The “Bloody Mary” urban legend involves chanting “Bloody Mary” three or more times in front of a mirror in a dark room to summon a vengeful spirit. The spirit, often described as a blood-covered woman or witch, may attack the summoner, causing disfigurement, madness, or being pulled into the mirror. The legend is a well-known children’s dare and slumber party ritual, though the exact origins of the story remain unknown, with possible influences including Queen Mary I of England or a woman wronged in a local tragedy.
The Ritual
Environment: The ritual is typically performed in a darkened bathroom with a mirror.
Invocation: The participant says the name “Bloody Mary” repeatedly into the mirror, often three, seven, or thirteen times.
The Appearance: The summoner may see Bloody Mary’s reflection, sometimes alone, or sometimes with a child or other symbols.
Possible Outcomes
Physical harm: The spirit may scratch, strangle, or kill the summoner.
Supernatural events: The victim could be pulled into the mirror or experience other forms of madness.
Benevolent or indifferent: In some variations, the spirit is said to offer wisdom or reveal the future, or may simply do nothing.
Origins and Variations
Unknown origins: The exact origin of the legend is not definitively known.
Queen Mary I: One popular theory links the legend to Queen Mary I of England, nicknamed “Bloody Mary” for executing Protestants.
Local Tragedies: Other versions suggest Bloody Mary is the ghost of a woman who was a witch, a victim of a car crash, or someone who was murdered and seeks vengeance.
Divination: The ritual may have roots in ancient divination practices, where mirrors were used to seek glimpses of a person’s future spouse or fate.
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