Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner adopts Jewish boy to protect him from werewolf stigma

BUENOS AIRES, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Argentinian President Cristina Kirchner adopted Jewish boy Yair Tawil as her godson to protect him from the stigma of a folk tale prophesying he will turn into a werewolf.

In Argentina, there is a legend the seventh son born to a family with no daughters will turn into "el lobison" or a werewolf upon his 13th birthday. The legend became so feared that families would abandon or kill their sons. To counteract this stigma, the president of Argentina began in 1907 to adopt one of the boys as their godson.

Tawil is the first Jewish godson as the honor only applied to Catholic boys until 2009. His parents asked for the honor in 1993 but were denied. He appealed to Kirchner, citing the 2009 decree and was accepted as the candidate.

Yo no lo sabía, pero su visita coincidía con la celebración de Hanukkah. El papá, decía que no era una casualidad... pic.twitter.com/o3y5E17Gew

— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) December 23, 2014

Tenía razón. Me trajeron de regalo un candelabro de Israel. Me pidieron que encendiera las velas... pic.twitter.com/DVWewmZera

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— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) December 23, 2014

The family met with Kirchner and presented her with a menorah they lit for Hanukkah.