The Urban Legend of Bloody Mary

When I was a teen, there were two things you did at a sleep over.

1. Chant “light as a feather, thick as a board” while trying to pick your friend up using only your index fingers.
2. Say Bloody Mary into the bathroom mirror. 3 times.

One, was lighthearted and fun. The whole Bloody Mary thing though…terrifying. There are so many different versions of this out there. Who Mary was before this game even came into being. I remember telling the story of a girl named Mary, who was so beautiful that she couldn’t tear her eyes from the mirror. One day, she’s in a terrible car accident and is disfigured. No longer beautiful and hating the image she saw in the mirror, Mary committed suicide.

No matter if you believe this tale, or the legend telling about the witch Mary Worth who was excecuted during the Salem Witch Trials. Bloody Mary is probably one of the most recognized urban legend. Emphasizing this are the multitude of movies and TV shows depicting the horror chanting this name over and over again can bring.

In an episode of Supernatural, Mary comes through the mirror to gouge out the eyes of her prey.

Another is the movie, Urban Legends. Soooo many amazing actors in this one!
From IMBD:
On Homecoming night, Samantha, Gina, and Mindy are having a slumber party at Sam’s house due to being black-listed by the sexy football players. Since the dance and game are out of the question, the trio stays up and entertains themselves with Urban Legends..all leading up to BLOODY MARY. With nothing better to do and a whole night to waste, Sam chants “Bloody Mary.” Her friends laugh… “Bloody Mary.” More laughter. On the third and final “Bloody Mary,” the friends are kidnapped by three jocks and return soon thereafter, shaken but well. Sam begins having hallucinations and soon bodies turn up – is it all a high school prank taken to grisly extremes or is it Bloody Mary, who’s youth was taken far too early?

And then there’s the movie…Bloody Mary.

From IMBD:
When a group of psychiatric hospital nurses invoke the spirit of Bloody Mary-a supposed urban myth-the slaughter begins. First, a young nursing assistant disappears, her body never found. Now, patients are turning up dead-battered beyond recognition, soaked in blood, their eyes ripped out. Mary’s wrath has begun. Freed from her eternal prison behind the mirror’s reflection, she unleashes a murderous, maniacal fury upon the asylum. Moving at will through mirrors, she strikes when her victims are unsuspecting, defenseless, and alone. Bloody Mary’s legend is real, her vengeance is fatal, and to free her, all you have to do is say her name.

And how about this one from Paranormal Activity 3?!

So many versions. Which one is your favorite?