Pombero
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (September 2016) |
The Pombero (
Name and appearance
Pombero's original name in the
Although accounts of the Pombero's appearance and nature vary slightly from one community to the next, he is usually described as being short and ugly, with very short arms and hairy hands and feet. His hairy feet are said to give him the ability to sneak up on people silently and the touch of his hairy hands to bring a cold shiver. The Pombero generally dwells in rural areas, living in the forest, although he will sometimes choose to inhabit an abandoned house.
As a forest dweller, the Pombero is said to be able to imitate the sounds of various forest creatures. Most specifically it is believed that the Pombero can imitate birdsong, especially those of a nocturnal variety, and as such is viewed as something of a protector of the birds. Many witnesses of the Pombero say that before he appears he whistles. Most are so frightened of gathering his wrath that they never whistle again. One common aspect of the myth among various Guaraní based societies is that the Pombero protects the birds from children who hunt them with slingshots.
The Pombero is generally viewed as a harmless
It is said that one can keep the Pombero from engaging in such mischief by leaving gifts out for him, most specifically cigars and rum, though honey is also an acceptable offering. Thus appeased, the Pombero will abstain from wreaking havoc upon one's home and possessions. In some areas it is believed that repeated giving of these gifts can cause the Pombero to become friendly, to the point where he will guard over one's home, animals, and possessions, and sometimes even leave gifts in return.
The Pombero tends to be the most widespread and pervasive of mythological figures among Guaraní speaking cultures today. In rural Paraguay, for example, it is not uncommon for adults to fervently believe in this myth, to the extent that they leave gifts of rum and cigars for the Pombero nightly.
Pombero in popular culture
The Pombero myth has been studied in a documentary program on paranormal themes (especially cryptozoology) of the Sci-Fi channel called Destination Truth, in chapter 6 of its first season entitled «El Luisón/El Pombero».[4]
The album "Sr. Pombero" (Mr. Pombero) of the Kchiporros band bases his name on this character.[5]
In November 2020, the Paraguayan study "Inside Studios" launched the video game "Pombero – The Lord of Night", receiving mixed criticism.[6][7]
References
- ^ "El pombero, el duende mitológico que no te querrás cruzar nunca". Billiken (in Spanish). 3 July 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Colmán, Narcizo R. (Rosicrán) (1929). Nuestros antepasados (Ñande ypy kuéra) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
{{cite book}}:|website=ignored (help) - ^ Pascual (14 February 2018). "Pombero". Esas Cosas (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ El Lobizon/El Pombero, Destination Truth, 18 July 2007, retrieved 24 August 2022
- ^ "Los Kchiporros llegan con la música del Señor Pombero" [The kchiporros arrive with the music of Mr. Pombero]. ultimahora.com (in European Spanish). Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "Pombero – The Lord of the night: juego realizado por estudio paraguayo llegará en noviembre" [Pombero – The Lord of the Night: Game carried out by Paraguayo studio will arrive in November]. El Urbano (in Spanish). 19 September 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ "Pombero – The Lord of the Night on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.