Borderland folktales and superstitions

Halloween is a day for costumes, candy and trick-or-treating, but it is also a day of spookiness and scary stories.

ABC-7 asked Borderland residents about some regional folktales and superstitions, like the Chupacabra, an animal-killing creature only seen at night.

Another folktale, La Llorona or weeping woman, who is said to be seen around the Rio Grande looking for her children who she drowned in the river. She is said to take children that she comes across at dusk.

“Any little sound that would hear that would startle you or scare you, your parents would tell you that it’s the Llorona and that you better go to sleep or else she would come and get you,” one woman told ABC-7.

Hollywood is set to release its own version of La Llorona in theaters next year.

Some said the folktale was frightening when they were younger and others said they never bought into the creepy story.

“I think they’re just old wives tales that people share to kind of get in the spirit and get spooked out. Everybody likes to get scared so we like to believe in those things.”

Superstitions can be a part of growing up in a border town and every family has their own version.

Some superstitions include, not sweeping at night or you’ll have bad luck, don’t leave your purse on the floor or evil spirits will take your money, and an itchy palm that is scratched will take away your chances of getting more money.

What are some superstitions or folktales you heard growing up?