Crypto: the vanity demon

“The halloween”, also known as “Witch’s Night Out”, it’s a celebration that we popularly see as a funny day, where we use scary costumes and go out to eat some candy, and play with our friends –no matter if we are kids or adults-.

But in contemporary society, few people know and understand the historical meaning of this day; this happens because there have been many cultures and religions through which this commemoration has passed, and even when many people recognize its origin in Celtic Mythology, like the Samhain, that represented “the last night of the summer”; it has gone through numerous modifications and different interpretations in the entire world.

The truth is that there is a common denominator in all the cultures that celebrate this date, and its known as the only night in the year when a portal is open between the two worlds: the living and the dead; turning this day into an opportunity to prepare ourselves to connect with our loved ones, those who cross the portal to our land, to share with us. So this night, represents the eve of November 1st, All Saints' Day.

But not every part of the story is good.

Another popular tradition, is that we use scary costumes; and even when many people think that it is with a recreational purpose, historically, the celts and the Saxons, knowing that a door opened between the spiritual and the earthly world, they dressed in different rags and made offerings of candy to scare away evil spirits, and avoid being possessed and that their souls were taken away.

One of these demons,  was known as Crypto, “the vanity demon”, an evil entity, occupying an earthly body, that used to offer beauty, youth and health to people, and asking for their souls in return. The story tells that an old coven, conformed by three witches, called him in an opportunity to rescue the soul of one of the sisters, who suffered from cancer; but with the intention of cheating the demon, they flayed him alive, believing that the third sister would preserve her health, and he would not charge her soul. But Crypto returned as an immaterial entity; and with thirst of revenge, he turned the three beautiful witches into dust and fed on their souls.
The story continues relating that the demon returns looking for those fatuous people, who seek beauty and eternal youth to take their souls away; and if not, he look for beautiful, healthy and young people to take their bodies and walk amoung the living ones.

Do you want to negotiate with Crypto?

By: Ma. Alejandra Valderrama / Bitdharma