I know spooky season and Hispanic heritage month are over, but why not write something that frightens me? Latino parents tend to have a habit of telling their kids these things for them to be well-behaved. Here are six urban legends that’ll probably keep you up.

1. La Llorona
There are multiple versions of this, but let’s stick with mine. Originating in Mexico, this beautiful woman married a rich man and had two kids. One day, he never returned home. It worried her, so she went to find him and saw him with another woman. She was so frustrated that she took her kids and drowned them without even thinking. Once she realized what she had done, she killed herself. Nowadays, she lurks by a river and drowns kids or unfaithful men.

2. La Ciguapa
This story originated in the Dominican Republic. She’s a woman usually with brown or dark blue skin, and her feet are facing backward. She breaks into homes to steal food and lures lonely men to death. People say she’s an omen of death.

3. La Lechuza
Recently, I’ve encountered her, but that’s a story for next time. La Lechuza transforms into a witch who lurks on trees watching for her next meal. She’s seven feet tall and has white fur. Sometimes, she warns you of danger, while sometimes she enjoys eating people. Legend says that if you ever dream about her, it indicates an omen of death.

4. El Chupacabra
We all probably heard about this. First spotted in Puerto Rico, the chupacabra is supposably a vampire feeding on livestock blood. At one point, one thousand livestock faced the same death and had a puncture wound on their chest. Some people even reported seeing it in Texas.

5. El Duende
El Duende, also known as dwendes in the Philippines, is believed to be the soul of unbaptized babies or gnome-like creatures. They live on children’s walls and love to mess with people.

6. La Sihuanaba
First originated in El Salvador. The word “sihuanaba” translates to “beautiful” in Nahuatl. She was once a beautiful peasant girl. However, she allegedly had many affairs and had a child with a god who later on cursed her because she left her son, Cipitio, alone while she was with other men. She lurks by rivers searching for unfaithful men and transforms into a beautiful woman who becomes a monster and drives them insane.

Did I miss any? Which legends are you favorites?