Gatipedro
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The Gatipedro is a mythological animal found in Galician folklore, who makes children wet their beds. It is portrayed as a white cat with a single brown horn on its head. At night, the gatipedro enters houses, goes to children's bedrooms, and then starts pouring water through its horn. The sleeping child, dreams he or she is peeing, and therefore actually wets the bed. According to popular tradition, it can be scared away by salt grains in front of the door of the room and next to the window. The gatipedro walks not only on all fours but also on its tongue, so when it tastes the salt, it turns around and leaves the children in peace.
In literature[edit]
The gatipedro was described by Galician author Álvaro Cunqueiro in his book Escola de menciñeiros, originally published by Editorial Galaxia in 1960.[1] It is also one of the themes of the short story collection "Os outros feirantes," written in 1971 by Cunqueiro, where the character Marcelino pees in his bed because of the nocturnal visits of this animal. Finally, the situation is resolved thanks to a healer or "menciñeiro" from Pontedeume who finds the solution by sprinkling salt at the entrance of the child's room.
In 2018, Jacobo Paz's "O gatipedro" tale was published by Baía Edicións, with pictures by Xosé Tomás.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Cunqueiro, Álvaro (2002). Escola de menciñeiros: e Fábula de varia xente (in Galician). Galaxia. ISBN 978-84-8288-170-6.
- ^ Paz Limia, Jacobo (2018-06-16). Cachiño de O gatipedro. Archived from the original on 2019-05-09. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
Further reading[edit]
- Os outros feirantes. Editorial Galaxia. 1994. ISBN 84-7154-308-7.