Editor’s Note This book uses the term Mexican folklore to refer to narratives from the wide variety of cultures rooted in the land we now call Mexico These narratives are drawn from diverse indigenous European and mixed origins The word folklore is an imperfect term as it can imply that the stories are not true This book aims to share these tales with the utmost respect to their original roots and to those who hold them sacred today Barefoot Books would like to thank Claudia Guadalupe Martinez for her invaluable input on this revised edition To the people of Mexico who have proudly and generously shared their vibrant culture with me M-J G Throughout time for my Matthew and Sky M C G
Blancaflor Once there was a man named Pedro who was a terrible gambler He worked hard all day but try as he might he couldn’t stop himself from gambling all night He would bet anything and everything He usually lost Finally he had nothing left no money no house no farm One night on his way home grumbling and grouching he looked up at the moon and said I would sell myself to the Devil for a little more money to play cards with Immediately there reared up before him a man cloaked in black on a horse snorting with fury I am the Devil he said What is your wish Money in my pocket and five years of perfect luck that’s all replied Pedro Granted said the Devil But in five years time you are to travel to my house where I will give you three commands to obey You will find me on the Plains of Berlin at the Hacienda of Qui-quiri-quí Well from that moment on every time he gambled Pedro played with the Devil’s luck Everything he touched turned to riches He had a big house hundreds of acres of land thousands of head of cattle and all the gold he wanted But at the end of five years he knew he had to face the Devil again and settle his account
Blancaflor 4 He gathered provisions and the strongest horse he could find and set forth for the Plains of Berlin Within one month’s riding he reached the ocean’s edge He sighted a deserted house and when he entered it he found an old hermit warming his bones in front of a small fire Good day sir said Pedro I’m looking for the Plains of Berlin and the Hacienda of Qui-quiri-quí I have lived in this desert for one hundred years said the hermit and I have never heard of that place However since I am ruler of the fish of the sea I shall call them and ask them the way to the Plains of Berlin and the Hacienda de Qui-quiri-quí Qui-quiri-quí From the old hermit’s mouth came a screeching whistle and in an instant all the fish rose to the surface of the sea Friends where are the Plains of Berlin and the Hacienda of Qui-quiri-quí asked the hermit Not one fish could answer Twenty days from here lives my brother who is even older than I said the hermit Surely he will be able to help you
