A. Sutherland – AncientPages.com – <\/strong>Chonchon (Spanish: \u2018chonch\u00f3n<\/em>\u2019) is a mythical, terrifying bird from the beliefs of the Araucanian (Mapuchen) people who mostly inhabit the Central Valley of Chile, south of the Biob\u00edo River.\u00a0A smaller group lives in Neuqu\u00e9n province, west-central Argentina.<\/p>\n A painting depicting a chonchon. Image credit: Fpini – CC BY-SA 3.0<\/em><\/p>\n The chonchon legend – still remembered today – tells about the ancient belief that certain people can willingly become this creature.<\/p>\n The Chonchon or Tue-Tue is a bird that brings bad omens and bad luck to the places it haunts.<\/p>\n It refers to a sorcerer who used magic lotion on his neck that makes his head detach from his body and fly everywhere to make his terrifying tricks of evil, especially on dark nights.<\/p>\n The person (‘a kalku’, a Mapuche sorcerer) has the ability to transform and emit its fateful tue-tue cry.<\/p>\n \u2018Chonchon\u2019 word is not of Mapuche origin, but it has a Chilean and Argentinian <\/em>origin and designates the Mapuche concept of “chonchon woman.”<\/p>\n As with all legends, this one has various versions but mainly refers to a sorcerer who applies magical potions to the neck. This peculiar practice enables the sorcerer’s head to separate from the body, and then the head flies around freely, doing terrifying tricks of evil.<\/p>\n Certain Mapuche sorceresses temporarily transform themselves into the little bird cho\u00f1cho\u00f1 <\/em>to inflict damage due to evil or mischievous adventures. This bird is the subject of many Mapuche tales. In Chile, even any ugly and ominous person is often called \u2019Chonchona<\/em>\u2019.<\/p>\n A mythical bird found in the Mapuche religion and in Chilean and South Argentine folk tales is shaped like a human head with feathers, talons, and large ears that serve as wings.<\/p>\n Legend says the chonchon is the result of a magical transformation performed by ‘a kalku’.<\/p>\n However, not all kalkus have the ability to become this feared creature. Only the chosen ones are said to possess the proper knowledge to become this frightening creature temporarily.<\/p>\n According to the myths, the kalku practices black magic and attempts to deceive people by taking the appearance of this dreadful bird.<\/p>\n To transform into a chonchon, the kalku willingly subjects herself to a change. This is made possible by applying a cream with magical effects on their throat. The unique properties of it enable the head to separate from the body, creating the chonchon from the detached head.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.ancientpages.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/chonchonmarch12.jpg\")
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