The article discusses six of the most cruel characters in Brazilian folklore. These include:
1. The Hairy Leg: A legend from Recife about a disembodied leg that wanders the streets, kicking and injuring people. It is said to be the leg of a man who kicked his mother to death and is now cursed to roam the earth.
2. The Little Black Hand: A legend from southeastern Brazil about a disembodied hand that can be friendly or hostile, sometimes helping with household chores but also capable of violence.
3. The Minhocão: A legendary creature from the waters of Mato Grosso do Sul, described as a huge black fish-snake that can swallow a boat whole. It is said to be able to take on different forms and is feared for its attacks on people and boats.
4. The Dry Body: A legend from São Paulo about a man who was known for beating his parents and was condemned to wander the earth as a dry, lifeless body. He is said to be capable of sucking the life out of everything he touches.
5. Stepping on It: A legend from São Paulo about a thin woman who lives on rooftops and steps on people's stomachs at night, causing sleep paralysis. She is said to be responsible for the phenomenon of waking up with a bad feeling in the chest.
6. Fat Jauá: A legendary creature from the north of Brazil, described as a giant with a large mouth that devours intruders in the forest. He is said to be a guardian of the forests and is feared for his ferocity.
These legends are a part of Brazilian folklore and are often used to explain natural phenomena or to teach moral lessons.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Brazilian folklore has a wide variety of unique stories and scary characters.
2. The hairy leg is a legend from Recife that is said to be a leg that walks on its own and kicks people.
3. The hairy leg was created by writer Raimundo Carreiro as a radio program story in the 1970s.
4. The legend of the hairy leg spread throughout the northeast of Brazil and appeared in cordel literature and zombie nation shows.
5. The hairy leg is said to be the leg of a man who kicked his own mother to death and now wanders the streets of the northeast.
6. The little black hand is a legend from southeastern Brazil that is said to be a hand that appears in people's homes and can be friendly or violent.
7. The minhocão is a legend from Mato Grosso do Sul that is said to be a huge black creature, half fish and half snake, that chases people and boats in the rivers.
8. The minhocão is said to be able to take on different forms, including a large white bird with a long neck.
9. The dry body is a legend from São Paulo that is said to be the spirit of a man who was known for beating his parents and is now condemned to wander the earth.
10. The dry body is said to be able to suck the life out of everything it touches and can crush its victims in a deadly embrace.
11. Stepping on it is a legend from São Paulo that is said to be a thin woman with long fingers and disheveled hair who lives on the roofs of houses and steps on people's stomachs in the middle of the night.
12. Stepping on it is said to be responsible for the phenomenon of sleep paralysis.
13. Fat Jauá is a legend from the north of Brazil that is said to be a giant who guards the forests and devours all ill-intentioned intruders.
14. Fat Jauá is said to have a giant mouth that is always open and is often portrayed as a cyclops.
15. The word "corja" means the region of the throat, which is why Fat Jauá is often associated with the throat.