The Legend of The Patetarro: The Foul-Smelling Spectre of Colombia

The legend of The Patetarro tells the story of a man condemned to wander the world as a ghost. On one of his legs, he has a tarro (a container or bucket) that emits a putrid stench.

According to the legend, when The Patetarro was alive, he was a bad-tempered man, a brawler, and a womanizer. He often found himself involved in machete fights. One day, during one of these typical clashes, he suffered a severe wound to one of his legs.

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After the incident, he took refuge in an old cave that belonged to a mine. The wound worsened day by day, until he had no other choice but to amputate his leg. He then replaced it with a container made of guadua (a type of thick South American bamboo). This container served not only as a prosthetic leg but also as a makeshift toilet for his physiological needs. Everything indicates that he died in that mine shaft. Consequently, his tortured soul began to wander through the regions of Antioquia, Chocó, Cundinamarca, and other areas of Colombia.

Those who claim to have seen him say he looks like a man of colossal size. Instead of a leg, he drags a guadua bucket that releases a foul odor. This container spills filth that breeds maggots wherever it lands, and this rot typically destroys crops with alarming speed.

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It is said that the appearance of The Patetarro is an omen of misfortune, such as the death of a loved one or the arrival of floods. Furthermore, locals say that once he finishes ruining the crops or committing his misdeeds, he unleashes macabre laughter and terrifying screams. These sounds overwhelm the people and make dogs howl in fear.

Other versions of the legend of The Patetarro

Because legends are a cultural element transmitted primarily from generation to generation through oral tradition, multiple versions of the same story are usually created depending on the region where it is told. That is why several versions of this legend exist.

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Another popular version of the legend recounts that The Patetarro was a chicken thief. During one of these thefts, he was caught off guard by gunfire from the owner of a finca (a rural farm). The owner shot at him, mistakenly believing he was a fox. While fleeing, he stepped into a bucket of manure. Now, in revenge for what happened, he dedicates himself to ruining crops.

What does The Patetarro look like?

According to the legend, The Patetarro looks like a man much larger than average. He has an ugly appearance, wears rags, and carries a guadua bucket on his leg from which he spills rot.

Where does The Patetarro appear?

The Patetarro primarily makes his appearances in mining areas and farmlands across Colombia. The regions where sightings of this entity have been reported the most are Antioquia, Chocó, and Cundinamarca.

Learn about the story of The Patetarro in the following video: