October 30-Brujas

Published by Aaron Perez

Published 10/30/2025

Image Credit: https://www.beniciamagazine.com/brujeria-and-voodoo-in-solano-county/

    Rooted in a rich tapestry of indigenous, European, and African influences, brujería (witchcraft) has been an integral part of Mexican spiritual and cultural life for centuries. Far from the stereotypical broom-riding hags of Western folklore, Mexican brujas are complex figures: healers, sorcerers, and sometimes feared entities who navigate the boundaries between the natural and supernatural worlds. In this blog, we'll uncover their history, beliefs, legendary tales, and modern relevance, drawing from historical accounts and cultural insights.

The Origins of Brujería in Mexico

    Brujería in Mexico traces its roots to the colonial era, when Spanish conquerors brought European notions of witchcraft, which then intertwined with indigenous Aztec and Mayan spiritual practices, as well as African traditions introduced by enslaved people. During the colonial period, the Mexican Inquisition viewed witchcraft accusations as religious issues that could be resolved through confession and absolution, often involving a mix of sexuality, religion, and cultural clashes among Spanish, indigenous, and African communities. Indigenous women, in particular, were accused of using love magic or sexual witchcraft to assert power over men in the rigid casta system, representing a form of resistance against colonial hegemony.

    This syncretism created a unique spiritual tradition where Catholic saints were blended with pre-Hispanic deities and African spirits. In regions like Veracruz, escaped slaves from Haiti, Africa, and Cuba found refuge in the 18th century, infusing local practices with their own beliefs in magic and herbalism. Shamans and sorcerers incorporated Catholic rituals, such as invoking saints during healings, while relying on the abundant jungle herbs for potions and cures. Witchcraft became a way to address everyday concerns like health, family, and prosperity, evolving into a "spiritual lingua franca" that emphasized communication with entities through divination and possession.

    Even in areas influenced by Mexican traditions, such as colonial New Mexico (which was part of New Spain), witchcraft beliefs were imported via the Camino Real, blending Spanish Catholic fears with indigenous customs. Accusations often targeted mestizos, Genízaros (captive Native people), and curanderas (healers), who were suspected of using powders, herbs, and spells. Notable cases from the 1600s and 1700s highlight how witchcraft served as a lens for social tensions in multi-ethnic societies.

Beliefs and Practices of Mexican Brujas

    In Mexican culture, brujos (male witches) and brujas (female witches) are seen as individuals born with special powers for good or evil. They are often divided into brujos blancos (white witches) who practice benevolent magic, such as healing and protection, and brujos negros (black witches) associated with harm, curses, and dark rituals. Practices include casting spells, curing ailments with herbs, and performing rituals that involve altars, spirits, and emotional surrender to divine messages.

    Common beliefs portray brujas as shape-shifters who can transform into animals like turkeys (guajalotes) or owls to carry out their deeds, such as sucking blood from newborns. An old superstition holds that a witch's tongue turns into a spider web at night to drain a baby's blood, prompting protective measures like placing salt on rooftops or scissors in a cross shape under beds. Brujas might detach their legs to fly as fireballs, and single women working as midwives or healers are sometimes suspected of black magic. Protection often involves invoking religious figures or using items like iron to ward off evil.

    Curanderismo, a form of folk healing tied to brujería, uses herbal remedies alongside spiritual cleansings to treat physical and supernatural ills. While historically feminine, many practitioners in certain regions are men, drawing from indigenous and African preferences for male healers.

Famous Legends and Tales of Brujas

    Mexican folklore is brimming with eerie tales that reflect societal fears and moral lessons. In Hidalgo, uttering "bruja" on Fridays is taboo, and legends warn of witches originating from Zacatecas who prey on children. One chilling story from Aculco tells of a beautiful young woman from a black magic family who, rejected by suitors, made a pact with the devil and trapped children's souls in a tree that still "bleeds" and echoes cries when disturbed.

    Personal anecdotes, like a family's encounter with a locked door and a missing child attributed to a bruja's curse spanning generations, underscore the enduring belief in witchcraft's power. In colonial New Mexico, stories of witches flying in eggshells or using the evil eye (mal ojo) to harm others mirror Mexican influences, with protections like greeting owls to avoid bewitchment.

Catemaco: The Heart of Mexican Witchcraft

    No discussion of Mexican brujas is complete without mentioning Catemaco in Veracruz, dubbed the "brujo capital" for its thriving witchcraft scene. This lakeside town, nestled in a biosphere reserve, has been a center for sorcery since pre-Hispanic times, amplified by indigenous, African, and Spanish syncretism. Here, brujos offer services from fortune-telling to magical cleansings, using local herbs and rituals.

    The annual Festival of Magical Rites, started in 1970 by Brujo Mayor Gonzalo Aguirre, draws shamans and tourists for events like black masses during the spring equinox, symbolizing renewal. Shops sell potions, amulets, and other mystical items, making brujería a key economic and cultural pillar.

Modern Brujería: Reclamation and Resurgence

    Today, brujería is experiencing a revival, especially among U.S. Latinos reclaiming ancestral traditions once stigmatized by Christianity. Not all brujería is seen as evil; many view it as a empowering spiritual practice blending ancient wisdom with contemporary life. This resurgence highlights brujas as symbols of resilience, healing, and cultural identity in a modern world.

Sources:

"The Inquisition in Colonial Mexico: Targets, Aims, and Ideology." The Collector, 31 Mar. 2023, www.thecollector.com/inquisition-colonial-mexico/.

"La Bruja: Mexican Witchcraft." MexConnect, www.mexconnect.com/articles/952-la-bruja-mexican-witchcraft/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

"True Witch Tales of New Mexico: Witchcraft & Legends." New Mexico Magazine, 22 Oct. 2025, www.newmexicomagazine.org/blog/post/true-witch-tales-new-mexico/.

"Witches in Mexico." Espooky Tales, 15 Feb. 2022, www.espookytales.com/blog/witches-in-mexico/.

"Welcome To Catemaco, The Witchcraft Capital Of Mexico." Culture Trip, 26 Mar. 2025, theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/welcome-to-catemaco-the-witchcraft-capital-of-mexico.