Chaneque

Chaneque, Chanekeh, or Ohuican Chaneque, as they were called by the Aztecs,^[1] are legendary creatures in Mexican folklore, meaning "those who inhabit dangerous places" or "owners of the house" in Náhuatl. These small, sprite-like beings hold a connection to elemental forces and are regarded as guardians of nature. Comparable mythical beings are found across Mesoamerican and Latin American folklore, often referred to as "duende" in Spanish. Within Yucatec Mayan folklore, the Yucatán Peninsula's tradition identifies similar elemental entities as "aluxob".

In some contemporary legends, chaneques are portrayed as children with the faces of elderly men or women, capable of leading people astray for several days. During this period, victims experience memory lapses, attributed to their alleged transport to the Underworld, specifically Mictlán or Chiconauhmictlán. The entrance to this realm is believed to be located within a dried kapok tree. In other instances, chaneques are said to intimidate intruders to the point where their souls leave their bodies. A specific ritual is required to reunite the soul with the body; otherwise, illness and subsequent death result.

Chaneques have been portrayed both positively and negatively in Mexican media across centuries. Mexican writer Artemio de Valle-Arizpe, after delving into Mexican colonial history during his time as a diplomat in Spain and at the General Archive of the Indies, penned a number of books on colonial legends, often depicting chaneques with negative undertones as entities associated with the Christian devil. In Valle-Arizpe's tale "Un duende y un perro" which is set in the late 16th century, the chaneque pestering Dona Luisa is described as a "demon", inflicting bruises and inducing fear.

This complex narrative has evolved over time, blending elements of protection, mischief, and supernatural forces into the fabric of Mexican cultural heritage.