Juan Bobo is a Puerto Rican folkloric character. He's a young boy from rural Puerto Rico known for his huge straw hat and foolish nature.
The Juan Bobo tales originate from Spain as an Oral Tradition and dates back several centuries. The tales are very similar to other similar stories about foolish tricksters from around the world.
This character provides examples of:
- Depending on the Writer:
- It varies whether Juan is a genuinely naive and well-meaning boy or whether he's a trickster.
- Whether Juan's name is literally "Juan Bobo" or whether "Bobo" is a nickname.
- Full-Name Basis: Most people, even his own mother, call Juan by his full name.
- Meaningful Name: "Bobo" is a Spanish word for foolish people which roughly translates to "foolish", "naive", or "stupid". Juan Bobo is a naive and foolish boy.
- Never Bareheaded: Juan is always depicted with a straw hat.
- Prefers Going Barefoot: Due to his childish innocence and because of Truth in Television, Juan is usually depicted without shoes. He displays characteristics of Barefoot Loon, Barefoot Poverty, and Earthy Barefoot Character.
