According to the Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE), the term "legend" has five meanings. For the development of this teaching unit, we will use the following two as references:
"A narrative of fantastic events that is transmitted by tradition."
"A story based on a real event or character, distorted or magnified by fantasy or admiration."
Both definitions enable us to approach legends as a form of cultural expression that combines real facts and imaginary elements, transmitted orally from one generation to the next, and that contributes to the construction of the collective identity of a given society.
The word "legend" comes from the Latin legenda, derived from the verb legere, which means "to read." Strictly speaking, legenda can be translated as "that which should read." From all of the above, it is evident that they have an educational role, not only entertaining but also conveying values, beliefs, opinions, and moral teachings through the story of a particular culture at a specific moment in history. Legends are usually part of popular tradition, and, in most cases, their authorship is anonymous and mysterious. They generally narrate fictional and imaginary events but are set in real places and times, which gives them a credible quality. These narratives underpin many traditions and express essential aspects of a culture. Furthermore, they can contain lessons, explanations, and clues about the origins of specific cultural or natural elements and even convey a moral message.
