INDEX GALLERY ABOUT CONTACTBloody Mary
The legend of a phantom which can be summoned in a mirror after chanting her name multiple times. This tale has been passed down for decades, and as such, there exist many different variations of the summoning, purpose, and even the entity itself.
Historically, Bloody Mary was intended to be performed as a divination ritual. The steps were as follows: making your home dark, walking backwards up a flight of stairs holding a candle and a hand mirror, then looking into said mirror. It was said that the reflection would then reveal the face of one's future husband, or of the Grim Reaper if the indivudal were destined to die before marriage.
Today, the ritual involves much less staircases and candles. It is said that you can summon Bloody Mary simply by chanting her name in a dark room in front of a mirror. Some variations of the legend specify her name must be said 13 times, while others state it is only 3. Some state that the ritual must take place in a bathroom mirror. Additionally, some versions of the myth refer to Bloody Mary by other names, such as 'Hell Mary' or 'Mary Worth'.
As for the actual identity of the Bloody Mary ghost and the ritual's true origins, there is no definitive answer, though there are currently three strong theories:
- Mary Tudor (Mary I of England), who put many Protestants to death for heresy, giving her the nickname "Bloody Mary."
- Elizabeth Bathory, also known as the "Queen of Blood," who was supposedly convicted for murdering hundreds of young girls so she could bathe in their blood.
- Mary Worth, a witch executed in the Salem witch trials.
