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In October in San José, a small municipality located about 60 kilometers west of Manizales, the Myths and Legends Festival (Fiestas de Mitos y Leyendas) is celebrated.
The origin of these festivals dates back to the 20th century when, seeing that the felling of forests was about to destroy the nearby water sources, the parish priest and other local authorities decided to spread the myth of the duende, a character who supposedly hurt the people who They cut down trees to make firewood.
Currently, the ecological elf continues to be one of the main characters of a festival that pays tribute to traditional Colombian myths.
With theatrical performances, the people of San José keep alive folkloric legends such as the muelona, the madremonte, the patatasola, the mohán or the dorado.
There are also live concerts, sporting events and agro-industrial fairs that revitalize the local economy.
The Myths and Legends Festivals (Fiestas de Mitos y Leyendas) highlight the importance of traditional stories and strengthen the sense of identity, keeping Colombian folklore alive in a dynamic and interactive way, uniting the entire community.
