Guajona
A nocturnal blood-sucking hag from Cantabrian legend.
The Guajona, also called the Lumia, is a creature from Cantabrian folklore, taking the form of a grotesque human woman. It is considered a type of witch or hag similar to those found in medieval European stories, and it is one of the few vampire legends in Spain.
The creature is always wrapped in an old, thin black cloak. Its hands and feet are like a bird’s gnarled legs, its face is yellow and covered in rough, hairy warts, and its eyes are tiny and bright like stars. It has an aquiline nose and a mouth with a single, black, razor-sharp tooth that extends down past its chin, used to suck blood. The Guajona only appears at night; where it sleeps during the day is unknown, though it is thought to hide underground. It enters homes silently and unnoticed, moving toward healthy young children to drink their blood while they sleep by inserting its tooth into their veins. It does not kill them, but leaves them nearly bloodless, so they wake up tired, pale, and discolored. The Guajona also attacks adults.
The name Guajona is an augmentative of Guaja, which also appears in neighboring Asturian mythology as Guaxa. The origin of Guaja or Guaxa may be from the classical Arabic word “wahsh,” meaning “beast.”
The legend is referenced in Manuel Llano’s complete works (Obras Completas, 1968, vol. II, p. 477) and is also quoted by Miguel de Unamuno.
- Type
- Mythological creature
- Region
- Cantabria (Spain)
- Also known as
- Lumia
- Appearance
- Disfigured human female
- Behavior
- Nocturnal blood-sucker
- Related myths
- Conde Estruch
Lore & Background
The Guajona is covered from head to toe in an old thin black cloak, with hands and feet resembling gnarled bird legs. Its face is yellow and consumed by rough and hairy warts, and its eyes are tiny and bright as stars. The creature has an aquiline nose and a mouth containing a single black razor-sharp tooth that extends long enough to be under its chin, used to suck blood. It only appears at night, and it is unknown where it sleeps during the day, though it is suspected to hide underground.
Reader's Guide
The Guajona invades homes without being noticed and walks silently toward healthy young children to suck their blood while they sleep, using its tooth to pierce their veins. It does not kill them, but leaves them almost bloodless, so that when they wake in the morning they are tired, pale, and discolored. The creature also attacks adults. This myth is one of the few vampire legends in Spain, alongside the Conde Estruch. The name Guajona is an augmentative of Guaja, also present in neighboring Asturian mythology as Guaxa, with a possible origin in classical Arabic 'wahsh' meaning 'beast'. The legend is referenced in Manuel Llano's bible (Obras Completas, 1968, vol. II, p. 477) and quoted by Miguel de Unamuno.
Did You Know?
- The Guajona is also known as Lumia.
- It uses a single black razor-sharp tooth to suck blood from sleeping children.
- The creature does not kill its victims, but leaves them pale and tired.
- The name may derive from classical Arabic 'wahsh', meaning 'beast'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Guajona?
Guajona, also called Lumia, is a mythological creature from the legends of Cantabria in northern Spain. It is understood as a disfigured female figure that fits the broader archetype of European hags and witches.
What does Guajona look like?
In the Cantabrian tales, Guajona is depicted as a woman whose body is visibly disfigured. This appearance aligns with the many hag and witch figures found throughout medieval European folklore.
What does Guajona do at night?
Guajona is a nocturnal creature that feeds on the blood of its victims. This makes it one of the very few vampire-like figures in the Spanish mythological tradition.
Where does the Guajona legend come from?
The story originates specifically from the region of Cantabria in northern Spain. It is a regional myth rather than a pan-Spanish one, tied closely to local oral tradition.
What other myths is Guajona connected to?
Guajona is often linked to the legend of Conde Estruch, another figure from the same Cantabrian folklore tradition. It also shares thematic ground with the broader family of European witch and hag myths.
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