Into the Mirror: Exploring the Legend of Bloody Mary
By Sarah Norman | October 31, 2023
Origins of the Myth
From urban legend to horror movie trope, the Legend of Bloody Mary has been terrifying teenagers for years. But is any of it real? With most legends, there is at least some element of truth, some historical account which was twisted in the retelling. However, there are so many variations of the Bloody Mary legend that the element of truth may be buried too deeply to uncover.
Many believe the legend to be connected to various rituals, one of which was mentioned in a footnote to Robert Burns’s 1786 poem Halloween, performed by unmarried girls in order to see the face of their future husbands. These rituals varied somewhat, with some requiring the girls to eat an apple or comb their hair in front of a mirror while others required them to stare in a mirror as they walk backward up the stairs. If the face in the mirror was a skull or the grim reaper, it meant that the girl would die before getting married. However, like the Bloody Mary legend, the origin of these mirror rituals is difficult to pin down.
Don't Look In The Mirror
Mirrors have long been connected with superstition, with many believing them to be portals between worlds. Before funeral homes, the recently deceased would be kept in the parlor of their home until burial, which could be several days. During this time, the mirrors would be covered because it was believed that if the dead person saw his reflection then his spirit would become trapped in the house.
Bloody Mary Appeared After World War II
During the 19th century, it was believed that the devil would appear in the mirror if a person stared at it for too long. However, the ritual of summoning Bloody Mary is thought to have arisen in the United States after World War II. The first academic writing on the legend was an essay published by folklorist Janet Langlois in 1978.
Is Blood Mary Queen Mary I?
While the ritual itself appears to be rooted in superstition, many believe the identity of Bloody Mary to be based on a real person. A popular choice is Queen Mary I, who was in fact nicknamed “Bloody Mary.” The nickname was earned after she executed hundreds of protestants in her efforts to return England to Catholicism.
It All Comes Down To Childbirth
A lesser-known fact about Mary I is that she suffered not one, but two, phantom pregnancies before dying childless. This fact is important as one variation of the ritual has the young girls chanting, “Mary, I killed your baby.”
Mary Queen of Scots
A second choice for the identity of the ghost is Mary, Queen of Scots, who was involved in the murder of her husband, but that doesn’t quite seem bloody enough to connect her to the legend. A more likely candidate is Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian countess nicknamed the “Blood Countess,” who was rumored to torture and murder young girls and to bathe in their blood to maintain her youth.
A Million Different Maries
However, in addition to these historical figures, there are various other identities of the ghost with no historical documentation. Even the names change, with many versions of the legend referring to her as Mary Worth, Mary Whales, Mary Johnson, and Black Agnes, just to name a few. She has also been connected to the Bell Witch of Tennessee and La Llorona of Hispanic folklore. Her backstory also varies. She was either a witch who was executed, a beautiful woman mutilated in a car accident, or a mother whose children were murdered.
The Ritual
Most versions of the story involve pre-teen girls standing in front of the bathroom mirror chanting “Bloody Mary” only to have the ghost appear and violently murder them. In some versions, they say “I believe in Mary Worth” or the aforementioned “Mary, I killed your baby.” Almost all versions involve standing in a dimly lit room in front of a mirror, often holding a single lit candle. In some cases, the girls are required to spin in circles as they chant.
Bloody Mary Appears
Most versions of the story involve pre-teen girls standing in front of the bathroom mirror chanting “Bloody Mary” only to have the ghost appear and violently murder them. In some versions, they say “I believe in Mary Worth” or the aforementioned “Mary, I killed your baby.” Almost all versions involve standing in a dimly lit room in front of a mirror, often holding a single lit candle. In some cases, the girls are required to spin in circles as they chant.
You Might See Something If You Look In The Mirror
Gazing into a dimly lit room's mirror for an extended duration can induce hallucinations. During this experience, facial features may seem to undergo peculiar transformations, including melting, distortion, disappearance, and rotation. Additionally, individuals might perceive hallucinatory elements such as animal-like or unusual faces. Giovanni Caputo, from the University of Urbino, has labeled this phenomenon the "strange-face illusion." It is thought to be a result of a "dissociative identity effect" that triggers an unidentified misfiring in the brain's facial recognition system. Other potential explanations for this phenomenon include perceptual effects like Troxler's fading, apophenia, and even self-hypnosis, although further research is needed to fully understand it.
Hanako-san: Japan's Bloody Mary
Hanako-san is a Japanese urban legend revolving around the spirit of a young girl named Hanako-san, known for her eerie presence in school restrooms. As with most urban legends, the exact origins of this tale differ depending on the source. Various renditions of the story suggest that Hanako-san may be the restless spirit of a girl from World War II, tragically lost during an air raid while playing hide-and-seek. Other versions propose that she met a grim fate at the hands of a parent or stranger, while some contend that she took her own life in a school restroom, a heartbreaking consequence of relentless bullying.
Similarly To Bloody Mary, Hanako-San Is A Million Different Things
Legend has it that Hanako-san, either a yōkai or a yūrei, is the spectral presence that frequents school restrooms. Accounts of her physical appearance may differ across various sources, but a common description portrays her with a bobbed haircut and typically dressed in a red skirt or dress. In different versions of the legend, Hanako-san's tragic backstory varies: she might have been a child victimized by a stranger or abusive parent within a school restroom, or she could be the girl who took her own life in such a facility. Alternatively, some versions suggest she was a child from the World War II era, meeting her end during an air raid while hiding in a school restroom during a game of hide-and-seek.
Bloody Mary In A Bathroom
To invoke Hanako-san's presence, it is commonly believed that one must venture into a girls' restroom, typically located on the third floor of a school. There, they should gently tap on the third stall door three times and inquire if Hanako-san is in attendance. If Hanako-san is indeed present, she will respond affirmatively, typically with a variation of "Yes, I am here." Depending on the specific narrative, the individual may then encounter eerie phenomena such as the emergence of a bloodied or ghostly hand. This spectral hand, or even Hanako-san herself, may attempt to pull the individual into the toilet, leading to a terrifying journey, or the person might face the peril of being devoured by a three-headed lizard. This lizard claims that the individual has trespassed upon Hanako's private domain.
People Love To Be Scared
The universal appeal of the spooky Bloody Mary game can be attributed to its ability to tap into our shared fascination with the supernatural and the unknown. Across cultures and generations, humans have always been drawn to stories of the paranormal, ghosts, and urban legends. The Bloody Mary game provides a tangible and participatory experience in which individuals can confront their fears and curiosity head-on. It serves as a rite of passage for many, a way to test one's courage and confront the mysteries that lurk in the dark. Moreover, the game's simplicity and adaptability make it easy to pass down through word of mouth, ensuring its longevity as a popular spooky tradition that transcends borders and continues to intrigue people of all ages and backgrounds.
Bloody Mary Will Never Die
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
The legend of Bloody Mary endures as a timeless and intriguing phenomenon because it taps into our primal fascination with the unknown and the supernatural. It bridges generations, cultures, and geographical boundaries, continuing to captivate the imagination of those who dare to participate in the eerie ritual. What makes it particularly fascinating is the way it blends a slight foundation in historical fact with the power of collective storytelling, creating a unique cultural phenomenon that evolves with each retelling. As long as people seek thrills, test their courage, and share tales of the mysterious, Bloody Mary's enigmatic presence will continue to haunt our collective consciousness, reminding us that some legends never truly die.
