History Myth / BrazilianFolklore

'''Boto cor-de-rosa''': According to northern Brazilian legends, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_river_dolphin Amazon river dolphin]] known in Brasil as Boto, turns into a handsome man during Midsummer festivities, always sharply dressed and wearing a hat to conceal the [[MorphicResonance hole atop its head]]. The Boto is known to [[ShapeshiftingSeducer seduce single women]], taking them to the bottom of the river, and sometimes making them pregnant. The legend was probably created to justify the pregnancy of single mothers, back when such a thing would be frowned upon.

Folklorist Câmara Cascuro suggests the correlation of the river dolphins with sexuality and seduction has connection to European roots: the blowhole of cetaceans looks similar to the glans penis, and the movement of dolphins next to the ships could be compared with the act of coitus; moreover, dolphins were associated with [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Aphrodite]]. However, it should be noticed Botos most likely already had had association with the supernatural in local cultures before conflation with European beliefs.

'''Chibamba''': A monster covered by banana leaves from top to toe that [[ChildEater eats children]] who cry when they go to sleep in Minas Gerais. He makes snorts like those of a pig and moves in a constant rhythm, as if he were constantly dancing. The similarity of its appearance with ritualistic vestments from some African cultures, like a few traditions in Angola, suggests the myth came from African slaves from those regions.

* Monteiro Lobato's ''O Saci'' fromm the ''Literature/SitioDoPicapauAmarelo'' book series is largely responsible for popularizing the Cuca in Brazil. Other folkloric beings, including the titular Saci, are also featured. TV adaptations of his work, in which the Cuca and Saci became recurring characters, helped to popularize the myths even more.

Brazilian folklore is a collective of legends, folk tales and oral traditions from UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}. While the earliest tales of Brazilian folklore date from before the beginning of the Portuguese colonization of the country in 1500, it has only been formally studied since around the middle of the nineteenth century.

As with most myths and legends, Brazilian Folklore reflects several aspects of the country's history and culture. As such, many myths have roots in European legends (mainly from Portuguese folklore, but immigrants from Spain, Poland, Germany, Italy etc. have also greatly contributed to the country's culture), African mythologies (including, but not limited to ''Myth/YorubaMythology'') and various Native-Brazilian mythologies (including, but not limited to ''Myth/TupiGuaraniMythology''). In fact, a lot of Brazilian folkloric entities started out as gods or beings from Native mythologies that morphed into different tales over time, by absorbing multiple influences. Other stories are old wives' tales and UrbanLegends. Keep in mind that many of these legends have several regional variations, so don't always expect a single coherent narrative. Plus, like every national folklore, it also encompasses traditions, festivals, culinary, games, dances, sayings, superstitions, tongue-twisters, riddles etc., but for the purpose of this page, tales from oral tradition will be more focused on.

* DistaffCounterpart: Caipora to Curupira. Iara to the Boto. To some extent, Tutu-Murambá can be considered this to the Cuca.

* DysfunctionalFamily: The Gourd-Head killed his mother accidentally, the Dry Body is said to have tortured and spanked his mother in life, Norato had to kill his evil sister, Iara's brothers tried to kill her and her father did kill her for killing them in self-defense. And then there's Romãozinho, who manipulated his father into killing his mother. In general, many curses come to be as punishments for people mistreating their family members, especially their parents and godparents.

* TheFairFolk: Many creatures have ambiguous morality, akin to European faeries (and in fact, many have been influenced by them), having their own set of rules that people should avoid breaking. The Curupira and Caipora, for example, normally don't bother hunters who give them oblations, don't hunt in saint days, share their spoils with their communities and don't overhunt. But if disrespected, they give harsh punishments, such as giving people bad luck, making them get lost or crazy forever, spanking and whipping them and turning them into animals. Overall, how friendly tricksters like Sacis and Caiporas are depends on the version -- they can range from passive or even helpful creatures [[KarmicTrickster who only harm those who directly disrespect them and their domains]] and at worst play harmless pranks, to fearful sadists who whip, spank and haunt anyone on their way unless they are appeased.
* FairyInABottle: Not a fairy in the classical sense, but the Saci-Pererê is a fae-like being who can be trapped into bottles when caught by a sieve and taken away from his [[PowerSource red cap]], granting wishes to who captured him until freed. If he escapes, however, he will seek revenge and bring harsh misfortune and pain to his hunter.

* GiantWoman: The 7 meters (23 feet) woman is an urban legend from a city in Minas Gerais, especially during the seventies. She is so big that her face cannot be seen from the ground and a bus can can go through in-between her legs, and the closer one runs towards her, the more far away she seems to be.

* [[MagicalNativeAmerican Magical Native Brazilian]]

*** The Dry-Body shares the theme of being an undead who left his grave in order to attack the living at night.

** OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The Lobisomem comes from the Iberian version of the werewolf and has a few differences from European and Hollywood versions. For starters, it traditionally doesn't become a wolf per se, but farm animals, like [[WerewolvesAreDogs dogs]], pigs, and mixtures between them, depending on the animals that rolled on the land in which he wallows during his transformation. They come from a curse suffered by the seventh boy of six children of consecutive gender, and aren't harmed by silver bullets, but by iron and other artefacts. They also don't turn in full moons, but at every Thursday to Friday night, having to pass through seven crossroads, cemeteries an/or parishes until the first cock crowing. They eat guava fruit, animals and garbage, and normally only attack those on their path, but they will actively target and attack unbabtized babies, and thus, pregnant women.
** OurWitchesAreDifferent: Besides hags such as Cuca and Matinta-Pereira, witches in general in Brazilian folklore (called ''bruxas'', in a literal translation) have some peculiarities. Like the Werewolf and the Cumacanga, they are the seventh children of their families, turn into dark moths and might suck the blood out of horses and even children at night.

* ''Series/CasteloRaTimBum'': The Caipora is a recurring character, while the Saci appears in one episode.
* Creator/TarsilaDoAmaral's painting ''A Cuca'' (The Cuca) is named after the child-eating witch.

* The Brazilian series ''Series/InvisibleCity'' is basically about local folklore, with focus on Saci, Iara, Cuca, Curupira, Tutu and the Boto, reimagined in a [[UrbanFantasy more modern and urban]] way.

** Matinta-Pereira: A girl and her cat are accidentally brought to the Matinta-Pereira's dwelling, and find out that the old witch isn't evil like it was thought.

* Monteiro Lobato's [[Literature/SitioDoPicapauAmarelo O Saci]] is largely responsible for popularizing the Cuca in Brazil. Other folkloric beings, including the titular Saci, are also featured. TV adaptations of his work ''Literature/SitioDoPicapauAmarelo'', in which the Cuca and Saci became recurring characters, helped to popularize the myths even more.

'''Pé-de-Garrafa (Bottle-Foot)''': A humanoid one-legged creature with a horn on its forehead, covered by fur and with a single round hoove, making its footstrips look like marks made by bottles on the ground, hence its name. It makes unbearable screams and imitate human voices that lure, desorient and make hunters go crazy and get lost in the woods. It is also called man-animal (bicho-homem) and it is known across Piauí, Minas Gerais e Mato Grosso.

Some versions say the leg is from the Devil himself, getting out of Hell to harm the living. Others say it was the leg of a cruel man who kicked his own mother to death, and after his own, his leg continued to torment people at night. Curiously, the myth reportedly came from a joke in the radio station of the city during the 1970's, in which a guard finds out [[BedroomAdulteryScene a hairy leg coming from under the bed of his wife]]. When the man questions his spouse, who was on the bed, she explains that the leg was autonomous and went down there by itself. The joking report ended up being interpreted as a monster by the population and, with time, gained its own characteristics, social roles and identity in oral tradition, until it eventually became a plain full urban legend of its own. To this day, the Leg is rather famous in Recife, inspiring many Livros de Cordel/String Books [[note]] a popular literary genre, many times encompassing oral stories written in rhymes. Common in the Northeast region [[/note]] and a graphic novel.

'''Boto cor-de-rosa''': According to northern Brazilian legends, the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_river_dolphin Amazon river dolphin]] known in Brasil as Boto, turns into a handsome man during Midsummer festivities, always sharply dressed and wearing a NiceHat to conceal the [[MorphicResonance hole atop its head]]. The Boto is known to [[ShapeshiftingSeducer seduce single women]], taking them to the bottom of the river, and sometimes making them pregnant. The legend was probably created to justify the pregnancy of single mothers, back when such a thing would be frowned upon.

Brazilian folklore is a collective of legends, folk tales and oral traditions from ''UsefulNotes/{{Brazil}}''. While the earliest tales of Brazilian folklore date from before the beginning of the Portuguese colonization of the country in 1500, it has only been formally studied since around the middle of the nineteenth century.

* {{Amazing Technicolor Population}}/{{Supernatural Is Green}}: Curupira sometimes is descripted as having green skin.

* VanishingVillage: A common motif in a couple of oral stories across the country envolves the narrator finding big mysterious houses full of people and festivities in an empty region at night when passing by. When he goes to investigate where the sounds are coming from, the entire house and the people inside vanish, often because [[HauntedHouse it was haunted]].

[[caption-width-right:200: Image by https://twitter.com/HETthePumpking. Posted with permission]]'''Besta-fera''': Translated to [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment beastial beast]], the Besta-fera is a [[OurCentaursAreDifferent horse with a human torso]], believed to be either a servant of or [[{{Satan}} the Devil]] himself, who leaves {{Hell}} through cemeteries during full moon nights to brand people with his mark, which dooms them to Hell. Some legends say that instead of marking people, its sight cause them to go insane, but only for a few days. It is also said that it roams forest areas in search of a blood-soaked red flower, and that when he finds it, he disappears.

The Cuca was popularized by Monteiro Lobato's 1921 book [[Literature/SitioDoPicapauAmarelo "O Saci"]]. The alligator headed version was used in the book, and its popularity made it the most recognizable depiction of the monster by far.

[[caption-width-right:200: image by https://twitter.com/HETthePumpking. Posted with permission]]'''Besta-fera''': Translated to [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment beastial beast]], the Besta-fera is a [[OurCentaursAreDifferent horse with a human torso]], believed to be either a servant of or [[{{Satan}} the Devil]] himself, who leaves {{Hell}} through cemeteries during full moon nights to brand people with his mark, which dooms them to Hell. Some legends say that instead of marking people, its sight cause them to go insane, but only for a few days. It is also said that it roams forest areas in search of a blood-soaked red flower, and that when he finds it, he disappears.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/iara.jpg]]

[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/labatut_ikarow.jpg]] [[caption-width-right:260:image by https://twitter.com/ikarow]]'''Labatut''': A humanoid man-eating monster in the Northeast region with long and hard hair across its body like those of a porcupine, round feet, [[{{Cyclops}} one single eye]] on its forehead and tusks in its mouth, similar to those of an elephant or wild pig. He roams cities at night looking for people to eat, with a preference for [[ChildEater children]] due to they having softer meat. The Labatut passes by the houses and stops at the door to hear if someone is inside; a whistle or whispering is what angers him the most. He is accompanied by a strong gale and said to be worse than the Werewolf, the Headless Mule, the Caipora and even the Devil.

[[caption-width-right:235:image by https://twitter.com/HETthePumpking. Posted with permission]]'''[[OurWereWolvesAreDifferent Lobisomem]]''': The Lobisomem is basically a Brazilian werewolf (and the word Lobisomem is, in fact, used as the translation of the english word 'werewolf' in Portuguese). However the Brazilian legends differ quite a bit from the usual European stories.

[[caption-width-right:350: The Mapinguari hunting. Image by https://twitter.com/ikarow]]'''Mapinguari''': A cryptid said to live in the Amazon jungle. The Mapinguari is described as having characteristics of a ground sloth, and an anteater, as well as bright red bullet-proof fur. It is sometimes described, instead, as a giant fur-covered humanoid with a [[{{Cyclops}} single eye]] and a [[BellyMouth mouth in its belly]], that attacks and devours those that wander into the forest alone. Similar to Capelobo, it can only be defeated by attacking its belly button.

[[caption-width-right:350:image by Anderson Awvas]]'''Pai-do-Mato (Woodsfather)''': A colossal giant with enormous claws who dwells in the wild woods of the Northeast and Midwest of the country. He is so big that towers over all trees, his roar can be heard from kilometers away and his footsteps can shake the ground. Seldom does he interact with humans, but it is said that if someone gets attacked by him, the only way of wounding him is by attacking his bellybutton.

[[caption-width-right:350:image by Dudu Torres]]'''Porca-dos-Sete-Leitões (Seven-Piglet Sow)''': Some people wandering around empty streets, narrow alleys, churchyards or cross-roads in the dead of night might hear unbearable grunts and snorts from behind their backs following them. When they turn back, they see the figure of a huge sow accompanied by her seven piglets, that quickly disappears. And when they go back to their way, the sounds begin again. Despite this, however, the haunting often is said to be innoffensive and not malicious, as she normally targets absent husbands and adulterers. When a bad husband goes out at night planning to cheat on his wife, the sow and her piglets begin to follow him, pertubing him with their gruntings. The adulterer can do nothing, since as soon as he turns back to investigate, [[ParanoiaFuel the pigs disappear as if the whole thing had happened in his mind, and begin their sounds again as soon as he turns back]], until he gives up and goes back home.

[[caption-width-right:321:image by https://www.heloilustra.com.br/]]'''Serpentes de Igreja (Church Serpents)''': A common motif in many cities is myths about giant snakes that have been sleeping for centuries in the underground, resting their heads, tails or other parts of their body under the local church, see or cathedral. These legends can be found in Óbidos and Belém (Pará), Taubaté and Araraquara (São Paulo), Itacotiara (Amazonas), Lages (Santa Catarina), São Luís (Maranhão) and several other cities. While they have variations and different, unrelated origins -- the one under Araraquara, for example, is said to be a transformed child, while others can be conflated with Boiúna ¬, being there since before the city's construction -- they all share a habit of hibernating under the local religious building. They are so colossal that all the serpents need to do to destroy or sink the whole city is simply waking up, and their movements during sleep already cause tremors and landslides.

[[caption-width-right:350:Image by Eduardo Ferigato and Ricardo Riamonde. Used with permission.[[note]]Left: [[TheTrickster Saci-Pererê]]. Right: [[NatureSpirit Curupira]] on his peccary[[/note]]]]

'''Caipora and Curupira''': These two beings derived from Tupi-Guarani mythology share a few similarities: Both are children/short people said to protect the jungles from hunters that disrespect the rules of fair hunting, and both are said to rule over all animals. They can make hunters get lost in the forest with their whistling or go crazy, give them bad luck[[note]]and in fact, the word ''caiporismo'' is a synonym for "bad luck" in Portuguese[[/note]], spank and whip them and even resurrect their hunt. Additionally it is said that both accept offerings of tobacco as a way to appease them, and might even help if the hunter follows the rules.

[[caption-width-right:350:]]'''Caboclo d'Água (Hillbilly from the Water) '''[[note]]the word "caboclo" in Brazil means the descendant of europeans and natives, though it can also sometimes be used to refer to natives in general or people from the countryside[[/note]]: Also called Negro d'Água (black man from the water), he is a strong humanoid river creature who perturbs fishermen and ferrymen by making them fail to catch fish, turning over their boats or even drowning people. His appearance can vary, but it is normally a [[FishPeople fish man]] covered by copper-colored scales or fur and with membranes on its fingers, sometimes one-eyed. He can be avoided by sticking an [[ColdIron iron or steel blade]] at the bottom of the boat, by painting a star of David at the hull, or by decorating the bow of the canoe with a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carranca Carranca]], a frightful statue traditionally used to scare away evil spirits from the river, what includes the Caboclo. The myth is famous across the river São Francisco, one of the most important rivers of the country, and the carrancas are a cultural tradition around the river course.

[[caption-width-right:220:The Comadre scaring a passerby in a woodcut, a traditional art style in cordel literature]]'''Comadre Fulozinha''' [[note]] ''Comadre'' in Portuguese means the godmother of your child or the mother of your godchild, but it can also be used to mean "close friend", like "goodfellow". ''Fulozinha'' is a way of saying ''florzinha'', which means "little flower" in Portuguese [[/note]]: The spirit of a young woman with long dark hair covering her whole body. She lives in the forests and protects nature from those who would defile it. Fulozinha is known to have a whimsical personality, and to accept offerings of oats, candies, tobacco and honey. When pleased, she helps people find hunt and allows them to leave the forest alive. It is said that her whistling sounds lower the closer she is, thus confounding her victims. She can also use either a nettle vine or [[PrehensileHair her hair]] to cut and whip those who invade the forests without making proper offerings.

It should also be noticed that Brazilian population is composed by christians (87% of people), non-religious (8%), kardecists (2%) and others (3%), the latter including afro-brazillian religions such as Umbanda and Candomblé. Therefore, it is complicated to say if there is a specific "Brazilian mythology", only that there is a folklore, with myths influenced by an extremely diverse collection of interacting cultures from across the globe.

'''Negrinho do Pastoreio (little black boy of the pasture)''': During the period of slavery, there was a black boy who suffered at the hands of a cruel slaveowner, with his only comfort being his faith in Virgin Mary, who he said to be his godmother. One day, the kid was ordered to herd the horses the farmer had just bought, but when he went back, the slaveowner noticed the bay horse was missing, and as punishment whipped the poor boy and ordered him to search for it. The little black boy found it, but failed to catch it, so the furious slaveowner spanked him even more, and disposed his body on an anthill to be eaten by the ants. However, when he went check it three days after, the kid was alive and without any injury, with Our Lady Mary to his side and the missing horse next to him. The slaveowner kneeled in fear asking for forgiveness, but the little black boy nothing said; now free, he took away the last ants off his skin, kissed the hand of his godmother and rode the bay horse away. Since then, whenever someone lost something, all they had to do was light a candle and ask for the help of the little black boy of the pasture, and he would help them find it.

'''Sanguanel''': A mischievous Sprite from the Rio Grande do Sul state, whose myth was brought with Italian immigration. He is a small and red creature who lives on the top of trees and likes to prank humans, similar to the Saci.

'''Saci or Saci-Pererê''': A young black boy with a single leg, a red cap and a pipe. The Saci is easily the most iconic being from Brazilian Folklore. He is known for playing (mostly) harmless tricks and pranks, such as scaring night travellers by imitating the sound of wild animals, disturbing cooks by switching the contents of salt and sugar pots and setting farm animals loose, among many others. The Saci is often depicted as being able to [[BlowYouAway move around riding a dust devil]]. It is also said that [[HatOfPower his red cap is the source of his powers]] and that whoever steals it shall be able to control the Saci to do their bidding... at least until he gets it back.

Most notably, the Saci is one of the most famous Brazilian myths because is one of the few creatures that exists and was conceived solely in Brazil, being equally influenced by indigenous mythologies (it is believed he comes from a being called Jasy Jaterê), african mythologies (in which he lost his leg and became a black boy) and portuguese folklore (in which he received his red cap, a characteristic shared by other Portuguese beings such as the Trasgo and the Fradinho da Mão Furada). Therefore, the Saci-Pererê has been used by many scholars as a symbol of the miscigenation of cultures that created Brazil.

'''Cabra Cabriola'''[[note]]''cabra'' means nanny goat. ''Cabriola'' means a goat or goat-like jump, though in the context it is most likely being used as a wordplay[[/note]]: The creature derived from portuguese folklore is a [[GruesomeGoat monstruous nanny goat with fire coming from her nostrils and eyes]], who kidnaps and eats bratty children, similar to the boogeyman. She can mimic voices so children would open the door, and it is said that, when a kid suddenly starts to cry at night, it's because the Cabra Cabriola is making a new victim elsewhere.

'''Caipora and Curupira''': These two beings derived from Tupi-Guarani mythology share a few similarities: Both are children/short people said to protect the jungles from hunters that disrespect the rules of fair hunting, and both are said to rule over all animals. They can make hunters get lost in the forest with their whistling or go crazy, give them bad luck[[note]]and in fact, the word ''caiporismo'' is a synonym for "bad luck" in portuguese[[/note]], spank and whip them and even resurrect their hunt. Additionally it is said that both accept offerings of tobacco as a way to appease them, and might even help if the hunter follows the rules.

[[caption-width-right:220:The Comadre scaring a passerby in a woodcut, a traditional art style in cordel literature]]'''Comadre Fulozinha''' [[note]] ''Comadre'' in portuguese means the godmother of your child or the mother of your godchild, but it can also be used to mean "close friend", like "goodfellow". ''Fulozinha'' is a way of saying ''florzinha'', which means "little flower" in portuguese [[/note]]: The spirit of a young woman with long dark hair covering her whole body. She lives in the forests and protects nature from those who would defile it. Fulozinha is known to have a whimsical personality, and to accept offerings of oats, candies, tobacco and honey. When pleased, she helps people find hunt and allows them to leave the forest alive. It is said that her whistling sounds lower the closer she is, thus confounding her victims. She can also use either a nettle vine or [[PrehensileHair her hair]] to cut and whip those who invade the forests without making proper offerings.

'''Gorjala''': A horrendous man-eating giant with [[{{Cyclops}} one eye]] and dark skin from the North and Northeast region who lives in rocky hills and cliffs, influenced by [[OurOgresAreHungrier european tales of similar monsters]]. He eats anyone who enters his domains, and while he isn't said to be particularly smart, he can easily devour a person, putting them under his arm so he can [[EatenAlive slowly eat them]] as he walks, bite by bite. Some versions say he wears an armor made with turtle shells.

Despite its popularity, the legend is most likely a [[NewerThanTheyThink modern reinterpretation]] of the myth, since it is believed Iara has roots in the european legends of mermaids brought during portuguese colonization, instead of native culture alone, as her first stories only appeared around the seventeenth century (opposed to Curupira, for example, who appears in the first portuguese documents). Iara, therefore, would have come from european legends united with indigenous culture, without a particular origin story. Native people did have a man-eating river creature called Ipupiara, but different from Iara, they were monsters with fur and whiskers that used violence instead of seduction to devour their victims.

[[caption-width-right:235:image by https://twitter.com/HETthePumpking. Posted with permission]]'''[[OurWereWolvesAreDifferent Lobisomem]]''': The Lobisomem is basically a Brazilian werewolf (and the word Lobisomem is, in fact, used as the translation of the english word 'werewolf' in portuguese). However the Brazilian legends differ quite a bit from the usual European stories.

Most notably, the lobisomem traditionally doesn't become a wolf[[note]]different from Portugal, there aren't true wolves in Brazil (although there are similar canids, such as the Maned Wolf)[[/note]], but farm animals, sometimes explained to be the ones that wallowed in the crossroads in which he transforms on. It is often said to take shape of a [[BewareOfViciousDog large dog]], but several versions also describe it as being similar to a pig, or a mix between both animals. It has [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], [[DarkIsEvil black fur]], long ears, [[EvilSmellsBad putrid odor]] and front legs shorter than the hind ones, as if he still retained his humans proportions. Other stories telling about werewolves with the appearance of donkeys, bulls, rams and mixes between all of these animals also aren't unheard of; the more different animals that make part of the beast's appearance, the more powerful the werewolf is. It should be noticed, however, that this is more restricted to traditional rural tales, and more modern and urban myths have been influenced by the european and Hollywood versions. In human form, the lobisomem is weak, pale and often ill, possessing eye bags and husky elbows due to the position they walk in on their beast form.

She was buried inside her own house and some time later, a plant sprouted from her grave. That plant was called Manioca (Mani + Oca[[note]] house in Tupi language[[/note]]), the basis for one of the modern portuguese words for cassava: Mandioca.

'''Quibungo''': A monster similar to the boogeyman of african origins (especially Angola and Congo), common in the state of Bahia. He is a creature part man and part animal, compared to either a dog or a monkey, with an enourmous mouth on its back that opens as he lowers and lifts his head, which he uses to [[EatenAlive devour misbehaving children whole]]. Despite its ferocity, it isn't said to be particularly smart or brave, being scared off or killed with mundane weapons, and will fled with fear at the first sign of a fight.

* BilingualBonus: Several characters inherited certain characteristics because their names mean different things in different languages. For instance Boitatá is named as such because "Boi" means snake in Tupi language, but in portuguese it means bull, so in some regions it is depicted as a one eyed bull. Tutu-Marambá is sometimes depicted as a peccary, or having traits of one because the word Tutu sounds like Caititu, a portuguese word for peccary.

* TheFairFolk: Many creatures have ambiguous morality, akin to european faeries (and in fact, many have been influenced by them), having their own set of rules that people should avoid breaking. The Curupira and Caipora, for example, normally don't bother hunters who give them oblations, don't hunt in saint days, share their spoils with their communities and don't overhunt. But if disrespected, they give harsh punishments, such as giving people bad luck, making them get lost or crazy forever, spanking and whipping them and turning them into animals. Overall, how friendly tricksters like Sacis and Caiporas are depends on the version -- they can range from passive or even helpful creatures [[KarmicTrickster who only harm those who directly disrespect them and their domains]] and at worst play harmless pranks, to fearful sadists who whip, spank and haunt anyone on their way unless they are appeased.

'''Boiuna''': Meaning 'black snake' or 'giant snake'. Also called 'mother of the river' (Mãe do rio), 'lady of the waters' (senhora das águas) or 'Big Snake' (Cobra-Grande). According to legends from TheAmazon forest, the Boiuna is a giant snake capable of sinking boats, as well as assuming the shape of a boat to lure castaways to the bottom of the river. It can also assume the form of a beautiful human woman. It is so big it is said its trails are the grooves that created the rivers from the Amazon.

* TheGreatSerpent: The Boiúna or Cobra-Grande, so big its trails formed the rivers of TheAmazon (it is no wonder one of its names means literally Big Snake). The Big Worm and the church serpents also qualify, as well as Cobra Norato e Maria Caninana. Boitatá is an interesting example, as it is often portrayed in this way, but myths don't generally specify if it is much larger than a normal serpent.

'''[[OurMermaidsAreDifferent Iara]]''': Iara, or [[SpellMyNameWithAnS Yara]], meaning lady of the waters, is a beautiful half-woman, half-fish being, with long, sometimes [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair green]] hair, decorated with [[FlowersOfNature red flowers]]. She is known to live in the Amazon River, where she lures men with her beauty, taking them to the bottom of the river. But she is also considered a guardian of the rivers.

* Animated series ''[[http://www.multirio.rj.gov.br/assista/index.php/s%C3%A9ries/62-juro-que-vi Juro Que Vi]]'' (I Swear I Saw It), produced by [=MultiRio=], features five shorts, each one centered about a different creature from folklore:

* WillOTheWisp: A couple of myths explain or are related to this phenomenon.

* Animated series ''[[http://www.multirio.rj.gov.br/assista/index.php/s%C3%A9ries/62-juro-que-vi Juro Que Vi]]'' (I Swear I've Seen It), produced by [=MultiRio=], features five shorts, each one centered about a different creature from folklore:

** Matinta-Pereira: A girl and her cat are accidentally brought to the Matinta-Pereira's dwelling, and discover the old witch isn't evil like it was thought.

* ''ComicBook/MonicasGang'' occasionally features one of these characters. Mostly in the Chico Bento stories.

** OurWerewolvesAreDifferent: The Lobisomem comes from the Iberian version of the werewolf and has a few differences from European and Hollywood versions. For starters, it traditionally doesn't become a wolf per se, but farm animals, like dogs, pigs, and mixtures between them, depending on the animals that rolled on the land in which he wallows during his transformation. They come from a curse suffered by the seventh boy of six children of consecutive gender, and aren't harmed by silver bullets, but by iron and other artefacts. They also don't turn in full moons, but at every Thursday to Friday night, having to pass through seven crossroads, cemeteries an/or parishes until the first cock crowing. They eat guava fruit, animals and garbage, and normally only attack those on their path, but they will actively target and attack unbabtized babies, and thus, pregnant women.

Most notably, the lobisomem traditionally doesn't become a wolf[[note]]different from Portugal, there aren't true wolves in Brazil (although there are similar canids, such as the Maned Wolf)[[/note]], but farm animals, sometimes explained to be the ones that wallowed in the crossroads in which he transforms on. It more often is said to take shape of a large dog, but some versions mention the shape of a pig, or a mix between both animals. It has [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], [[DarkIsEvil black fur]], long ears, [[EvilSmellsBad putrid odor]] and front legs shorter than the hind ones, as if he still retained his humans proportions. Other stories telling about donkeys, bulls and ram-like werewolves also aren't unheard of; the more different animals that make part of the beast's appearance, the more powerful the werewolf is. It should be noticed, however, that this is more restricted to traditional rural tales, and more modern and urban myths have been influenced by the european and Hollywood versions. In human form, the lobisomem is weak, pale and often ill, possessing eye bags and husky elbows due to the position they walk in on their beast form.

Most notably, the lobisomem traditionally doesn't become a wolf[[note]]different from Portugal, there aren't true wolves in Brazil (although there are similar canids, such as the Maned Wolf)[[/note]], but farm animals, sometimes explained to be the ones that wallowed in the crossroads in which he transforms on. It normally takes shape of a large dog, but others of the most common appearances are of a pig or a mix between both animals. It has [[RedEyesTakeWarning red eyes]], [[DarkIsEvil black fur]], long ears, [[EvilSmellsBad putrid odor]] and front legs shorter than the hind ones, as if he still retained his humans proportions. Other stories telling about donkeys, bulls and ram-like werewolves also aren't unheard of; the more different animals that rolled on the same land and influenced the appearance of the beast during its transformation, the more powerful the werewolf is. It should be noticed, however, that this is more restricted to traditional rural tales, and more modern and urban myths have been influenced by the european and Hollywood versions. In human form, the lobisomem is weak, pale and often ill, possessing eye bags and husky elbows due to the position they walk in on their beast form.

** The Good Friday is seen as the darkest period in folklore, and by extension, the Lent. Since Jesus was crucified on that day, folk belief sees this date as when God is absent from Earth, only returning during His ressurection on the Easter Sunday. Thus, during the period of the Lent, werewolves and headless mules get stronger, more bloodthirsty, and their transformations happen everyday instead of just every Friday, souls get lost on the way to the Afterlife and hauntings become more common.

* MixAndMatchCritters: Some creatures resemble the fusion of different animals, such as the Tapiora, an aquatic being part jaguar and part tapir, and the Onça-boi (jaguar-ox). The Lobisomem is also often said to gain the characteristics of all the animal that wallowed upon the land he rolls on during his weekly transformation; if more than one animal wallows in the same location, the werewolf becomes a mix of all of them. The folklorist Hélio Serejo mentions a lobisomem part pig, bull and horse that would've destroyed an entire front at the limit with Paraguay.

* Yara Flor, the Brazilian Wonder Girl introduced in ''ComicBook/DCFutureState'' meets the Caipora and the gods Kuat and Iae (Gods of the [[SolarAndLunar sun and moon]] from the mythology of the Kamayurás, a branch of the Tupi-Guarani family) who happen to ride Headless Mules. Her own comic introduces the Saci, Cuca, Boitatá, Lobisomem and of course Iara, the superheroine's namesake.

[[caption-width-right:350:Image by Eduardo Ferigato and Ricardo Riamonde. Used with permission.[[note]]Left: [[TheTrickster Saci-Pererê]]. Right: [[NatureSpirit Curupira]][[/note]]]]

* NonIndicativeName: Lobisomem means "Wolfman" in Portuguese, but it actually becomes a large dog, a pig or a mix between both. Versions showing the Lobisomem as a wolf only came to be with American portrayals of werewolves in media.

[[caption-width-right:350:Image by Eduardo Ferigato and Ricardo Riamonde. Used with permission.[[note]]Right: [[TheTrickster Saci-Pererê]]. Left: [[NatureSpirit Curupira]][[/note]]]]