Cadejo

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The cadejo (Spanish pronunciation: [kaˈðexo]) is a supernatural spirit that appears as a dog-shaped creature with blue eyes when it is calm and red eyes when it is attacking. It roams around isolated roads at night,^[1] according to Central American folklore of indigenous origin. There is a good white cadejo and an evil black cadejo. Both are spirits that appear at night to travelers: The white cadejo protects them from harm and danger during their journey, while the black cadejo (sometimes an incarnation of the devil) tries to kill them. They usually appear in the form of a large, shaggy dog (potentially as big as a cow) with burning red eyes and goat's hooves, although in some areas, they have more rough characteristics. According to the stories, many have tried to kill the black cadejo, but have failed and perished. It is said that if a cadejo is killed, it will smell terrible for several days, and then its body will disappear. Some Guatemalan and Salvadoran folklore also tells of a cadejo that protects drunk people against anyone who tries to rob or hurt them. When the cadejo is near, it is said to bring a strong goat-like smell. Turning one's back on the cadejo or speaking to it are said to induce insanity.^[2]

The term cadejo is thought to have derived from the Spanish word cadena, meaning "chain"; the cadejo is at times represented as dragging a chain behind him. There is a fairly large member of the weasel family, the tayra, which is called a cadejo, and is cited as a possible source of the legend.

In Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua, the dog-like creature is known as El Cadejo. It is said to look like a dog, has deer-like hooves, and moves like a deer. The white cadejos are benevolent and eat bell-like flowers that only grow on volcanoes. The white cadejo protects people, including drunks, vagabonds, and people with grudges from all evil foot steps, even La Siguanaba, and bad choices, which are sometimes caused by the evil black cadejo. The black cadejo is malevolent and lures people to make bad choices. The black cadejo has glowing purple eyes and eats newborn babies. The book Los perros mágicos de los volcanes (Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes), by Manlio Argueta, describes the cadejos as mythical dog-like creatures that figure prominently in the folklore of El Salvador. They mysteriously appear at night and lovingly protect the villagers who live on the slopes of the volcanoes from danger. In Guatemala and El Salvador, the legend of El Cadejo revolves around La Siguanaba and El Cipitio legends.