Alux

nature-spirit · Guatemala · Mesoamerica

Aluxes are small, elf-like trickster spirits of the Yucatec Maya. They haunt ruins, cenotes, forests, and cornfields, hiding tools, leading travelers astray, and stealing food. Given corn, honey, or balché, they become protective guardians; farmers build small stone 'kahtal alux' houses at field corners to guard crops. An alux lives seven years unless regularly 'fed.'

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