Around November 1 and the end of October, many cultures, not only North American, celebrate the arrival of cold and autumn. These holidays are usually surrounded by monsters and scary stories, which frighten not only the little ones, but also the whole family.
In Valencia, we also have our traditional monsters, and thanks to campaigns such as L’Etno,“Per Tots Sants, monstres valencians”, we are trying to recover the local terrifying history.
Therefore, we bring you the most important Valencian monsters so that this Halloween 2024 in Valencia you can also celebrate it with your own traditions.
Valencian monsters, what are they like and what are they like?
Valencian monsters have different aspects and can be human, half-human, diabolical or animals. According to tradition, in the old days families used to get together for All Saints’ Day and tell their stories.
You can find some of the stories in this link of L’Etno, who are doing a great job for the preservation of the memory and popular Valencian culture.
We tell you a little about each monster so you can learn to recognize them and what they hide behind their character.
Queixalets
This half-human, half-animal monster has huge teeth. It appears in different forms, either as a baby, as a man or as an old woman, this being its most terrifying appearance.
At night, when everyone is asleep, he takes the opportunity to wash clothes. Tradition says that she takes her three forms at the same time:a crying baby, a man who takes care of her and an old washerwoman. When someone appears and approaches the baby, upon seeing her teeth and exclaiming “She already has little teeth!”, she will show you hers in a way you will never forget.
Gegant
The gegant is one of the most human Valencian monsters. He all looks like one of us, with one big exception, he is very, very tall and strong. They live in community and each of them has a different task: guarding a treasure, crushing mountains or uprooting pine trees.
The giants, although they look like us, are very much to be feared, as they are said to feed on human flesh.
Caro
This half-human, half-bird creature has a truly terrifying appearance. His head is that of a man, but his body is that of an owl, with huge wings and sharp claws.
Thanks to his owl condition, he is a nocturnal animal/being. So we don’t have to suffer during the day, but when it gets dark he flies around mountains and hills. Once there, he steals goats and flies them away. A real headache for farmers and ranchers.
Dimoni
The demon’s appearance is changeable, although one of its most famous forms is that of an elegant gentleman. The Dimoni has a very bad temper and is dedicated to buying souls.
When he appears, he proposes a pact which is very difficult to resist, he grants you your deepest desire, but the price you have to pay is very high, to sell his soul. He is very dangerous and you can not trust him, so it is important not to fall into his trap.
Home dels nassos
Behind the old clothes, there is the Home dels nassos, who has a nose for each day of the year. That is to say, on January 1st, he has only one nose, on the 2nd, 2, 3, 3, etc.
He is characterized by being elusive, he does not like to be seen, except on December 31, when he goes out in the streets and everyone asks for him. On that day he already has all the possible noses and with his arrival the beginning of a new year is augured.
Home del sac
This creature with a human face is dedicated to stealing children. Luckily, he never enters houses, but he is always lurking in streets and squares, waiting for someone to fall into his trap and take him away in the sack.
In principle, if you behave well, there is nothing to be afraid of, since it is used to take naughty children who do not pay attention. One of his techniques to take them is to offer them candy or sweets, so it is very important never to accept them from a stranger.
Quarantamaula
The Quarantamaula is difficult to recognize, as its appearance can vary greatly. Sometimes it appears as a cat, but it can also appear in the form of a snail, a huge beast or half chicken, half man.
It is a very feared being, since it is accustomed to attack houses, destroying them and scorching them. It is usually found in towns and cities among the rooftops, waiting to lie in wait for the next victim.
If you want to learn more about all the monsters, we recommend that you consult all the infographics and materials developed by L’Etno.