the women were making the comals in an odd cave next to a forest (figure 1) every Saturday. He had never seen that cave in his life. He descended around 120 stairs until he reached the secret place where the women made their mystical comals. Figure 1. Dwarf’s Cave....

In ancient times many Indians lived in the Anamorós Hamlet called Los Ríos. The cacique (chief) hated and lived in a constant disagreement with the Anamorós’ Indians, whom he swore to exterminate. One day, the man who had sworn to destroy Anamorós. He used his using magical powers to transform himself into a gigantic snake, long and thick and went under the rocks towards Anamorós. He wanted to fulfil his promise and devastate them once and for all. He would collapse the hill, causing a tremendous avalanche that would fall on Anamorós, therefore executing all of them. On the other hand, Anamorós’s Indian cacique recognized the cruel intentions of his neighbor. He immediately decided to go to the top of the hill of his town and built protection in the shape of a small stage. Additionally, he tirelessly walked until he reached a good height on the hill, and tried to see the snake warlock, but he failed. Later in his journey, he realized he was traveling under the hill, with a st...

Long ago, before the creation of the indigenous man on the American territory. In those days, a family with supernatural powers used to live in El Salvador. They were demigods of the mythology of  Cuzcatlan ! They lived in the Salvadorian rainforest. However, despite being a dense and deep jungle, the water was very scarce, and to collect some was needed to walk by long stretches of hostile territory. The worst part was they needed to carry it in clay pots. It was very heavy work that they had to do daily. In those days, there was a family of demigods. It consisted of two elders and two young boys. These were grandchildren of the elder couple who were descendants of Tlaloc. Daily, the grandfather was going to collect water for their chores. He knew where to discover it. However, he never revealed the secret of where he got it. Most of the time, his grandchildren accompanied him and sent them back with water without ever revealing, where, or what part of the jungle he got it. Ne...

It was the year 1510 when some of the first Spanish Conquistadors arrived at the lands of Cuzcatlan, which nowadays is known as El Salvador. They arrived with priests and nuns to convert all misbelievers from the region. In those lands, there were two ponds, one was full of odd animals, and the other was cursed (figure 1). Some of the Indians went there to worship a wicked god. He was capable of giving them all they wanted, including cocoa (their gold), power, women, sex, everything! Figure 1. Devil ’ s pond. ¹ However, there was an excessive price to pay. After a couple of days, months, or years, these people, who explored the pond and got their wishes, lost their souls, and some of them just disappeared and were never seen again. Only a couple of them were able to escape from the demon’s powers. These Indians shared that behind the pond, there is a waterfall where there is a secret entrance to the underworld (hell in the Christian world). Also, they showed everyone the ...