Case file · Folklore / legend
Chaneques of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas
In his 1945 study of Sierra Popoluca folklore, anthropologist George M. Foster recorded beliefs in chaneques, small owners of springs, woods and animals in southern Veracruz who can frighten away a person's soul.
1945 CE · 18.23, -94.87 · status: legend
The account
The name comes from Nahuatl 'chaneh', 'inhabitant' or 'owner'. A person whose spirit has been seized suffers 'espanto' and must be cured by a healer who negotiates with the chaneques. The belief is still strong around Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas.