The legend of the Naica witches is one of the most famous in the region of Saucillo, Chihuahua, it is even so iconic that today this region is known as the World Capital of Witches. The story behind Naica, combining natural settings of great beauty, with the fear of witches and their power, is full of a certain mysticism that is almost magnetic for all visitors who come to check if the legend is true.
Legends are an essential part of towns around the world. There are all kinds of them, from the most romantic ones that bring great teaching, such as the legend of the Sakuras in Japan and the Mayan legend of the hummingbird; even the strangest ones like the origin of the Krampus that stalks children at Christmas. It is no surprise that mysticism and mystery also generate legends derived from facts that cannot be explained by immediate logic and that is the case of the legend of the witches of Naica.
The largest crystals in the world
Naica is a town located south of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, it is well known for having soil rich in different elements and therefore, the largest activity that sustains the region is mining. It is in fact the largest producer of lead in the entire country.
But metals are not the only thing that lives in the subsoil of Naica, there lies the Cueva de los Cristales that has the largest crystals in the world. It is also called the Cave of Swords and this is not random, the enormous crystals inside resemble giant swords straight out of a fantasy story. These are mineral formations that are composed of selenite and that is why they have their characteristic whitish color that makes them almost magical to observe.
This is why Naica is one of the most prominent tourist destinations among caving lovers. But gigantic crystals are not the only thing that characterizes this town, precisely the presence of a large number of mines has given rise to the belief in witches who, according to the inhabitants, hide in the caves to come out at night.
The legend of the witches of Naica
In Mexico it is a widespread idea that the appearance of witches when they are not in their normal corporeal form is that of floating fireballs in the middle of the darkness. In Chihuahua this belief is no exception; there is an idea throughout the town of Naica that after ten at night it is possible to see the fireballs coming out of their hiding places in the mines. The rumors among the residents about this paranormal phenomenon are so strong that Naica has even been named the World Capital of Witches and there are even mines with signs where you can see the motto ‘Cueva de las Brujas’, such as the Mina de las Brujas. Maple.
It is said that witches have one main objective, that of searching for girls and adolescents to recruit them and join them to their coven. But among all the stories, there is one that strongly fuels the legend of witches in this Mexican region.
It is common to hear the story of a 16-year-old girl who worked in a local bakery and after leaving her work shift, decided to visit Naica Lake to admire the reflection of the full moon. But the young woman was so enthralled with the sweet moon that she forgot the time and she did not manage to get home before the ringing of the church bells, which announced the witching hour.
When the young woman did not return home, the entire town began an intense search to find her whereabouts, although to no avail. According to the legend that the residents tell in Naica, the young woman was not seen again until one day, many years later, they saw her next to the lake although she no longer had a normal appearance: her face was deformed and her appearance was described as macabre This is why the residents believe that the young woman was recruited by the witches to become one of them.
will-o’-the-wisps
The appearance of fireballs in the middle of nature has been part of legends since ancient times. And although in Mexico and other regions in Central America, it is believed that these are actually witches wandering through the darkness, there is scientific evidence for the appearance of these fiery orbs.
They are called will-o’-the-wisps and consist of the ignition of certain types of decomposing organic materials, mainly phosphorus and methane. When an animal dies or even when there is decomposing vegetation, a mixture of this type of organic matter is generated that then releases small flames that burn in the air, as if they were suspended in nothing.
Places such as swamps, forests or even cemeteries, will-o’-the-wisps are a recurring phenomenon that has generated countless legends around them; it is possible that the witches of Naica are one of these extraordinary phenomena.