Huay Chivo

TheHuay Chivo(Spanish pronunciation:[wajˈtʃiβo]) is alegendaryMayabeast. It is a half-man, half-beast creature, with burning red eyes, and is specific to theYucatán Peninsula.It is reputed to be an evil sorcerer who can transform himself into a supernatural animal, usually a goat, dog or deer, in order to prey upon livestock. In recent times, it has become associated with thechupacabras.The Huay Chivo is specific to the southeasternMexicanstatesofYucatán,CampecheandQuintana Roo.Alleged Huay Chivo activity is sporadically reported in the regional press. Local Maya near the town ofValladolid,in Yucatán, believe the Huay Chivo is an evil sorcerer that is capable of transforming into a goat to do mischief and eat livestock.

TheHuay Chivois a local variation of theMesoamericanNahual.

Etymology

The name Huay Chivo combinesSpanishandYucatec Mayanterms.HuayorUaycomes fromWaayin Yucatec Maya, meaning sorcerer, spirit or animal familiar, whileChivois Spanish for goat, literally meaning sorcerer-goat; it is also known as theChivo Brujo,an entirely Spanish phrase meaning the same thing.

See also

• Black dog (ghost)
• Chonchon
• Chupacabra
• Nahual
• Skin-walker
• Soucouyant
• Shapeshifting
• Wayob
• Ijiraq

References

• Burchell, Simon (2007)Phantom Black Dogs in Latin America,Heart of Albion Press,ISBN978-1-905646-01-2

Further reading

• Mendoza, Adriana Leona Rosales. "“Toda la creencia está allá”. Linderos interculturales, espacios y derechos en migrantes agrícolas temporales de la península de Yucatán en Quebec. "Estudios de Cultura Maya 48 (2016): 193-222.(in Spanish)
• Xiu-Chacón, G. "El arte curativo de los Mayas y los primeros médicos de la Península de Yucatán, México." Rev Biomed 9 (1998): 38-43.(in Spanish)