Cuco (Coco, coca, or cuca) is a mythical monster, a ghost, witch or boogeyman found in many Hispanic and Lusophone countries. The myth of the Coco originated in Portugal and Galicia. According to the Real Academia Española the word "coco" derives from the Portuguese language, and referred a ghost with a pumpkin head. Traditionally, the coco, or its feminine counterpart "coca", is represented by a carved vegetable lantern made from a pumpkin with two eyes and a mouth, that is left in dark places with a light inside to scare people. The vegetable lantern is similar to the Jack o' lantern. Coca the dragon is another representation of this scary being and is present in the folklore of Portugal and Galicia. The name of the "coconut" derived from "coco" and was given to the fruit by the sailors of Vasco da Gama because it reminded this mythical creature. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A ghostly woman coming down the stairs. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Witchcraft. ... The bogeyman, also boogeyman and bogyman, is a ghost-like monster that children often believe is real. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Lusitanic. ... There are two well-known places called Galicia: Galicia, one of Spains autonomous communities. ... The Real Academia Española (Spanish for Royal Spanish Academy, RAE) is the institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. ... Jack O Lantern is also an archaic name for a Will o the wisp. ... Binomial name Cocos nucifera L. For other uses, see Coconut (disambiguation). ... Dom Vasco da Gama (IPA: (Sines or Vidigueira, Alentejo, Portugal, c. ...

The legend of the Cuco began to be spread to Latin America by the Portuguese and Spanish colonizers.

There is no general description of the Cuco, as far as facial or body descriptions. The face is the front part of the head, in humans from the forehead to chin including the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyes, nose, cheek, mouth, lips, philtrum, teeth, skin, and chin. ... With regard to living things, a body is the integral physical material of an individual, and contrasts with soul, personality and behavior. ...

The legend of the Cuco is widely used by parents in Spain and Latin America in order to make their children go to sleep. Parents usually tell small kids that the Cuco will take them away if they don't fall asleep early. This method has been in use for decades now. A male Caucasian toddler child A child (plural: children) is a young human. ...

Popularity and other names

The Cuco method is very popular among parents from Dominican Republic to Argentina. In many countries, the character has different meanings: in Mexico, for example, parents prefer to call Cuco the similar name "Calaca", which also means skeleton there. A human skeleton - (endoskeleton) In biology, the skeleton (from Greek σκελετός, dried-up) or skeletal system is the biological system providing physical support in living organisms. ...

Dominican Salsa-Merengue musician and singer Cuco Valoy makes several humorous references to the myth in some of his songs (¡ahi viene el cuco, mama!). Salsa music is a diverse and predominantly Spanish Caribbean genre that is popular across Latin America and among Latinos abroad. ... Merengue is a type of lively, joyful music and dance that comes from the Dominican Republic. ...

Puerto Rican musician Angel Peña's nickname is "Cuco", an allusion to the legendary myth. Angel Cuco Peña (born September 1, 1950, in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico) is a composer, musician and musical producer. ...

In Brazil Cuco appears as a female, 'Cuca'. Cuca appears as the villain in some children books by Monteiro Lobato. Artists illustrating these books depicted the Cuca as an anthropomorphic alligator. Cuca (from Portuguese) is a female monster from Brazilian folklore. ... José Bento Monteiro Lobato (April 18, 1882 - July 4, 1948) was one of Brazils most influential writers. ...

In Northern New Mexico, where there is a large Hispanic population, El Cuco is referred to in its Spanglish name, the Coco Man. His image is construed with Brazil's sack man; he carries a bag to take naughty children around Christmas time, and demands repentance in the form of Catholic prayers. Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... Spanglish — also called espanglish, inglañol, or espanglés, a blend of the Spanish-language words for Spanish and English — is a name used to refer to a range of language-contact phenomena, primarily in the speech of the Hispanic population of the United States, which is exposed to...

The Bogeyman (or boogeyman) could be considered an English equivalent of the Cuco, since both monsters attack children who misbehave. The bogeyman, boogyman, or bogyman, is a legendary ghostlike monster often believed in by children. ...

POPULAR SONG FOR THE CUCO: duermete niño, duermete ya...que viene el cuco y te comera (sleep child, sleep now...or else comes the coco to eat you)

See also

• Cucuy

External Links: The Cuco Story in English: http://hatillo_pr.tripod.com/elcuco3.htm "El Cuento del Cuco", the Cuco Story in Spanish: http://hatillo_pr.tripod.com/elcuco.htm The cucuy or el cucuy is the bogeyman of Latin American cultures. ...