A paraguayan dictator was Godfather to over 40,000 children
During his years in power (from 1954 to 1989), the Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner accepted to be the godfather of more than 40,000 children, mainly from low-income families living in rural areas of Paraguay.
The reason for this was steeped in mysticism, due to a belief popular in Paraguay and Argentina that the seventh male child in a family would turn into a wolf-like monster called "Luisón." To prevent this, the head of the nation had to be the godfather of the newborn.
The families of the children who received this benefit could choose between a monthly financial compensation of 200 guaraníes until the child reached adulthood (around 2 million guaraníes or approximately 300 dollars at the current exchange rate) or a power of attorney from the Head of State exempting them from compulsory military service.
The random fact within this random fact: The custom is still in place today. In February 2024, a family from the city of Luque requested the current Paraguayan president, Santiago Peña, to be the godfather of their seventh child, but they received no response.
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