El Cipitio
During my tenure with the graphic novel Walo: A Central American Odyssey, I was spoiled with a lot of new folktales I had no knowledge about privey. This week I decided to illustrate one of my favorites from Central America’s El Salvador: EL CIPITIO!
“In Salvadoran folklore, Cipitío is the eternally young boy with a large straw hat and backwards feet. A mischievous trickster condemned to remain forever a child.
Born of a forbidden affair involving his mother, La Cegua, he was punished by the gods: he would never grow up, and his strange footprints would lead anyone who followed them astray.
Cipitío delights in small pranks such as eating ashes in rural kitchens, throwing pebbles and flower petals at young women by the rivers, and vanishing before adult eyes. Despite his odd behavior, he is not evil, just playful and rooted in the wonder of childhood and myth.”
Read more on Wikipedia
Original inked image, though this kiddo’s got a guaje and a bit of facial hair.
If you like what you see, check out our graphic novel Walo: A Central American Odyssey for more Central American experience.
