Jasy Jatere

Lore & Background

Jasy Jatere, whose name means 'a little piece of the moon,' is unique among his brothers for lacking a monstrous appearance. He is described as a small man or child with light blonde hair and sometimes blue eyes, fair and even beautiful, carrying a magical wand or golden cane. He dwells in the wild and is considered the protector of the yerba mate plant and sometimes of hidden treasures.

Reader's Guide

Jasy Jatere is a central figure in Guaraní mythology, particularly in Paraguay, where he serves as both a protector and a warning figure. As lord of the siesta, he is said to leave the forest to find children not napping, luring them with a whistle and entrancing them with his staff. The fate of these children varies across oral traditions: in kinder versions, he plays with them and sends them home with no memory; in darker versions, he imprisons them in a cave, puts out their eyes, or delivers them to his cannibalistic brother Ao Ao. These tales function similarly to the Bogeyman, used by parents to enforce obedience during siesta. His power lies in his staff; if taken, he cries like a child and may be bargained with for treasures. The myth's multiple versions reflect the oral tradition of the Guaraní language, which had no written form.

Did You Know?

• He is the only one of the seven cursed children of Tau and Kerana without a monstrous appearance.
• If someone takes his magical staff, he cries like a little child and may be bargained with for treasures.