Mula Sem Cabeça

Mula Sem Cabeça ("Headless Mule" in Portuguese) is a woman who, in most tales, was cursed by God himself for her sins and condemned to transform into a mule.

Legend
The legend of the headless mule tells the story of a black or brown mule, which instead of her head, she has a torch of fire. The mule has steel or silver horseshoes and neighs so loudly that it can be heard many meters away. It is also common to hear her sobbing like a human.

There are several different versions of the origin of the headless mule. In one of them, it is said that if a woman slept with her boyfriend before marriage, she could be bewitched and become a headless mule. This version was linked to the traditions of families that sought to control their daughters' love relationships. It was a way of keeping them within the moral standards of the time.

Another version of the legend states that any woman who had love affairs with a priest would be punished and turned into a headless mule. Of a moral and religious nature, this legend was intended to intimidate women who considered maintaining a romantic relationship with the priests of the Catholic Church.

According to the narrative, the enchantment took place on Thursday nights, when the woman was transformed into a headless mule. She threw fire from her neck and ran through the woods and fields. With her paws, she tore to pieces the animals and people that appeared in front of her. The enchantment disappeared at the third crowing of the rooster. At that moment, the woman returned to her normality, usually exhausted and injured.

To put an end to the enchantment that befell the sinner, someone would have to pull the mule's bridles or pierce it with some sharp object in order to draw blood from it, even if it was just a drop. The enchantment could also be lifted by the priest (the lover), who was supposed to curse her seven times before celebrating Mass.

Origins
The legend probably had its origins in the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula and was brought to America by the Portuguese and Spanish. In Brazil, the legend spread through the countryside, through the sugarcane area of the Northeastern region and through the interior of the Southeastern region of the country.

In Mexican folklore, the legend of the headless mule is known as Malora. In Argentina, it became known as Almamula, and may also be called Mula Ánima, Tatá Cuñá or Mula Frailera.