Silbón

The Silbón is a legendary figure in Venezuelan and Colombian folklore. It is described as a tall, thin, skeletal man who carries a sack of bones and a rattling noise that is said to be the sound of the bones inside. The Silbón is believed to wander the plains, particularly during Holy Week, and is associated with the sounds of his distinctive whistle, which can supposedly be heard from miles away.

According to legend, the Silbón was once a young man named Cosme who was cruel and disrespectful to his father. It is said that Cosme once shot his father in the back with an arrow and, as he died, his father cursed him, condemning him to wander the earth forever, carrying the weight of his father's bones and the sound of his own evil deeds.

The legend of the Silbón serves as a cautionary tale, particularly for children, warning against disobedience and cruelty. The sound of the whistle is often interpreted as a sign that the Silbón is near, and people are advised to stay indoors and avoid making noise when they hear it. The story varies slightly in different regions, but the core elements of a spectral figure, a distinctive whistle, and a curse remain consistent. The Silbón is a prominent figure in the folklore of the Venezuelan plains and a significant element of the region's cultural identity.