Pisadeira
By 9Hells · Black Metal · From the album Mysteries From the Dark Jungle
The Pisadeira is a Brazilian night hag, a traditional figure Brazilian folklore that sits on a sleeper’s chest and causes paralysis. This folklore is especially from the countryside of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
-Appearance:
Very thin old woman
Disheveled hair
Long, dirty nails
Sunken eyes
Cruel smile, with few teeth
Walks across rooftops during the night
She is described as light and silent, but with bony, cold feet.
- How she acts:
Attacks people who sleep on their backs
Mainly chooses those who ate too much before going to sleep
Climbs onto the victim’s chest
Prevents the person from speaking or moving
The victim feels suffocation and terror
She laughs while the person tries to scream but cannot.
-Traditional interpretation:
In the past, it was used to explain:
The sensation of suffocation during sleep
The inability to move
Intense fear when waking up
Today it is associated with sleep paralysis, but in traditional belief it was considered the direct action of the entity.
- How to avoid it (according to popular belief):
Do not sleep on your back
Do not overeat at night
Pray before going to sleep
Place religious objects near the bed
-Cultural meaning:
The Pisadeira represents:
The fear of the night
The weight of guilt or excess
The unknown that visits when the body is vulnerable.
About Black Metal
Extreme metal characterized by tremolo-picked guitars, blast-beat drumming, and shrieked vocals, often featuring lo-fi production and raw, atmospheric soundscapes with pagan or anti-religious themes. Bands include: Bathory, Darkthrone, Burzum