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El Cuco, a demon, ghost, and bogeyman legend that originated on the Iberian Peninsula and was transported to Central and South America with the invasion of the Latin population on the American continent. According to the legend, El Cuco constantly craves the blood of children, as he seeks immortality. He survives by smearing the blood of the children he kills on his body. In other words, this demon is said to abduct children.
El Cuco is typically depicted as a male character, although there is a female version of this avenger named Cuca.
The origin of the El Cuco legend lies in the present-day autonomous region of Galicia in Spain and Portugal. When the people from the Iberian Peninsula settled in the region after the Spanish and Portuguese colonization of the New World, they brought the legend of El Cuco with them.
Especially in countries like Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, the name El Cuco is a prevalent folklore. The name of El Cuco varies according to languages and regions, including Coca, Cucuy, Cuca, Coco, Cuci, and others. However, these different names essentially refer to the same legendary malevolent creature. According to the Spanish, the name Cuca is derived from Coco, which means skull, and in Basque, it's equivalent to the spirit Gogo, while in Galician, it corresponds to the word for skull, "Crouca". The oldest written source about El Cuca dates back to the year 1274.
In Latin America, where the legend is more widespread, this mythical creature is referred to as El Cuco. In the southern states of the United States, particularly in regions with a significant Latin population like New Mexico and Colorado, the name El Cuco gradually transformed into Coco Man influenced by English.
What makes the terrifying creature Cuco so grotesque is not just its appearance. According to the legend, El Cuco abducts or devours children without leaving a trace. This means the children disappear without a trace. However, El Cuco doesn't do this to every child, only to those who do not obey their parents and fail to be obedient. This could be seen as a way to scare disobedient children into submission.
El Cuco's hiding place is usually in cemeteries. It feeds on sorrow, and fear and anxiety nourish it. In reality, there is no clear description of El Coco's face and form. It is said to be able to change shape. Essentially, it is a monster that lurks in hidden corners, waiting to devour disobedient children. The children it captures are said to be placed in its sack.
The legend takes on a different version in Portugal. In Portugal, El Cuco is described as a creature born of a dragon, crocodile, and human hybrid woman. A festival called Festa de Coca is held in its name, where Coca is portrayed as a dragon.
One of the reasons for the spread of the legend is Latin parents inventing stories about Cuco to scare their non-sleeping children, threatening that Cuco would take them away if they didn't sleep.
The name "El Coco" is believed to have been associated with the coconut by some Portuguese historians. They suggest that Vasco de Gama's crewmembers, due to the three holes at the front of the coconut, likened its shape to the mouth and eyes of Cuco, thus giving the monster its name and leading to the derivation of the term "coconut". According to this theory, El Coco is the godfather of the coconut's name. Additionally, in Portugal, during Halloween, hollowed-out pumpkins with faces resembling the monster are also referred to by the same name.
In 1799, the famous Spanish painter Goya created an official portrait of El Coco. Goya was actually inspired by the novel Don Quixote for his work. El Coco, or El Cuco, has inspired many song lyrics and has been featured as a villain in series, films, and novels. The El Cuco legend, which served as the subject of Stephen King's novel "The Outsider" in 2018, is still kept alive today with its terrifying reputation.
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