We have looked high and low for information on Luz Mala (or the “bad light” from what we can gather), and the most helpful and factual articles are all in Spanish! Either that or they seem to be about a band of some sort.
If anyone, speaks Spanish and would be so kind as to translate we’d like…
Here’s what google translate gives us (although its a little wonky at places-I’ll to correct them)
These manifestations are much feared, as is commonly identified in bad light as a ‘lost soul’, the spirit of a deceased person who did not receive Christian burial. If you meet them, its popularly recommended to say a prayer and then bite the knife sheath, as a last resort, because guns proved ineffective.
In northwest Argentina also gives bad light name to ‘Mandinga Lantern’, phosphorescence often seen in hills and ravines during the driest months after sunset. It ensures that the Farol de Mandinga appears in places where there are buried treasures of gold and silver, and that light is the spirit of the former owner of the place trying to ward off strangers. Tradition says that on August 24 (day of St. Bartholomew) these lights are brighter due to the influence of the devil, because it is the only day of the year in which Satan escapes the vigilance of the angels, and attempts to collect the naive souls of those looking for treasure.
There is also the belief that bad light are unearthed bones of cows and phosphorescence reflects the light of the moon.
Generally no cellar where the light comes out of fear that superstition has them (wut?). The few that looked under the light always found metal objects or Indian pottery. This is said to be uncovered a leaking gas sometimes fatal to humans, so the locals advise taking a deep breath before opening the found object, or covering nose and mouth with a thick wool blanket - or a poncho.
Hipolito Marcial accounts that: “The white light that appears at the foot of the hill is good, where it enters must drive a stake and the next day go digging (…) will find gold and silver. Flee from the red light or pray the Rosary, is said to be bad light, temptation of the devil “.
Today it is accepted that the myth has its origin in the real phenomenon Wisp, phosphorescence produced by the decomposition of organic matter on the ground or buried at shallow depth. Also suggested that many cases can be explained as ball lightning sightings.
Scientific Explanation:
Thecommonly calledbad lightis simplythe result ofreflectionthat producesthe Moonwith the bones ofdead cowsin the field.Asreflected in themiddle of the nightlightproduces an effectthat is interpreted bythepeople aroundassomething mysticalthatends up beingrefutedtoreach the placeof light.Normallypeople move awayoravoidingapproachperformspopularrites.Also it isthe sameeffectthat occursat a distance, sothat asone approachesthereflectionmaylookdifferently.Localssawapproachingthe animalalready dead,whose deathwasattributed to“bad light”, here isthe reason forthesinister imageof such an event.
(Thats all I got)