Federico Stories

In the 19th century, during the times of the Federal Republic of Central America, the Indian Anastasio Aquino led a powerful uprising in El Salvador. Aquino belonged to the Taytes (chiefs) of the Nonualco, an Indigenous tribe of the Pipil nation, and was tired of the oppression that he and his relatives had suffered for generations by the Spaniards and their decedents. In late 1832 and early 1833, Aquino was a worker on an indigo plantation where he rebelled following the arrest of his brother by the estate owner. Aquino called for disobedience to the government. He and his followers attacked army posts, recruited the Indigenous conscripts there, and burned estates all across El Salvador. They distributed spoils to the poor on their way. By the end of January 1833, Aquino managed to assemble an army large enough to do battle. His force was estimated at 2,000 to 5,000 men, armed mostly with lances, but apparently with some firearms. The revolt started in the hacienda Jalponguita, in...

Many moons ago, there was a Pipil Princess called Agüijuyo. She was very beautiful and fell in love with a Pipil Prince entitled Zunca. Both princes were young with a splendid future ahead, and the area where they lived was the kingdom of the Pipil people. Agüijuyo hoped that Zunca would correspond to her love, but some wicked people gossiped unspeakable things of her to the prince to the extent he rejected her. The princess, seeing herself despised by the young prince, made a promise to lock herself up in a cave and never see the light again. In this way, she would fulfill her promise and be untempted to speak to anyone or see the light one more time. And so, she did till the day of her death. Zunca eventually recognized his mistake. He merely listened to the uncountable lies of wicked and ill-intentioned people. However, Agüijuyo fulfilled her promise and did not receive the young prince when he looked for her. Agüijuyo was devastated and closed herself in tears. Zunca, with ...

Long ago, one of the most powerful Arbolarios (a genie from the storms) stole a lagoon from the north of Central America. No one was sure from where, how, and when he had stolen it. The locals merely noted an odd being flying with an eggshell over them. Several minutes passed, and when the Arbolario was flying around the Tecapa Volcano, he lost his balance, and the eggshell fell down aside. Hence the lagoon that was born nearby is tilted as the Alegria Lagoon. Many years later, the same Arbolario tried to steal Lake Güija. But this time, it was impossible because he was not strong enough and wholly gave up. Nowadays, everyone assures you; that you can only see the Arbolarios when the storms roar and emit sparks. At that moment, you will perceive a pair of baroque eyes. These eyes are from evil genies (figure 1) best known as the Arbolarios. Most probably, they are planning their next big crime. Only one thing is certain; they're going to destroy something in their way. Furthe...

The Maya and the Kekchi called this genie “Mam,” and the Pipil tribe named it “Man-Agua” (Man-water). During a stormy night in the 500s, a powerful thunder struck the Earth. The Pipil leader left his home to see what was happening. He was already worried because this had been one of the most powerful and long storms in his life. The tribe was losing their cornfields (their main source of food) because of the unstoppable storms. It had been months since the last time any had seen the sun. When he left his house and walked around, he was afraid because he had seen for the first time a white woman (figure 1). The woman was as magnificent as no other, and it seemed that the storm had lowered her to the Earth. Suddenly, she rose again to the clouds, where she had come from, and was unseen for a while. Figure 1. A Managua in the eye of a storm.  ¹ Over the following weeks, many Indians described the same white woman or women appearing across their area. The woman always ...

He was there. Black under the branches, the sinister face dotted with moonlight. He was clearly distinguished by the three guara feathers that he wore on his forehead; he was the Tiger del Sumpul (figure 1), that lonely and lost river that creeps under rocks and among roots, the river of crimes that have been stained so many times in blood and has heard so many cries of anguish and pain. A river of corpses and bones! Figure 1. The Tiger of Sumpul.  ¹ Right there, that man who hid behind the trunk of that gnarled tigüilote had robbed the travelers and had paid their margins with blood. He was of Mayan origin. He had been raised in the mountains, in the high mountains of Chalatenango, where the Pipil Confederation had stopped the advance of Ulmec imperialism. From the upper Cayaguanca to the gloomy Sumpul, he had traveled committing crimes. On the roadside he burned a mixture of "tapa" (datura) and tobacco leaves, the smoke of which produces sleep, delirium, and inst...

Long ago, Cuzcatlán had different provinces, which had been appointed by chiefs. They were the local leaders and owed obedience to the Lord of Cuzcatlán. Prince Atonal governed the Izalco area. In Izalco, Atonal had the mission to confront the Spanish invaders and every Indian who joined them in the conquest of Cuzcatlán in 1524 (figure 1). One night, in his council, Atonal took the floor and exclaimed: “My life for our people. Oh, great Lord.” This declaration manifested immense satisfaction in the Atlacatl (the last lord of Cuzcatlán). Everyone presented the spirit of struggle and solidarity as never before. Figure 1. Prince Atonal vs the Conquistadors. ¹   Atonal and his assistants prepared the strategy that was to stop the invaders. He placed a few spies along the coastal paths from the River of La Paz to Caluco. Also, he put a parapet between Mochicalco and Acatepeque, where he placed a Calpulli (a small combat unit composed of a dozen of the best Pipil warriors). ...

Many moons ago in the Americas, there were several gods, but one of the most important was Tlaloc. He was the god of rain, earthly fertility, and water. All Aztecs and the Salvadoran Pipil people worshiped him from the Teotihuacan’s times. Tlaloc operated in all four heaven areas called Tlalocan, located in the east of the universe, from each area shed a different type of rainfall. Plus, from this paradise, he sent the beneficial and necessary water for all Indians on Earth, so their crops could grow greatly! In  Tlalocan,  Tlaloc lived with his two wives: Xochiquetzal,  the goddess of love, flowers, arts, pleasure, and nature. Chalchiuhtlicue , the goddess of water, rivers, seas, streams, storms, and baptism. And his five children, four boys called  Tlaloques,  and his daughter  Huixtocihuatl . Also, some people shared Tlalocan with Tlaloc, the unlucky, but good ones who perished accidentally by drowning or by dropsy. Here, some permanent crops of all kin...

Long ago, there was a terrible war in the lands of Cuzcatlan. On it, Hoitzi and the Pipil people were fighting with Atlacatl and his group. No one knows the precise reasons behind it, but the results were catastrophic. After several months and uncountable causalities, the unthinkable happened. Hoitzi died, and when Princess Naba discovered her beloved was defeated and his body was lying down on the battlefield, she ran away to collect it. She took advantage that the King and his warriors were celebrating their triumph over the Pipil people. Throughout the night, Naba and her six maidens dedicated all their time to serving the wounded and comforting those who only waited for their imminent death. At midnight, some spies warned Atlacatl  what the princess was doing. The King enraged, and still, under the effects of chicha (a special alcoholic drink) went to face her. He wanted to demand explanations about her acts, but he saw what she was doing. She was next to Hoitzi’s dead bo...