Charro Negro



El Charro Negro is a supernatural being of Mexican folklore, originally from Cholula, Puebla, who has had appearances throughout various locations in Mexico, such as Morelos, Xochimilco, Tlalpan, San Ándres Totoltepec, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Tlaxcala among other states of the Mexican Republic. The current version links the black charro with a representation of Devil, however, its appearance dates from the time of the Conquest of Mexico. Unlike other supernatural beings, who seek to terrorize a population wandering the streets of Mexico or show their pain for a loss, the black charro represents a punishment of a moral order.

Origin of the legend in relation to the Indigenous period and the Conquest of Mexico
Within the indigenous culture there was no punishing spectrum, all the nocturnal ghosts had the characteristic of being guardians of the indigenous territory (already their fields, crops, treasures, animals, mines, etc.), who defended them from the greed of the colonizers. However, the perspective changed, since the main mission of the colonizers was to satinify the deities of the indigenous cultures, but not their disappearance. This was tied with the image of these colonizers, who were taken as money givers with the exchange of labor exploitation (which can be understood as "Sell their soul"), this with an introduced combination of bullfighting, the image of a "Charro negro" as a representation of the devil. In other words, the demon was reworked, with new faces, generally the consequences of the "Charro Negro" appear when there is a contract closing with him.

Huichol, the god "Tamatsi Teiwari Yuawi"
Within the Huichol deities, who are linked to a dark part are defined as "Neighbors" or "Mestizos". The one that stands out the most among these deities is the god Tamatsi Teiwari Yuawi, in Spanish he is called "Our Big Brother the Dark Blue Mestizo". The result of the meeting of these two cultures, also unites two religions; the Mesoamerican (specifically the Huichol) and from Spain, the result will be a Mestizo popular culture, which creates a figure of Ibero-American folklore, that is, "El Charro Negro".

The coexistence between the indigenous and mestizo culture resulted in economic conflicts, where they took over land to use it for their own benefit, trade, etc. According to sociological records, the god "Mestizo Azul", within the indigenous culture, specifically within the Huichol culture, represents the stereotype of the colonizer who threatens their culture. This god "Mestizo Azul" is more powerful than the Huichol gods themselves, however, he is a despot, a collector and does not know forgiveness.

Mixtecas "Señor del Cerro"
From a Mixtec perspective, it is said that he is the "patron of the place" lives on the top of the mountain, caretaker of the region, this individual does not have indigenous aspects, on the contrary, he speaks of characteristics of the colonizers, that is, a white man, something and mounted on horseback. The Mixtecs speak of how dangerous it can be to find it, that is why they have the belief of carrying garlic, to manage to drive it away. This "lord of the hill" punishes those who cause destruction in the forests, guards the treasures and punishes those who commit greed. Such is the importance of the "Lord of the Hill" that the indigenous people asked for permission with offerings in order to obtain permission to work on their lands. The offerings consisted of: cigar, mezcal and food.

An anecdote has been recorded, in the Sierra del Norte de Puebla, where the indigenous people stopped working on a highway, since the permission of the "lord of the hill" had not been requested.

Mazatecos "San Martín de Caballero"
San Martín de Caballero, is known in the cities as a saint who is asked for money with the phrase "San Martín de Caballero, give me a little money" while offering alfalfa to his horse. While in the Mazatec culture he becomes a nocturnal being, where they explain that he is not a saint. He is known as the owner of the lands and the mountains. His characteristics are those of colonizers, he is white and greets in Spanish. Some nights he comes down to visit his animals and keep an eye on the buried treasures. Those who want to obtain money from this being, must go in a state of indulgence (sexual abstinence) and offer cocoa or a turkey. San Martin de Caballero, gives them instructions, which include, take his horse by the tail to the applicant's house and not say anything in 4 years, if this promise is broken then the applicant's soul is condemned, he dies instantly and San Martín de Caballero takes his body and soul to take them to work with him.

Contemporary Origin of the Legend
There are several versions of this supernatural fact, however, one of the most accepted versions is that its appearance began in Cholula, Puebla, where urban legend tells that:

"In 1930, near the Rio de Atoyac at the height of what is now the Old Bridge of Mexico, which contained some gates manned by a man named Francisco. One night, near dawn, Francisco went to the gates, to carry out his daily routine, without However, when looking at the river bank, he could observe a tall person, wearing a charro suit, to which he did not give the greatest importance. "This event continued to repeat itself until several stories began to emerge from the inhabitants of the town.

The black charro is described as a handsome young man, dressed in an elegant black charro suit that is riding on a black or jet horse, with a white complexion, tall, warm, friendly and with a pleasant smile. The black charro represents a punishment, that is why he tempts his victims to make them fall and thus give a punishment, this is known, since the Black Charro only appeared before men who transgressed the moral order, that is drunkards, disobedient children, adulterous husbands, greedy people, etc.