Besta-fera

Besta-fera

Region of origin: Brazil

With roots in stories brought over by Portuguese colonizers, the Besta-fera, often translated as Bestial Beast, was an centaur-like evil spirit who rode the earth on nights when the moon was full. On these nights it was said to ride out of hell and collect the souls of the damn, galloping loudly through towns until it ended its route in a graveyard, returning with its bounty to the underworld. The Besta-fera was usually thought to never directly threaten mortals, but hearing or seeing it could incite temporary fear or madness. In some versions it was said to be accompanied by a pack of hounds, and may itself have a wolf-like head; in other versions it is missing its head entirely. There is some belief the Besta-fera may be an incarnation of the Devil itself, and it has some connotation with the beast mentioned in Revelations. The term has also come to be used to describe particularly ill-tempered or fearsome people.

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Cadejo

Cadejo

Region of origin: Central America

People walking through Central America at night, often drunks, the homeless or others of particular vulnerability, may encounter two spirits who assume the form of goat- or cow-like dogs: the white cadejo, a benevolent creature who will guide the traveler and try to protect them from the black cadejo, who will attempt to scare them to the point of madness, tempt them with wicked deeds, or simply savagely attack them. Their origins vary heavily by region, such as both being children cursed to these forms after angering a wizard, or the black cadejo being an incarnation of the devil himself.

Originally posted on Tumblr on July 8, 2016

Ördög

Ördög

Region of origin: Hungary

The embodiment of evil in traditional Hungarian mythology. In the beginning of the universe the Hungarian creator god, Isten, was assisted by Ördög, but Ördög delighted in tormenting mortals on Earth and Isten eventually banished him to Pokol, the underworld. In Pokol, he attends to a massive cauldron filled with souls trapped in his domain, but he often will come to Earth to cause mischief, such as tempting humans into evil to get back at Isten or wagering them for their own souls to add to his collection. He often appears as a dark-skinned faun, but is a shape-shifter and will arrive on earth taking on new forms such as a fox or a black flame.

Originally posted on Tumblr on May 17, 2016

El Pollo Maligno

El Pollo Maligno

Region of origin: Colombia

A person who drinks, plays cards or otherwise engages in recalcitrant behavior may find themselves pursued by the nocturnal beast that is el Pollo Maligno. Possibly a demonic entity, or an aspect of Satan himself, but the Bad Chicken will chase, peck at and generally be a nuisance rather than pose any real harm to its quarry.

Originally posted on Tumblr on October 20, 2015

Nuckelavee

Nuckelavee

Region of origin: Scotland

The Nuckelavee is an extremely evil water spirit of Orcadian mythology, whose appearance changes on land to that of a giant skinless centaur monstrosity whose breath can destroy crops and spread disease. He is generally considered to be The Worst.

Originally posted on Tumblr on September 19, 2015