| “ | I know all the animals in these mountains, and I have never heard anything like this terrifying cry. | „ |
| ~ An anonymous person on El Gritón de Media Noche. |
El Gritón de Media Noche, also known as the Midnight Screamer, is a hostile monster from Salvadoran and Honduran folklore.
History[]
The legend of El Gritón de Media Noche existed in Hispanic culture prior to the arrival of conquistadors to the area, having been originally conceived by one of the tribes populating the area that is now El Salvador. El Gritón de Media Noche is the son of a human woman and a demonic father, with the former meeting the latter after being expulsed from her community. After wandering the jungle of Cuscatlán for an unknown amount of time, she eventually was found by an unnamed demon, who forcibly took her as his wife. Through this dark matrimony, El Gritón de Media Noche was born, a creature of an abnormal size and strange appearance. Another version of the creature was never a half-demon at all, but rather a spirit of a muleteer, shrieking into the night as he fails to find his cattle. This secondary tale has El Gritón de Media Noche be far more humanoid in shape, wearing a large hat and riding a black mule with large ears.
Regardless of its origin, what is most notable about it was its ability to generate an extremely loud, unsettling shriek, being capable of uprooting trees and causing rivers to flood their banks. Due to these qualities and its heritage, the creature lives alone in the countryside and secluded hilltops, pursuing those who disturb its nighttime activities. Those who hear El Gritón de Media Noche's cries are said to be capable of falling over dead, struck down by the pure terror of hearing the beast. Those who survive aren't left much better, falling mysteriously ill, being left unable to speak as they recover.
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