Spain

• Guita
• Tarasca
• Footnotes

History: Note: The main source of this dragon says that its strange nature is due to the eroding of the legends of Spain.

Guita's name means "Kicking Mule". Very little is known of the dragon's past. During the festival of Corpus Christi and the Patum of Berga in Catalonia, this dragon is used in the parades to ward of evils that might harm the people. The dragon was said to have fiery breathe, and so, to recreated that, the people usually place fireworks and rockets in the dragon's mouth while on parade.

Symbolism: The dragon, in this case, is strangely seen as a sign of protection.

Physical Description: Guita had a black face with huge fangs and leering eyes. Its mouth is usually portrayed as opened and red. The body is long and serpentine with a neck that is extended.

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History: Leviatano and Onagro were said to be Tarasac's parents. The former was a creature of the water, and the latter was a creature who burnt all it could.²

There have been many connections between this dragon and the Tarasque, from which the legend of the Tarasca is said to be derrived.³ Much like the Tarasque, this creature ate people, especially children, near Rodano.⁴

The people asked Santa Marta to overcome the dragon, for she was from the sea. With the help of three Marys, she went off to defeat the beast. With the help of some holy water, Marta conquered the creature by holding up the cross. Then she tied her belt around its tail.⁵

The creature was stoned at a local village.⁶

Since 1474, parades have been held in order to remind the people of the town to vanquish their inner dragons. This normally is a massive event taking place in the last week of June.⁷

Symbolism: Like many dragons in areas that were heavily Christian, the Tarasca served to be a symbol of the power of the Christian Saints and Christian God.

Physical Description: Tarasca is said to be larger than an ox and longer than a horse.⁸

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1. Giants, Monsters, & Dragons by Carol Rose
2. Big Areas: Provenza
3. Giants, Monsters, & Dragons by Carol Rose
4. Giants, Monsters, & Dragons by Carol Rose
5. Big Areas: Provenza
6. Big Areas: Provenza
7. Big Areas: Provenza
8. Big Areas: Provenza

For more information, see the Bibliography