thelegendsledger

[thelegendsledger]

ᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀʀʀᴏ ɴᴇɢʀᴏ: ᴍᴀᴛᴇʀɪᴀʟɪꜱᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛꜱ ʙʟɪɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜʟ

El charro negro is a legend originated in Mexican folklore and it translates to “the black cowboy”. El charro negro’s tale is that of a poor but greedy young man who sells his priceless soul to the devil in exchange for materialistic wealth. This tale sparks an important message of how materialism and consumerism has taken over what's truly valuable, and also  reflects upon everyone’s obsession with high-end luxury and designer pieces that cost leagues out of what’s in their pockets in modern society.

Let’s delve deeper into the abyss of charro negro’s greed for wealth and where it got him.  He came from a humble country family with not much fortune, despite being aware of his family’s financial struggles, his greed was greater than his empathy. He always liked to be well dressed even if there was barely food on the table. After getting tired of his misery, he invoked the devil who offered him great riches and wealth in return of his soul. And of course the man accepted the offer only to realize that his greed only made him more miserable. 

According to the story, the man tried to escape from his debt on his horse and with a bag full of gold coins so that the Devil would not take it from him; however, he was caught and from then on he was condemned to wander in the bones and dressed as a charro collecting from the Devil's debtors.

There are many versions of this legend, however the most terrifying encounter was back in 1966.

In the voids of dusk where the shining moon was hiding behind the trees, Mr. Abundio Rosas was returning to his home, located on the outskirts of the port of Veracruz. The unperceivable scene where shadows were morphed into the shape of ghosts, seen with the dim light hanging in the sky. Suddenly, Don Abundio felt that someone was following him but he did not want to turn around. Instead, he quickened his pace, wielding the machete that always accompanied him. However, he increasingly felt closer to someone who followed him. Suddenly, a cold sweat took over him, and he felt faint, but despite his fear, he decided to face whatever it was, he turned his face and with astonishment, he saw a diabolical scene.  A great black horse, with shiny, lustrous hair, but ghastly eyes that seemed to throw fire. It was ridden by a tall, skinny man in a black hat. He had no eyes, nose, or mouth. In short, it was something frightening, for which Don Abundio could no longer move or speak.

The legend of El Charro Negro evokes the significance of self-importance, empathy, and patience. It hints at how materialistic wealth cannot be compared to something as priceless as one’s soul. Which could be referred to as your true self. What do you think about charro’s decisions? Do you think what he did was reasonable? Either way, I hope this was able to ignite something meaningful to you and of course help you realize that you are priceless.

[thelegendsledger]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇɴᴇʜᴜɴᴇ: ʜᴀᴡᴀɪɪ’ꜱ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏᴡɴ ᴅᴡᴀʀᴠɪᴀɴ ʀᴀᴄᴇ

The mythology of Hawaii is rich and diverse, with many stories and legends that have been passed down from generation to generation. Among the many supernatural beings from Hawaiian mythology, the menehune stand out as a particularly fascinating and mysterious group. The menehune are often described as a tribe of mystical dwarf creatures that are said to live beneath the ground or in the forests of Hawaii. In Hawaiian mythology, the menehune are often credited with creating many of the islands' ancient structures and artworks, and they are also said to have played a key role in preserving the natural world.

According to Hawaiian legend, the menehune were the first inhabitants of Hawaii, having arrived on the islands long before the Polynesian settlers. Some stories describe the menehune as having been created by the god Ku, who gave them the task of creating the islands and shaping the land using magic tools. Other stories suggest that the menehune were survivors of a flood that destroyed the first human settlement in Hawaii, and that they were tasked with preserving the culture and knowledge of the survivors. Regardless of their exact origins, the menehune were believed to possess incredible building skills, with many ancient Hawaiian structures, including heiaus (sacred temples) and petroglyphs (rock carvings), being attributed to their work.

The menehune played a significant role in the spiritual world of the islands. They were believed to be responsible for protecting the natural world, and it was not uncommon for Hawaiian chiefs to seek their guidance and aid in times of crisis. The menehune were also believed to possess the ability to perform miracles, with some stories describing them as being able to heal the sick and control the weather. They were also often said to have the ability to communicate with the spirits of the dead and to foretell future events.

All in all, the menehune are a fascinating and intriguing aspect of Hawaiian mythology. Despite their small size, they were believed to possess incredible building skills and spiritual significance, playing a key role in creating and shaping the Hawaiian islands. Although their existence is still a subject of debate among scientists and historians, many Hawaiian people continue to believe in the myths and legends of the menehune and their place in the history and culture of the islands. If you're ever in Hawaii, be sure to keep your eyes open for signs of the menehune, and who knows, you might just catch a glimpse of one of these mysterious little creatures.

[thelegendsledger]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴏꜰ ʙᴀʟᴇᴛᴇ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇ

Growing up, my Lola never failed to warn me about the ‘Lady of Balete Drive’ at least once every few weeks, to which I can confidently say that - at least at the time - little seven year old me didn’t really fret over it all that much. Mainly because I was seven and had a singular fish ball for a brain, but also because we lived nowhere near Balete Drive - it was all the way in Quezon City, Manila. We were located a good two hours away from there, in Baliwag, Bulacan.

But with my newfound interest in Urban Legends, so too did my curiosity for this ‘Lady of Balete Drive’ grow. I mean; was their tale as tragic as it seemed to be in all my Lola’s stories? To this day, do they still terrorize the residents within the area, as they do haunt the crevices of my mind with their indelible chronicles?

The White Lady is a piece of tragic lore well-known throughout the world solely for her iconic appearance - my best comparison would be Sadako Yamamura from the movie ‘The Ring’; with ghastly pale skin and freakishly long jet black hair. In many other countries, her story has been dumbed down to a lady who had encountered an unfortunate incident that left her body mangled and deformed after an unexpected car crash that ended her life far too early. Now, she haunts some generic, desolate road, hitching rides from unsuspecting cab drivers who she believes are responsible for her death.

Well, the disappearing cab drivers are a constant throughout every single version of the story. But the origin of the White Lady? Not so much. Among Filipino households, the most commonly told reason for her death is that she was a victim of Japanese soldiers during their occupation in the Philippines during the mid 20th century; she was kept alive, tortured and raped, then later killed and buried beneath a Balete Tree. Reportedly, not even her body could rest in peace after her life was brutally stolen away from her. Filled with fury, she now haunts any lone taxi driver brave enough to traverse through Balete Drive without company, stealing them away from the Earth’s surface - never to be found again.

What I find most interesting about The White Lady’s tale is that you could visit any country, ranging from America to the United Kingdom and you’d still find a vast amount of variations of this very same legend - each little detail tweaked as the legend changes with every person it passes through, most of the time no where near similar to the original story. But all the same, it unites individuals, each who feel a lingering sense of trepidation as the passing thought of potentially becoming one of The White Lady’s many victims crosses their heads.

And with that, I conclude this concise yet dreadful tale of Balete Drive, yet I leave you with but one warning; whenever you drive through this path on your lonesome, beware a sickly white face in your rearview mirror. 

[thelegendsledger]

ᴛʜᴇ 40 ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ

The eerie tale of the mountain's crying children has been etched in the memories of locals and travellers for decades. The story begins on the tallest peak in the Chiltan range of Balochistan, with a poor couple who, after years of seeking help from clerics and healers, were blessed with 40 children through the prayers of a cleric's son. The couple, overjoyed by their newfound blessing, was initially unable to care for their numerous offspring, and the husband was forced to make the heart-wrenching decision to leave 39 of them on a mountaintop to fend for themselves. 

The wife, consumed by grief and desperation, returned to the mountain peak only to find her children alive and seemingly unharmed. But as she gazed upon their tiny faces, her joy was short-lived. In a moment of desperation, she decided to leave her 40th child behind, hoping that her husband would understand the gravity of their situation. She rushed back to inform him, but when they returned to the mountain peak together, they were met with an eerie silence. The 40 children were nowhere to be found. Vanished into thin air as if they had never existed.

Since that fateful day, many have reported hearing the cries of children on the mountain at night, which has led to numerous incidents of lost travellers and locals being misdirected by the haunting sounds. Locals whisper tales of the mountain's dark energy, which seems to be drawn to the sorrow and despair that once dwelled upon its slopes. Some say that on certain nights, when the moon is full and the wind is still, you can hear the cries of the children echoing through the valleys, a chilling reminder of the tragedy that unfolded on that fateful day.

As time passes, the legend of the 40 crying children has grown, drawing in tourists and thrill-seekers who hope to catch a glimpse of the ghostly apparitions. But few have succeeded, and those who have claimed that the experience is nothing short of terrifying. The mountain remains shrouded in mystery, its secrets locked away like the whispers of the children themselves. One thing is certain, however: the mountain's crying children will continue to haunt our imaginations for generations to come, a haunting reminder of the devastating consequences of human actions.

[thelegendsledger]

ᴛʜᴇ ɢʜᴏᴜʟɪꜱʜ ᴍʏᴛʜ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇᴋᴇ-ᴛᴇᴋᴇ: ᴊᴀᴘᴀɴ’ꜱ ᴏɴʀʏŌ ᴡʜᴏ ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴠᴇɴɢᴇᴀɴᴄᴇ

When we step into the domain of Japan, we can experience how modernity aligns with ancient cultures. It is what makes Japan a vibrant and colorful city with the most jaw-dropping landscapes along with the rich history that follows this country. But what we fail to see is the eerie folklores and gruesome urban legends that lie buried beneath the art of Japan. If we delve deeper, we can uncover that these legends are the primal fear of the locals, and perhaps some tourists. These tales are whispered down from generations to generations to ignite the flame of fear which spreads like a wildfire among the society. 

So join me as we venture through the story of Teke-Teke, a vengeful spirit who haunts the streets of Japan hoping to seize her thirst for revenge on those who had wronged her.

The legend of Teke-Teke has lots of variations but commonly she was once a young woman. One variation of this legend happened a few years after World War 2. It is the story of an office woman from Muroran, Hokkaido named Kashima Reiko who was abused and beaten horribly by a group of military men before they had left her to perish. Desperate for help, she called out yet her calls were not heard. So she took the drastic measure to crawl and find her savior - only for her to fall onto a railway track before a train sliced her into two, separating her upper half and lower half. The other adaptation of this legend begins with a young girl who was mistreated by her new classmates and pushed onto a railway track, and before she could escape the oncoming train; her body was severed at the waist.

The actual horrifying element of this legend is that Teke-Teke’s spirit was not able to rest due to the hate and ill-treatment that she had received. Therefore, she transformed to an onryo so that she could get her fair-share of revenge, although in an unfashioned manner.

Across Japan, Teke-Teke is presented as a young woman with long black hair who appears to not have a lower half. Instead of fingernails, she has sharp claws which allows her to drag her mutilated body. Her name derives from the sound she makes while crawling, which obviously is “Teke-Teke”. It is said that she wanders around holding a sharp object which seems similar to a scythe. 

People have rumored that Teke-Teke usually lurks in deserted urban areas or in quiet train stations at night. Once she has spotted her potential victim, she charges at them at an alarming speed of 150 km/h with the help of her elbows and claws. 

The ghastly part of the story occurs when Teke-Teke does indeed catch her prey. Once caught in her grasp, Teke-Teke will slice her victim in half at the waist, condemning them to the same fate she had once suffered. 

If you believe that you might have a chance of surviving Teke-Teke… forget about it. There is no chance. With her speed, she would be able to pounce on you before you even have the time to react. So scratch out ‘surviving Teke-Teke’ from your bucket list.

As with many urban legends, the story of Teke-Teke has several variations, each adding its unique twist to the terrifying tale. In some versions, she asks her victims a riddle before attacking. If they answer incorrectly, she kills them immediately. Additionally, another alteration is included in her motive. Though most say her reason for killings are due to revenge, there are some who say she does not kill as she is wandering around in hopes of finding her legs. There is also another motive, that she kills so that people who bully or abuse others, stop doing so because of the fear evoked by her.

While the legend of Teke-Teke may live on for generations, this blog will not, so let me draw this journey to an end. We know that Teke-Teke is an echo of the urban legends that spreads in Japan, but this legend is more than just a scary, spine-chilling tattle tale. This legend serves as a reminder of the vile consequences of the society’s cruelty and neglect. Furthermore, this legend, like any other urban legends, acts as a portal to the not-so-colorful folktales of Japan as an escape to all the cute, Hayao Miyazaki film-like aesthetic of the country. Now, I believe, is the correct way to part ways, so until next time!

…

My deepest apologies as I had forgotten to mention earlier that this legend concludes that if you hear the story of Teke-Teke, you are sure to see the ghost of a woman without her legs at night after three days of discovering her tale… Well then, that being said, stay safe, stay cautious, definitely DO NOT go to abandoned areas or train stations and good luck to you in case you do see the onryo.

[thelegendsledger]

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀʟ ɴᴀᴅᴅᴀʜᴀ: ᴇɢʏᴘᴛ'ꜱ ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛʀᴇꜱꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢ ɢʀᴇᴇᴋ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Growing up, I was never particularly invested in folkloric stories. I enjoyed them, but I never delved deeply into their meanings. However, there was one story that every Egyptian child knows: the cautionary tale of al Naddaha, the ethereal woman who lures men to their watery demise.

Al Naddaha, which literally translates to "the caller" in Arabic, typically targets men in pairs. She calls out one man's name repeatedly, rendering him speechless, hypnotized, and obedient to her voice, which he blindly follows to the Nile. The other man remains unaffected and attempts to awaken his entranced companion. Some succeed, but those who don't witness their friend drown in pursuit of the enchanting woman. In every account, no one has ever gotten close enough to see her face, but all agree that she is more beautiful than any woman they have ever seen.

As I grew older, my curiosity about the origins of this legend grew, and I made it a point to investigate where this urban tale came from. I was surprised by what I found! Apparently, the story originated in the 20th century, predating the urbanization movement in Egypt. It was a cautionary tale designed to keep children and men away from the deep waters of the Nile at night. During my research, however, I discovered an unexpected connection that led me across the Mediterranean to Greece. In Greek mythology, the Naiad Io was the daughter of the river god Inachus (see the connection?). According to legend, she swam to Egypt and was worshipped by the Egyptians as the goddess Isis. Her description matched that of al Naddaha perfectly—an irresistibly beautiful woman, desired by all.

The goddess Isis has her own set of obscure and intriguing stories, that deserve their own entry, but I find it fascinating that different cultures can intertwine and create stories leaving a subtle mark on traditions lasting thousands of years.

[thelegendsledger]

ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀᴘᴏꜱᴛ

ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ ʜᴀɴᴅꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅ ᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴜꜱ ʜᴀᴅ ᴡᴇᴀᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴠᴀꜱᴛ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴡʜɪᴍꜱɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄʜʀᴏɴɪᴄʟᴇꜱ ʀᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ꜰʀ���ᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴘᴇʀᴛᴜʀʙɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ꜰᴀꜱᴄɪɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ - ᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ʜᴏᴘᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ɪꜱ ᴡʜᴏʟʟʏ ᴜɴᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴᴀʙʟᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴊᴜʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱʜᴇᴅ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʟʏ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴘʜᴇɴᴏᴍᴇɴᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴀᴛᴇꜱ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴀɢᴇꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ'ꜱ ɴᴏ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ ꜰᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ. ꜱᴏ ᴊᴏɪɴ ᴜꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇ ɴᴀᴠɪɢᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏɢ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴏʟᴋʟᴏʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅꜱ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ᴇʀᴀᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇɪʟ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴍᴏᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀꜱ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ꜰᴀʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴏʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ʙᴇɢᴜɪʟɪɴɢ ꜱᴘɪᴇʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ.

​ꜰᴏʀ ᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴀQ + ᴍᴏʀᴇ, ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ!

⟡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ?

Here at The Legends Ledger, our group of passionate researchers post a variety of Urban Legends and Folklore from many different timelines, and from many different regions. By doing this, we aim to create a free space for others who share in our delight for learning about these mind-boggling experiences, and even invite them to submit their own personal experiences and build a further, more in-depth understanding of our humble collection of tales!

⟡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴅᴏ ɪ ꜱᴜʙᴍɪᴛ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴᴀʟ ᴇxᴘᴇʀɪᴇɴᴄᴇꜱ?

If you do wish to submit your own encounters, there are two ways that they can be done! You can either submit your story through the Query Page - which functions as both a way to communicate any inquiries as well as to submit your own encounters - you may find this more convenient because the Query Page does allow for anonymity.

The second way this could be done is by submitting your story through our Submissions Page, which makes it so that your story appears as a post on our blog. But the appropriate credits will still be given, even if it does show up on our feed!

⟡ ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴀɴꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ?

Aside from sending in inquiries through our Query Page, you can personally contact us through our Official Instagram page! There, you can access announcements and updates regarding the blog, as well as the occasional events that we host as a way to celebrate new achievements or the sort.