by Eugenia Desirée Frota

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Boitatá's, Fire's Snake

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Boitatá’s legend – Brazil ‘s North. Also known as “running fire”, boitatá, in Brazilian folklore, is a large fire snake. This imaginary animal was first cited in 1560 in a text by Jesuit Father José de Anchieta. In the Tupi indigenous language, “mboi” means snake and “tata” fire. The legend in the North and Northeast According to legend, the Boitatá protects the woods and forests of people who cause fires. The boitatá lives within rivers and lakes and leaves, that is “habitat” to haunt and burn people who practice forest fires. The Boitatá can turn into a log of fire. This animal spends most of its time crawling through the forests in the darkness of night, for it is a troubled soul who must pay its sins in this way. The legend in the South The explanation for the emergence of the fire snake is related to the flood (biblical story that tells about the rain that lasted 40 days and 40 nights). After the flood, many animals died and the snakes laughed very much, because the food was abundant. As punishment, their bellies began to ignite, lighting up the whole body. Scientific Explanation: Researchers say that this legend is associated with fires, which occur spontaneously due to the burning of gases from the decomposition of organic material. Curiosities about the legend Some versions of the legend say that if a person is setting fire to the forest and encounters the Boitatá ahead, will have a terrible consequence. You may die, become blind or even go mad. The fire that comes out of the mouth of the Boitatá is magical, so it does not burn the trees and plants of the forests. For the same reason, it also does not go out when the folk creature is in the water. - In Northeastern Brazil the boitatá is also known as “corridor fire”. “Running from this fire snake is not the best way out.” Legendary tellers say that the ideal solution is to stand still, eyes closed and breathing still.

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