The Saci
Across Brazil, people blame a one-legged boy in a red cap for whirlwinds, lost things and tangled horses' manes.
What was reported
The saci, or saci-pererê, is one of Brazil's best-loved folklore figures: a mischievous, one-legged boy with a red cap and a pipe, who travels in whirlwinds. He is blamed for spilled milk, hidden keys, burnt food and horses found with braided manes in the morning.
In 1917, the writer Monteiro Lobato asked newspaper readers to send in their saci stories, and published the results as a book. Some Brazilians now celebrate 31 October as Saci Day.
Explanations offered
The saci is a figure of folklore, not a reported animal. Stories mixing Indigenous, African and European traditions have explained everyday mishaps for generations, and the saci remains a symbol of Brazilian culture.
- When
- Told for generations
- Where
- São Paulo state and across Brazil
- Witnesses
- Generations of Brazilians
- Status
- Legend
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.