Halloween is a holiday of fun, absurdity and, of course, fear. A selection of tales - urban horror stories that American boy scouts still tell each other around the campfire - will help you not feel like a stranger at this holiday, because an immigrant was frightened by completely different characters in childhood.
Riverdale Road, Colorado
Why is this creepy: Riverdale Road near Thornton, Colorado, stretches for 11 miles (17 kilometers) and is literally teeming with legends that can scare even the most seasoned paranormal investigator. Here we met a ghost runner, a wide variety of demons and even a ghost Chevrolet Camaro. But the strangest place here is the Gates of Hell. This is the name of the entrance to the old estate, where, according to legend, the distraught head of the family burned his wife and children alive. The gate itself has long been demolished, the mansion has turned into ruins, but the ashes are still there. A woman in white wanders around it. And the ghosts of slaves allegedly hanged on a tree here. And even a pack of ghost dogs! Some believe that there is a portal to hell here, which is why so much horror is concentrated in such a small area.
Where did this come from: It is not known exactly when many local legends arose. Given the history of slave spirits, it is logical to assume that creepy things have happened here since the 50s of the 19th century. Each time something else terrible happened, the legend of it added to the list, which eventually became like a horror show in a provincial amusement park.
Mr. Sneeze, Delaware
Why is this creepy: In colonial times, Samuel Chu ( Chew) was a respected man - the chief judge of the state. However, even at that time and in his position, those around him laughed at his last name, pronouncing it like “Sneeze” (“apchhu!” - ah, Chew!). This infuriated the judge so much that even after death he could not calm down, and his spirit still haunts the descendants of his offenders. The ghost appears before his victims in a judge's robe and a starched wig. Those who still find his last name funny have the best chance of seeing him.
Where did this come from: Samuel Chew did serve as chief judge of three counties until his death in 1743. The legends surrounding him so disturbed the people of Dover Green that the ghost was even “buried” in an ornate grave. They say that after this he calmed down, but he can still scare the presumptuous lover of phonetic jokes.
Skunk Ape, Florida
Why is this creepy: The Everglades swamps in Florida are known for a number of nightmarish creatures and phenomena - man-eating alligators, man-eating snakes, car accidents and road robberies, which also cause people to die. However, in these places we also encountered something truly strange: a “skunk monkey.” The height of this relative of Bigfoot is from 1.5 to 2 meters, and its weight is about 200 kilograms. You can tell that a skunk monkey is somewhere nearby by its disgusting smell, reminiscent of rotting meat. Skunk monkeys are said to eat berries and small animals, but they have been known to attack wild boars and destroy farms. Recently, a headquarters for the search for this mysterious creature appeared in the Everglades. Of course, it is designed primarily for tourists: at the headquarters you can book a safari in the swamps. Who knows, maybe you will be the one to prove the existence of this beast once and for all.
Where did this come from: Nobody knows for sure. Some believe that this is Bigfoot, who, due to the invasion of civilization, left the mountains for the southern swamps, where it is easier to hide from hunters and find food. Others think it is a tale invented by pioneers to scare away strangers from their lands. No matter what you believe, if you're camping in the Everglades and smell a pungent odor, you'll want to be on the lookout. It could be a skunk monkey.
The Curse of Lake Lanier, Georgia
Why is this creepy: The huge man-made lake north of Atlanta is scary for several reasons. An abnormally large number of boats and swimmers sink on the lake, and inexplicable murders regularly occur along its shores. In the early 90s, a car was found at the bottom with the skeleton of a woman locked in it, who disappeared back in 1958. Since then, eyewitnesses have reported a ghostly female figure that can sometimes be seen above the surface of the water. They also talk about a giant catfish that lives in the depths of the lake. It is rumored to be large enough to swallow a dog and even drown a diver.
Where did this come from: The creation of the lake was accompanied by a lot of problems associated with the eviction of families and businesses from the territory, which was transferred to the Army Corps of Engineers for development. The ruins of the previous buildings remained at the bottom. The old cemetery was also flooded, which was partly the reason for the lake’s creepy reputation. Of course, most incidents on the lake occur due to the well-known combination of “drinking + swimming = tragedy” (people go to the lake primarily to have fun). However, many deaths remain unexplained, leading one to believe that there is something sinister behind them.
Ghost Runner from Canyon Hill Cemetery, Idaho
Why is this creepy: There are many rumors about ghosts at the old Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell, Idaho. The most famous of them is "Midnight Runner". This is a legless woman who appears if you park between certain trees near the cemetery. She knocks on the window and then continues her “run,” which looks more like flying. It sounds creepy, but this is far from the worst legend about ghost runners. What about the spirit that shits on lawns?
Where did this come from: The origin is unknown, but given another conspiracy legend according to which the state of Idaho does not exist at all, we can assume that this is another government invention.
Goat Man, Maryland
Why is this creepy: The infamous Goat Man of Maryland is said to do everything you'd expect from a crazy half-human, half-animal: killing teenagers, eating dogs, screaming goat, etc. But the most terrifying aspect is how widespread this legend is. The US Department of Agriculture was even forced at one point to publicly deny the accidental creation of such a creature at its research center in Beltsville. Another story about the appearance of the goat man tells of a goat breeder who, upon learning that a group of rowdy teenagers had killed his herd, went crazy and turned into a monster.
Where did this come from: Journalist Karen Hosler from the newspaper first wrote about the goat man Prince George's County News in 1971. The material was devoted to the study of urban folklore of Maryland and was accompanied by the story of one of the local families about how someone cut off the head of their puppy. Of course, the family - not without a hint from the journalist - blamed the goat man for everything. A month later The Washington Post published a large note dedicated to this legend. The Goat Man instantly became famous throughout the country. The legend about him remains one of the most popular in the United States. The Goat Man is regularly “meeted,” and notes about him, sometimes incredibly detailed, appear in the Maryland press to this day.
Vampire Saint Germain, Louisiana
Why is this creepy: When it comes to scary things, Louisiana doesn't just rely on voodoo, ghosts and Woody Harrelson's accent in the show True Detective. Jacques Saint-Germain, like any self-respecting vampire, seduced young girls and drank their blood. According to one version, he was born at the beginning of the 18th century. According to another, he lived since the time of Jesus. After his "death" in 1783, he appeared here and there throughout Europe until he moved to New Orleans in 1902. Rumor has it that he still plies his murderous deeds in the city's French Quarter, but now calls himself Jack.
Where did this come from: The Comte de Saint-Germain was a real person, an alchemist and a real high-society snob who was friends with all the celebrities of his time. He communicated with Louis XV, Catherine the Great and Voltaire. The latter called him “an immortal man who knows everything.” He was even suspected of a series of murders. Besides, he never ate in public. In the 1970s, French showman Richard Chenfray declared that he was the immortal Saint Germain. However, less than 10 years later, Chenfrey died of a drug overdose. Or not?
Dog Boy, Arkansas
Why is this creepy: This character's name may sound stupid. However, you will not be laughing if in the town of Quitman, Arkansas, you suddenly see the silhouette of a 140-pound half-man, half-beast with glowing eyes in the window of house 65 on Mulberry Street. In this case, it is better to get out of there as soon as possible, because he has a habit of chasing people on the street, biting their legs like a dog.
Where did this come from: The real story behind this legend is much darker. Gerald Bettis, the only son of the Bettis family at 65 Mulberry Street, was always a troubled child. But not like in the movie “Problem Child.” As a child, Bettis tortured animals (hence his nickname, Dog Boy). As he grew older, his sociopathy spilled over into his elderly parents. He did not let them leave the house. Rumor has it that he killed his father. Bettis was eventually arrested for growing marijuana in his backyard. He died in prison from a drug overdose in 1988.
Hell's Bridge, Michigan
Why is this creepy: The Michigan legends of Detroit's Red Dwarf or the Dog Warriors are no match for the story of Elias Friske, the crazy old preacher who is said to have tortured children in the woods that are now the site of Algoma. He kept his victims tied up and killed one by one. The remains were drowned in Cedar Creek. When the parents of the victims caught him, he said that he was possessed by demons. This did not stop his parents from hanging him. Hell's Bridge is a narrow crossing over a stream in the middle of the woods. Those who dare to cross it at night can hear the screams of the victims of the mad preacher, and sometimes see his black figure with glowing eyes.
Where did this come from: There is no record of Elias Frisk in official state records, although such a family is known to have lived here in the early 1910s. However, everyone who has been on the bridge agrees that there is something there - and it most often makes itself felt at night.
Area 51, Nevada
Why is it (still) creepy: The story of Area 51 has been retold (sometimes in a humorous way) so many times that it has become forgotten how alarming the whole situation looked in the very beginning. However, government silence, dead aliens and sinister experiments in desert Nevada look more disturbing than the movies about it. There is a lot of speculation about what is really going on at Area 51. They talk about time travel, genetic experiments, and autopsies of aliens. However, no one except the authorities knows the truth.
Where did it come from: First of all, it is worth remembering that Area 51 really exists. This is a well-equipped military base in southern Nevada. However, its purpose is unknown to anyone. At the very beginning of the Cold War, in the 1950s, President Eisenhower approved a plan to build the first aircraft based on stealth technology, the U-2. The laboratories and test airfield were located in the area that later became known as Area 51. The experimental plane resembled a UFO. Local residents who saw his flights, of course, built theories about his extraterrestrial origin, which immediately hit the press. The scandal was further fueled by news of a “UFO crash” in Roswell. Since then, Area 51 has been the center of conspiracy theories around the US government.
Watermelon Heads, Ohio
Why is this creepy: The name "Watermelon Heads" could be a good name for a dessert. However, the legend behind this name is much darker: it talks about pale, sick children who were subjected to genetic experiments. They are reputed to have huge heads and sharp teeth, perfect for tearing apart babies (and maybe you). Doesn't sound like dessert at all.
Where did this come from: Similar stories exist in Michigan and Connecticut, but Ohio's version is the darkest. According to this legend, the “Watermelon Heads” are the adopted children of a certain doctor who tested new surgical and pharmaceutical treatments on them. It didn't turn out very well. Now the test subjects hunt in the forests of Kirkland, ready to flay the skin of any random passerby. According to other versions, children simply run away when they see strangers. Finally, some consider them to be ordinary ghosts. One thing is for sure: one super-low-budget horror film was made based on this legend.
Hobo Sam, South Dakota
Why is this creepy: In December 2014, a wave of suicide attempts swept across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota - a total of 103 cases occurred. The incident is associated with the legend of Hobo Sam. Teenagers who tried to commit suicide said that a tall and thin figure appeared to them, who called himself Sam, and demanded to kill himself. A year earlier, five members of the Oglala Sioux tribe committed suicide. In 2015, the head of the tribe published in Facebook photo from a local forest with already prepared loops on the trees. This is how the plan for mass teenage suicide was revealed.
Where did this come from: The figure of Hobo Sam also refers to the legends about the Boogeyman, which still work today - just remember the Slenderman hysteria in 2008. The idea of the “shadow people” is also so old that it is difficult to find its origin. However, Hobo Sam himself is a relatively new local legend of the Lakota and Dakota Indian tribes. Journalist Peter Matthiesen first wrote about Sam in 1980 in his article “The Spirit of the Crazy Horse.” According to the material, Sam was first seen by Indians from the Sioux and Little Eagle tribes. The Tramp is sometimes called taku-he or "Bigfoot with a Straw Hat."
Rabbit Bridge, Virginia
Why is this creepy: This legend is fun to retell at night around the fire, but the real events behind it are truly frightening. In the 1970s, police repeatedly reported people being threatened by an axe-wielding man dressed in a bunny suit. Some eyewitnesses said that he threw his ax at them. There are still frequent reports of dead rabbits being found in the woods around the Fairfax Bridge, also known as the Rabbit Bridge. They also talk about a man in white who was seen under the bridge.
Where did this come from: According to legend, in 1904, a group of prisoners were transported by bus from a mental hospital in Clifton, Virginia, to a nearby prison. On the way, the bus overturned, many prisoners died, but some managed to escape. The next day, the police began searching for the fugitives, and caught all but one. During further searches, police began to find gnawed carcasses of rabbits in the woods near the Fairfax Bridge, but they were unable to catch the one who ate them. A year later, on Halloween night, a group of teenagers went under a bridge to spend time away from their parents. The next morning they were found hanging from the bridge supports. Since then, it has been believed that anyone who finds themselves under the bridge that night will face imminent death.
stdClass Object ( => 1 => Miscellaneous => category => no_theme)
stdClass Object ( => 5310 => American traditions => post_tag => amerikanskie-traditsii)
stdClass Object ( => 7289 => Halloween => post_tag => hellouin)
stdClass Object ( => 13338 => Culture => category => kultura-afisha)
stdClass Object ( => 13992 => Educational program => category => poleznaja-informatsija)
stdClass Object ( => 16230 => Halloween => post_tag => xellouin)
Halloween is ahead of us all, and just recently Friday the 13th took place, so get ready for a new batch of creepy horror stories that have been frightening residents of many different cities around the world for many years.
Urban legends are passed down from generation to generation, just like good books or family traditions, so don't be surprised if your children's children also tell each other scary stories about black people and a coffin on wheels. And if Halloween is just around the corner and you're looking for inspiration for a new costume, check out this selection of horror movies right now!
10. El Silbon or Whistler
In Venezuela and Colombia there is a scary tale about a creature cursed to wander the Earth for eternity with a bag of bones on its back.
The mystical creature was once a little boy who lived with his parents in Venezuela. El Silbon was the only child in the family, and his parents spoiled him very much. As a result, the boy became a spoiled, capricious and mischievous young man.
One day, a child demanded that his parents cook him venison for dinner. The father was unable to obtain such meat, which greatly angered his demanding son. El Silbon stabbed his own father with a knife, pulled out his entrails and brought them to his mother so she could cook dinner from the offal.
The unsuspecting woman used the meat for cooking, although it seemed suspicious to her. Having finally realized what had happened, the mother was horrified and was so stricken with grief that she allowed the grandfather to punish the evil boy himself.
The grandfather beat the child half to death, and he poured lemon juice and rubbed chili pepper into his wounds. Then he handed his grandson a bag full of his father's bones and set a pack of dogs on the little villain. Right before the animals tore the boy to pieces, his grandfather cursed him to wander forever. This is how a creature named El Silbon was born.
They say that he still wanders through forests, fields and villages, whistling a simple melody under his breath, and sneaking into other people's houses. There he throws the bag of bones on the floor and counts them right in the house. If no one notices the presence of the monster, one member of this family will die. However, if the household catches the Whistler (the second nickname of the cursed creature), no one will suffer, and, on the contrary, good luck is promised to the residents of the house.
9. Drawing of a suicide from Japan
Photo: urbanlegendsonline.com
The most disturbing and scary urban legends often appear in Asian countries, and many of them later even become the basis for famous horror films.
According to one such legend, a young Japanese woman painted a color portrait of a young girl who seemed to look straight into the viewer’s eyes. The talented artist published the drawing on the Internet and, for an unknown reason, soon committed suicide.
After the incident, netizens began to write comments on this drawing, and many said that they saw sadness and even anger in the eyes of the drawn girl. Others wrote that if you look at this portrait for too long, the stranger’s lips begin to curl into a grin, and a strange ring appears around her image. Some went even further - people began to spread rumors about poor souls who looked at the picture for more than 5 minutes at a time and then also committed suicide.
8. Nixes (Nykur)
Photo: kickassfacts.com
We are accustomed to horses being portrayed in films and pictures as beautiful creatures and noble animals. However, if you ever find yourself in Iceland and notice a gray horse standing on the shore of the sea or lake, do yourself a favor and take a closer look at the animal's hooves. If they look the other way, then you have a problem - it looks like you've met a nix...
They say that nyxes are monsters that live in the water, but sometimes come to the coast to lure unsuspecting people to the bottom of the reservoir. The skin of such a horse is sticky, so if a person, fascinated by a wild horse, wants to ride the animal, he will no longer be able to get off it and will be doomed to certain death, because the nyx will drag the rider to the bottom. There is a belief that if you shout the name of a mystical horse, it will get scared and run back into the water without harming anyone.
7. Child on a high chair
This city walks all over the world, but it most likely appeared in Norway. For many years, one Norwegian couple could not afford to go on vacation. Finally, everything fell into place - the couple found a reliable nanny for their grown-up baby and planned a trip.
When the day of departure arrived, the nanny still did not show up. She called and said she had problems with her car. However, the woman also said that she could call a mechanic and be there in 15 minutes because she was almost at the couple's house and was ready to walk.
Taking the nanny at her word, the parents sat their son in a highchair, fastened the child with special belts, kissed him goodbye and left the house. The couple was in a hurry to get on the plane. They left one of the doors open so the nanny could go inside.
One version of the legend says that the nurse was never able to get into the house because all the doors were closed (they were slammed by the wind), and she decided that the parents took the child with them. The woman went home without confirming whether this was true.
In another version, on the way to the house, the nanny was hit by a truck, and in the third scenario, the nurse was actually an elderly relative of the family, and on the way she suffered a heart attack. In any case, she never made it into the house where the little boy was waiting for her in a high chair.
In all versions, the couple returns home to find the child dead and still strapped into his child seat...
6. The Girl from Studley Road
The scariest urban legends are the horror stories that take place closer to our own cities and homes, or when mention of them comes up again and more recently. Three years ago, a user of the social platform Reddit told a horror story that terrified him throughout his childhood and throughout his teenage years. The man lives in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and in the area of this town lies a winding road called Studley Road.
Several years ago, a family with an alcoholic father lived in a small house near this road. One evening the man became enraged and beat his wife and child to death and then committed suicide. The girl's jaw was broken, but she did not die immediately. In search of help, she managed to get to the road, where she fell dead, bleeding all over her pajamas.
Since then, on the winding turns of Studley Road in the middle of the forest, some drivers have seen the luminous figure of a little girl wandering along the side of the road with her back to passing cars. Unsuspecting motorists, unfamiliar with the creepy legend, stop to help a child in his pajamas. The girl turns around and lets out an inhuman scream, showing the stunned travelers her hanging bloody jaw. Sometimes she even tries to say something, but due to the blood flowing from her mouth, she can only make gurgling sounds.
5. Phantom Cart
South Africa also has its own urban myths, and the most famous among them are the story of the Flying Dutchman and the ghostly fellow traveler from Uniondale. However, the most terrible legend originated here back in 1887. Major Alfred Ellis told this terrible tale in his South African Sketches, and since then the legend has terrified all local residents.
Four men - Lutterodt, Seururier, Anthony de Heer and an unnamed visitor from Cape Town - boarded a wagon and set out on a joint journey from Ceres to Beaufort West. This area has long been famous as a haunted place, which was even indicated on old South African maps. During the trip, one of the cart's wheels suddenly broke down, and it took until 3 a.m. to repair it. The company returned to the road again, but their horse suddenly rebelled, froze in place and refused to go further.
Out of nowhere, the men heard the sound of another cart approaching at high speed. When the travelers finally saw her, they realized that a team of 14 horses was rushing straight towards them, which the coachman was whipping with all his might. Frightened, Latterodt, Seruryi and the stranger from the capital jumped out of their carriage, and de Heer grabbed the reins and managed to move their vehicle out of the way. An angry de Heer shouted at the hurrying coachman: “Where are you going?”, to which he replied: “To hell.” With these words, the cart disappeared into thin air, as if it had never existed.
Lutterodt later learned that anyone who dared to talk to the ghostly coachman ended up very badly. A week after this incident, de Heer's body was found at the bottom of a rocky gorge, and the wreckage of his cart and the corpses of horses lay right next to its owner.
4. Blue Baby
Photo: urbanlegendsonline.com
Like Bloody Mary, the Blue Baby is a legend associated with a mirror, only in the case of a little boy, the story also includes a mad mother who killed her child with a piece of that same mirror. Naturally, after the birth of the terrible story, those who are trying to summon an innocent victim, nicknamed the blue child, appeared. The ritual for meeting the other world includes going to the bathroom at night. The cosmetic mirror needs to be fogged up so that “blue baby” can be written on it. The light should be turned off at this time, and the one who made the inscription should fold his hands as if a real child was lying on them. The belief says that the spirit of the boy will certainly appear in the arms of the person who calls him. If for some reason you drop this baby on the floor, your mirror will break and you will die.
According to another version, a boy appears if you go into a dark bathroom, repeat “blue baby” 13 times, and all the while move your hands as if you were rocking a child. The ghost will not only make itself known, but will also scratch you. However, this time, don’t be afraid to drop your baby, because escaping from the bathroom will be the best way to survive. They say that during such a seance, a distraught mother may appear in the mirror, and she will definitely want to kill you.
3. The woman who hanged herself with Delonix regalis
Photo: abc.net.au
One of Australia's creepiest urban myths is the story of a young woman from Darwin who was raped by a Japanese fisherman in the East Point area. When the girl realized that she was pregnant, she was horrified and hanged herself on the nearest tree, which turned out to be a royal delonix.
The restless spirit of the victim began to haunt all the men who appeared in East Point. The girl appeared as an alluring figure in white. However, as soon as a man succumbed to the beauty’s charms, she turned into a terrible witch with long claws, tore her prey into pieces and ate the entrails of the unfortunate men.
The most intrepid adventurers can try to summon the spirit of suicide by visiting a local park on a moonless night. Turn around yourself three times and call the woman by name. An eerie scream will notify you that the seance was a success. Although in this case it is better not to hesitate and run without looking back if you value your own guts.
2. Devil's Toy Box
Photo: thoughtcatalog.com
It is said that the series of mystical films “The Hellraiser” was filmed under inspiration from a terrifying urban legend that is buzzing throughout America. According to rumors in Louisiana (Louisiana, USA) there is a one-room house, the walls of which are covered with mirrors from the floor to the ceiling. The place got the creepy name “Devil’s Toy Box”, and according to myth, if you go into this house and stay there too long, the devil appears in the room and takes the soul of the unfortunate person.
Experts in the field of supernatural phenomena have found that the mirrors facing the inside of the house form a hexagon, and according to rumors, it is almost impossible to stay in this room for more than 5 minutes. One person stood there for more than 4 minutes and went outside completely mute. From then on he never spoke again. One woman in this room even experienced cardiac arrest, and the teenager who entered the “devil’s box” was difficult to get out of there - he screamed and fought like a madman. Two weeks later the guy committed suicide.
1. Clack-clack
Photo: yokai.com
One scary Japanese legend says that a few years after World War II in Hokkaido, American soldiers raped and beat a local girl. The scolded Japanese woman jumped off a bridge that stood over the railroad tracks that same evening and was immediately hit by a train. The unfortunate woman's body was cut in half at the waist. The weather that evening was very frosty, and therefore the girl did not die immediately. Slowly bleeding, she (her upper half) crawled to the station, where a shocked station employee threw a piece of tarpaulin over the gruesome remains. The suicide died in terrible agony.
According to Japanese legend, 3 days after you hear or read this sad story, the ghost of a young woman will find you, and you will know about its approach by a characteristic clicking sound. If you think that escaping from a legless girl is easy, you are mistaken, because she can move at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour. No wonder this is a ghost...
After her death, the suicide set herself the goal of capturing as many people as possible. The ghost chases its victims in order to cut them in half, and takes the lower part of the body for itself. The only way to avoid a terrible fate is to correctly answer the monster's questions. The girl will ask if you need your legs. The answer is that you need them right now. And if the ghost asks who told you this story, feel free to say: “Kashima Reiko.”
It is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person without a camera, mobile phone and selfie. Someone, in an effort to get an enviable shot, sometimes takes pictures in unimaginable places and poses, but selfies with mirrors are especially popular. However, not all selfie lovers think about the entities that hide behind the “water surface” of mirrors. One of the most popular “mirror” stories is the legend of Bloody Mary.
Origins of the legend
The descendants of the Slavs are well acquainted with a similar legend. Everyone knows that if you look in the mirror and repeat the girl’s name three times, her spirit will appear in the mirror and drag away the impudent joker. This is how children often have fun at summer camps and secret parties. However, few people know the true legend about this girl.
Various sources say that the legend of Bloody Mary is widely known in different countries. But the origins of this legend are not known to everyone, and perhaps the story of the mysterious girl in the mirror would not have survived to this day. However, the almighty Internet has kept this secret for us.
The legend was first recorded in writing only in the 20th century, when mystical phenomena were very popular among American children. This can be found out by analyzing multiple police reports, sheriffs and diary entries of great-grandmothers of the modern generation. After getting acquainted with these carriers of history, it becomes clear that Bloody Mary was invoked with enviable consistency, standing at the mirrors already in those days. Some of today's grandparents did it for fun, some for the sake of authority among their peers, and some for serious and dangerous reasons.
Some followers of the forces of darkness mistakenly believe that the girl's spirit will not harm them. They are trying to “tame” him and use this power against their enemies. At first it seems to them that this scheme works. Mary's spirit haunts mirror after mirror, killing victim after victim. However, at some point, the “master” of the entity himself becomes the target of Bloody Mary’s hunt. And then he either understands what he has done, or dies without a clear understanding of the situation that has occurred.
The years that have passed since the first mention of the girl’s sad story have done their job: a banal story about life has strangely degenerated into something supernatural and beyond the grave. However, this did not make the legend lose its popularity. Until now, people continue to make the mistake of our ancestors on a dare - they test the nerves of the spirit for strength.
Time has left its mark on the interpretation of the legend. Folklore or cinema, the desire to embellish reality, the need for attention - all this and much more became the reason for the conscious modification of the facts of the stranger’s life. Currently, it is very difficult to determine where there is alluvial husk and where the real events are. Therefore, one can only try to recreate Mary’s story.
The realest of legends, or who is Mary?
Our contemporaries are trying to find the truth in the question of who is the same Mary who was forever locked in Through the Looking Glass. As a result of research, many different facts are revealed about a girl whose face no one has seen. She is often painted as a medieval witch. Sometimes she is portrayed as our contemporary who died in a car accident. It is difficult to determine which of these “experts” is telling the truth. However, you can try to find the truth yourself.
As a result of a short independent search, we can come to the following conclusion: Mary really exists. The official version of the legend about her was born in Pennsylvania. She is connected with an old healer. In ancient times, she lived as a hermit in a small dugout near the forest. This did not become a hindrance for other residents of the area. They were sure that the old woman was a witch and was sending diseases. For reasons unknown to us, the locals were very afraid of her. It was they who gave her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” People knew everything about the old woman, but did not touch her until a certain moment. The persecution of the woman began after local girls went missing. People searched absolutely everything around, but neither the children nor their bodies were found. Then local daredevils decided to search Mary’s abode. No direct evidence was found; the old woman denied everything. There were no reasons to bring her to justice. And only her face gave away the secret: the old woman had become noticeably younger!
The last straw, or punishment for witchcraft
The fears of the town residents were confirmed one night. The old witch's next victim suddenly got out of bed and walked towards the forest. It was impossible to stop her. Local residents and close people of the girl followed her. In the forest they found an old hermit: in her hands was a magic wand. This became direct evidence of the witchcraft of the lonely old woman, and local residents burned the accused woman at the stake.
After the death of the unfortunate woman, people found the bodies of the missing girls around her house. During the “secret investigation” it was established that the woman used the blood of young and innocent children for rejuvenation and healing.
How did Mary get into Through the Looking Glass?
However, the story did not end there. We never found out where the very Mary who can be seen in Through the Looking Glass came from. It turns out that the old woman, burning at the stake, shouted a curse. Its essence was that every daredevil who uttered her name at the mirror would be visited by Mary’s angry and tormented spirit and killed. A man trapped by Old Mary dies in a strange way. His spirit remains forever trapped in the Looking Glass and burns in hellfire.
alternative history
Modern researchers offer several alternatives regarding the origins of the legend of Bloody Mary. One of the most popular versions is the story of the English Queen Mary I Tudor. She received her nickname after death due to her extraordinary bloodthirstiness. The woman sent to the stake not only ardent defenders of the “witchcraft” ideology, but also those who renounced their previous faith in favor of Catholicism out of fear of death. Also popular were stories about Queen Mary using the blood of young Protestant women to preserve her own youth.
In the United States, the story of Mary Worth has become famous. Today there are two common legends about a girl with this name. According to one of them, Mary Worth killed her own children. It was impossible to find details about this case.
According to another version, a girl with the same name was in a car accident. Before this event she was very beautiful. The girl spent hours looking at her beauty, sitting in front of the mirror. In the accident, her face was badly damaged: no trace remained of its former beauty. Relatives were afraid that the girl would go crazy if she found out the truth. And they hid the mirrors from her.
One night, Mary, secretly from her relatives, looked into the mirror in one of the rooms. Seeing the terrible scars, she screamed heart-rendingly. According to legend, the girl entered the Looking Glass. Since then, her spirit has been traveling from mirror to mirror in search of the next victim. She longs to convey her destiny through the cuts she inflicts on the brave.
Mary Worthington is another contender for the role of Bloody Mary. This girl didn't kill anyone in the first place. But they killed her in a cruel way - they cut out her eyes in front of the mirror. At the same time, the girl was alive and felt incredible pain. The legend says that after death, the spirit of the unfortunate woman moved into the mirror and lives there to this day. There is evidence that Mary moves with the mirror. If someone tries to call her, then the girl kills this person through the mirror.
Which of these stories is true is not clear. Each of them received some confirmation from witnesses to the crimes. However, which legend to believe in is up to everyone to choose for themselves.
Mary and modernity
Many years have passed since the first mention. However, to this day, American periodicals occasionally light up with a painfully familiar headline with the infamous name of Bloody Mary. This means that the myth is firmly entrenched in the minds of Americans. This also suggests that the events described were never a myth. Even now, the same Mary is standing by your reflection in the monitor - as before - waiting for you to make another mistake. When you say out loud these three pairs of painfully familiar words:
Bloody Mary! Bloody Mary! Bloody Mary!
It’s worth thinking about this when taking your next selfie in front of the mirror. Just don't repeat this...
Mythology of the Americas: Central America
At the time of the Spanish conquest of America, the largest peoples of the central part of the continent were the Aztecs, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Mixtecs and Mayans.
The mythology of the Indian peoples of America is very archaic. Among the most ancient are the myths about maize, which the Indians of Central America began cultivating around 5 thousand years BC. Myths about the creation of fire and the origin of people and animals are also considered very ancient. Later, myths arose about plants, good spirits and the origin of the Universe.
Belief in the main goddess of Central America, whose name remains unknown, dates back to ancient times. Scientists call her the “goddess with braids” after the many cult figurines found by archaeologists.
The Olmec Indians widely spread the cult of the jaguar, which protected crops from herbivores.
One day, during a big holiday, the queen took a fancy to a young and handsome warrior. They fell in love with each other and did not hide their love, laughing at the king’s ignorance. Eventually the king found out about their love affairs and hastened to take them by surprise.
Slender Man, or Slenderman
According to legend, the Slender Man is a tall, thin man dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and black tie. He has long thin arms and legs, and his face is completely featureless.
His arms can stretch, and tentacles grow from his back.
When the Slender Man appears, his victim loses memory, experiences insomnia, paranoia, a coughing fit, and blood flows from the nose.
If Slenderman is spotted in the area, it means that children will soon disappear. He lures them into the forest, deprives them of their minds and takes them away with him. Those children who were carried away by the Slender Man were never seen again.
In 1983, 14 children disappeared in Stirling City, USA. Their disappearance was linked to the Slender Man. Later, in the city library they found a photograph taken by an unknown photographer that day, and it allegedly showed a monster.
Both girls ended up in a psychiatric hospital: one for 25 years, the other for 40.
Black Dog of Meriden
The Meriden Black Dog, from the U.S. state of Connecticut, is a small ghost dog that leaves no marks and makes no sounds. According to legend, if you see the Black Dog three times, you will die. It appears silently, leaves no traces (even in the snow), and then just as suddenly disappears.
In the early 1900s, geologist Pynchon explored a Meriden mountain called West Peak. One day he saw a black dog among the trees. As Pynchon turned to head home, the dog disappeared into the trees.
The second time the scientist saw a black dog a few years later in the same place. One of his friends, with whom he was climbing the mountain that day, said that he had already seen the dog twice.
They wandered around and finally came to the top. But the enemy was waiting for them. The black dog stood in front. Pynchon only turned away for a second when he suddenly heard a terrible scream. His friend fell and hit the rocks.
In Meriden, local residents told Pynchon about the legend of the Black Dog, but he did not believe it. Several years passed, the geologist decided to visit the same mountain. He left his apartment at dawn and never returned. His dead body was later found at the bottom of a ravine.
Pisadeira
In Brazil there is a legend about a scary woman named Pisadeira. It comes to men who are afraid, or to those who have eaten a heavy dinner and lie down on their backs - in this position, Pisadeira’s victim is practically unable to escape.
Pisadeira is a bony and thin creature, she has short lower limbs and long dirty hair, a hooked nose, reddish eyes, thin lips, sharp teeth with a greenish coating. Her long fingers have wide yellow nails. But even more frightening is the laughter and mocking giggle of the monster. If a person hears characteristic laughter at night, it means that Pisadeira will soon come to him. It is the creepy laughter that precedes her appearance.
The monster tortures its victim until she suffocates from fright, but Pisadeira can also leave a person, having had enough of fear.
Phantom of Benito Juarez Park in Mexico
In the small Mexican town of Jaral del Progreso there is Benito Juarez Park. This is one of the city's attractions, but the park was laid out on the site of an old cemetery, so a bad reputation has spread about it. The city authorities landscaped the square as best they could. They installed benches and paved paths so that people could enjoy the beauty of nature. However, local residents believed that the authorities had awakened local spirits and a curse was placed on the place.
Every evening in the park someone destroyed the benches and disappeared. Authorities then hired security guards to patrol the area at night.
And then one evening the guard began duty. At first everything was calm. The riots began when the park was covered in thick fog. The security guard heard a woman scream and went to check what had happened. When he reached the place, an elderly woman dressed in a white dress stood in front of him. The watchman followed her, and she began to destroy and throw benches.
When the guard approached her, he saw that the woman had no legs, she was floating in the air. Suddenly the old woman pounced on him and began beating him furiously. The guard managed to escape, and the next morning he told about what he saw. Shortly after this incident, he fell ill with a mysterious illness and died. The city authorities forbade talking about this story in the media, but the rumor still spread throughout the city; no one else wanted to be on duty at night.
Locals called the ghost the phantom of the park.
Girl from the closet
One day, a 57-year-old Japanese man noticed that someone was rearranging things in his house, food was disappearing from the refrigerator, and strange noises woke him up at night. The man decided that he was going crazy because he lived all alone. Both the windows and doors in his house were always closed.
One day he decided to take action and installed hidden cameras in all the rooms.
The next day he looked at the footage. In the footage, an unknown woman crawled out of the Japanese man's cupboard. The man assumed that she was a robber. But police said no one broke the locks.
After a thorough search, the woman was found in a small locker. As it turned out, she lived in a Japanese man’s house for a year.
Maryland Goat Man
For many residents of the United States, Prince George's County in the American state of Maryland is associated with a bloodthirsty monster called the Goat Man.
According to legend, the monster used to be an ordinary goat breeder. One day his wife became seriously ill, and he had to work tirelessly to help his beloved. But the cruel teenagers decided to play a trick on the poor fellow and poisoned all his goats. The family was left without their only source of income, and the woman died.
Grief turned the farmer into a terrible monster, he ran into the forest and began killing everyone who crossed his path.
According to another version, the goat man is a scientific experiment of the mad scientist Dr. Fletcher. Local residents believe that prohibited experiments on animals were carried out at the district's agricultural research center. Once, through an experiment, a scientist created a half-man, half-goat. The researchers decided to keep him alive for study. But the creature grew up and turned into a cruel monster. He killed several scientists and escaped from the center.
Whether this is true or a myth, strange events took place in the area in the 50s of the 20th century. In 1958, residents found a German shepherd dead: the dog had been torn to shreds, but its meat had not been eaten.
In the spring of 1961, two students were found dead in the northeastern Maryland town of Bowie. The girl and the boy went into the forest at night. In the morning, a local hunter found a car with broken windows and many deep scratches on the body. The teenagers' bodies, mutilated beyond recognition, were found in the back seat. The criminal was never found.
In 2011, the American horror film "Deadly Detour" was released, inspired by the Maryland monster.
According to Irish folklore, the banshee is a spirit from the other world. She appears in the form of an ugly woman to the relatives and friends of the one who is about to die. It is believed that if a banshee did not cry loudly enough before her death, then in the next world her screams will be several times worse.
Banshees look like scary screaming women, old women with flowing gray hair, a scary wrinkled face and skeletal thinness.
The legend of an American girl who took revenge on her lover
In the USA there is a terrible legend about a girl who took revenge on her lover for unrequited love. In the small town of Stahl, Texas, there once stood a small church surrounded by graves. Next to the church there was a cellar, which was very difficult to find, as it was overgrown with grass.
The priest's daughter fell madly in love with a neighbor boy, but he broke her heart by choosing another girl. They got married, his chosen one became pregnant. Soon after the birth of the child, the priest's daughter visited the couple. They greeted her cordially, but the girl herself looked at their child with hatred.
The priest's daughter suddenly attacked her parents and cut both their throats, then she dragged their bodies to the hill where the church stood. She left the dead in the cellar and placed the living child between them.
The priest's daughter closed the door to the cellar and soon died. The bodies in the cellar could not be found for three weeks.
Many believe that the voice of a crying child can still be heard near the church at night.
Corpse house in Mexico
In the Mexican city of Monterey there is a famous legend about an abandoned building called the "corpse house." The strange structure was built in the 1970s, but no one has ever lived in the building.
From the street, the house looks like a structure made of concrete pipes. According to legend, the house was built by a wealthy couple who had a sick, paralyzed daughter. My father wanted to build a special house that would be suitable for people with disabilities. The design of the house included ramps that led from one floor to another.
The family began construction. One day the girl wanted to look at the house. She began to ride on the ramps, her parents were distracted for just a moment, when suddenly her wheelchair flew down the ramp. The girl could not stop, as a result she flew out the window and fell to her death.
Years later, the unfinished building was put up for sale. But no one wanted to buy it for a long time. One day there were clients. They came to see the building with their little son. While the couple were examining the situation, the boy went upstairs, and a few minutes later they heard him scream. On the top floor he was fighting with a little girl. An unknown person grabbed their son and threw him out the window. The boy died, the girl could not be found.
After this story, the authorities fenced off the area.
In 1941, a certain Mary Shaw performed with her Billy doll in one of the theaters in the American city of Ravens Fair. One day one of the spectators - a little boy - called the woman a liar. He saw the woman's lips move as Billy spoke. A few weeks later, the unfortunate critic disappeared.
Residents of the city and the boy's parents blamed the ventriloquist for his disappearance. Mary Shaw was soon found dead. According to local legend, the Eshen family (the boy’s relatives) committed lynching against the woman. They burst into the dressing room, forced Shaw to scream, and then ripped out her tongue.
Before her death, the woman wished that all her dolls be buried with her, there were 101 of them.
After the ventriloquist's funeral, massacres began in Raven's Fair. And the victims of crimes were those people who raised their hands on the Show. They, like Mary, had their tongues pulled out.
