Cuélebre ( Asturian) or Culebre ( Cantabrian) is a legendary creature in the

mythology Myth is a genre of folklore consisting primarily of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society. For scholars, this is very different from the vernacular usage of the term "myth" that refers to a belief that is not true. Instead, the ...

of Asturias and Cantabrian in northern Spain. It is depicted as a giant, winged serpent-

dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...

that inhabits caves and guards

treasure Treasure (from from Greek ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions legally define what constit ...

s, often keeping '' anjanas'' (fairy-like beings, also known as xanas) captive. Over time, these creatures age, their scales become impenetrable, and

bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...

-like wings grow on their bodies. Although immortal, they eventually leave their homeland and fly to a mythical paradise called Mar Cuajada, located beyond the sea. They do not usually move, but when they do it, it is in order to eat cattle and people. There are mythical ways to defeat the creature, such as feeding it a red-hot stone or a loaf of bread filled with pins, which would cause its death. Its spit is believed to turn into a magical stone with the power to heal various diseases. According to Asturian and Cantabrian folklore,

Midsummer Midsummer is a celebration of the season of summer, taking place on or near the date of the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere; the longest Daytime, day of the year. The name "midsummer" mainly refers to summer solstice festivals of Eu ...

(the night of San Juan) is a magical time when brave individuals can challenge the ''cuélebre'', as its spells lose their power. Defeating it on this night allows one to marry the xana and claim its treasure. However, in Cantabrian lore,

Saint Bartholomew Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. Most scholars today identify Bartholomew as Nathanael, who appears in the Gospel of John (1:45–51; cf. 21:2). New Testament references The name ''Bartholomew ...

's Night is said to be when the cuélebre becomes even more powerful, unleashing its wrath in vengeance against humans.

See also