Folktales of the Nahua

Swim underwater to meet the Queen of the Fish. Follow a kernel of corn as it transforms into a gentleman and rides away on a horse. Fly to the faraway land of Tlalocan where frogs grind corn to make tortillas and years are measured in days. The traditional voices of the Mexican people can be heard through their folklore and legends. Folktales of the Nahua presents a collection of tales from traditional Nahua villages located deep in the highlands of central Mexico. Each folktale, or cuento, in this book reveals a world of mystery, intrigue, and ancient knowledge. These stories include ancient beliefs in a world called Tlalocan, the mythical paradise of the Aztec rain god Tlaloc. Some are tales of near-death journeys to Tlalocan and a return to the world of the living. Other stories reflect an indigenous North American origin, including tales of the Coyote and the trickster Rabbit. Still other tales originated in Europe and have been integrated into the oral tradition of Mexico.