According to legend, the curse of El Lobizón does not begin with a bite or an attack, but with a family destiny. In rural Argentina and parts of South America, people believed that when a family had seven sons in a row with no daughters between them, the seventh son was fated to become El Lobizón. From childhood, this boy was often described as pale, thin, and withdrawn, growing up under quiet suspicion. Villagers whispered that when adulthood arrived, the darkness inside him would awaken, no matter how gentle he once seemed.
As the boy grew older, fear followed him like a shadow. People believed the curse slept during the day but rose under the full moon, especially on Friday nights. When the time came, the cursed man would wander to a desolate place such as a cemetery or a garbage field, far from human eyes. There, he would roll on the ground and turn his body upside down three times, completing a terrifying ritual passed down through generations. Bones cracked, black bristles burst from his skin, and his form twisted into a monstrous creature part man, part black dog, part wild boar, with drooping ears and burning red eyes that glowed like embers.
Unlike the Western werewolf, El Lobizón was not known for hunting people, but for feeding on carrion, waste, and livestock. Still, his presence was seen as a powerful omen of misfortune. If the Lobizón passed between a person’s legs, it was believed to bring terrible bad luck or even pass on the curse. Parents warned their children to behave, attend church, and live morally, because the Lobizón was said to punish those who strayed from social and religious rules. To stop the creature, folklore claimed that only silver bullets engraved with a cross or a blessed knife could end its suffering.
Over time, this belief caused real tragedy. Many families feared their seventh son, and some abandoned or harmed their children to escape the curse. Recognizing the danger of this superstition, Argentina took a historic step. In 1974, the government declared that the President of Argentina would become the godfather of every seventh son. These children received official protection, educational support, and a gold medal, transforming the so called cursed child into a child honored by the nation. This act helped dismantle fear and replaced superstition with compassion and law.
The legend of El Lobizón carries deep social meaning. It reflects how fear of difference can turn into cruelty, especially toward those who seem fragile or unusual. It warns of the damage caused by blind belief and mob thinking. Most importantly, its modern resolution teaches that kindness, education, and responsibility are stronger than fear, and that society grows when it protects its most vulnerable instead of condemning them.