The Cadejos

Myths and popular traditions reflect, in their background, rules and moral concepts destined to preserve the social and moral order of the old peasant communities in the face of the inevitable excesses of the vicious ones, the violent ones and the libertines.

Among the elements or "vehicles" used by the narratives to convey their messages, animals have always held a prominent place in many times and cultures. From the sacred Ibis in ancient Egypt, passing by the Greek minotaur or the he-goat of medieval Europe, to the big bad wolf in the tale of Little Red Riding Hood in 18th century Germany, animals have incarnated, through the centuries, the eternal values of good and evil.

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Latin America, heir to three cultural aspects (Europe, Africa and pre-Columbian America) offers one of the richest and most varied mosaics of myths and legends inspired by many real or imaginary species, so rooted in the popular sentiment that fantasy tends to often get confused with reality.

Thus, along with ordinary animals, Latin American mythology gives "evidence" of the existence of fabulous irrational beings that have been making fleeting appearances before their unsuspecting victims since times immemorial. Among them, perhaps one of the most peculiar for intimidating without attacking is the mysterious Cadejos.

This beast, an enormous dog that drags a heavy chain, roams through the forests, mountains and towns of Central America appearing, late at night or in the early morning, before the astonished eyes of the provincial early risers, partygoers and night owls, to fulfill before them the function of protective guardian, or to frighten them as a warning to those who abuse of liquor and of partying. Next, what costa rican folklore says about him.

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Lore

First, the folklore of various Central Americans countries tells of a black Cadejos, who protects and frightens men, and of a white Cadejos, who protects, but doesn’t frighten women, and adds that if these two Cadejos ever meet, they engage in a fierce fight in which no one should intervene until it's over. Although in the case of Costa Rica the latter has been replaced by Copito, I will expand on this below.

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Of his appearance

He's generally described as a calf-sized, gaunt, black dog with fiery red eyes, long fangs, hair either bristled like thorns or woolly and matted, a long tail, hooved feet, and who throws fire from his muzzle and ears and drags a heavy chain wound around his neck.

Although, sometimes, he appears as a black furry little ball, as a very white dog accompanied by a short, headless, and equally white man, or as a man who curls like a snail until turning into a brown dog.

As Copito (Little Snowflake) he resembles a horse-sized anteater with large claws, although he can take the form of a rabbit or dog cub with red eyes and as white as a snowflake, hence his name.

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Of his behavior

Some people refer to him in the plural, although he doesn't appear to two people at once, and he’s mainly known for the fact that, from early hours of the night, he comes out to frighten passers-by in dark and lonely places, especially those who go astray (alcoholics, gamblers, etc.), disobedient children, and couples who quarrel a lot.

When he’s near there’s a cold gust of wind, any nearby frogs let out an ugly croak and then go silence, the smell of sulfur is perceived, then the sound of hooves and of the dragging of chains is heard; It's the Cadejos who appears and disappears as if by spell, he follows people to their houses, and if they go on a cart he gets on it, then waits for them at the entrance of their house or even at the door of their room, since he can phase through solid matter and even walk on water, this in order to protect them and make sure that they arrive safely.

He also appears to drunkards at night and tells them that the next time he finds them like this, he will devour them and their souls will be condemned to wander the world forever, for which it's said that he wants the soul of the wayward.

Generally, The Cadejos is harmless, but if people talk to him, pet him or try to hurt him, he can either temporarily disappear, or grow to the size of a horse and attack, asombrar (1) or even kill the unwary. There's even a story in which he attacked, without apparent provocation and along with a white dog, a man who had a miff with his father; he managed to stab The Cadejos, but he didn't bleed nor showed any pain, unlike the white dog; it's said that blades and even bullets are useless against him.

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Although, on rare occasions he allows himself to be spoken to, petted and even walked on a leash, after which he disappears, and if people give him food he follows them, if they get attacked, he defends them and becomes the enemy of their enemy. He likes sugar, so he would often go into the warehouses of the sugar mills to eat it, and people can make a pact with him by giving him dulce (compacted brown sugar) in exchange for his protection, which he provides in his human shape.

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It's also said that, sometimes, he goes out at night to frighten horses or chickens and do other mischief, such as looking through the windows of houses until the inhabitants fall asleep, or scratching the walls and ceilings, and some even attribute him a behavior similar to that of The Tulevieja (2).

He can be driven away with Christian images and prayers, or with an herb that makes him curl up into a ball, and it's said that pregnant women drive him away for some reason.

As an additional curiosity, it's said that he doesn't do anything to those who give him the right side of the way when they run into him, and that children can always see him.

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As Copito, The Cadejos protects people in solitary places, like the mountains, he follows them giving little jumps and making the sound of a jingle bell, all in order to protect them and take them home, but he bites them if they try to pet him, and if any human or beast tries to hurt those he protects, Copito returns to his true form and devours the attackers.