Have you heard of Bloody Mary? (the ghost/spirit story not the historical figure)?

Question

I am interested in finding out how far and for how long the story of the "mirror ghost" Bloody Mary has been being passed around purely by word of mouth. Here is how I heard it: If you go into a dark room and stand in front of the mirror and chant "Bloody Mary" 3 times a cloaked figure will appear and cross through the mirror to get you.

Please tell me 1) How the version of the story you heard is different (if it is) 2) Where you first heard the story (country and city) and from what source 3) Your gender (since I have never found a male that has heard this story) and 4) The approximate year that you first heard the story.

I am especially interested to hear from people outside of the U.S. and to see if this is a story passed exclusively among girls!

Anyway, to start I will say that I first heard the story in Tri-Cities, Washington state. I am female and first heard from some girls at a sleepover in about 1990.

Answer 1

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/bloodymary.asp

Answer 2

I knew the story as a kid, though as I knew it the ghost might or might not come from the mirror to get you; if you got away quick it might just leave you alone. I knew Bloody Mary to be a female ghost and always kind of imagined her (don't know why this was put in my head) as looking like the wicked stepmother from Disney's version of Cinderella.

In about 5th grade two of my friends insisted that at a school they had gone to, one day they heard a girl in the bathroom suddenly shriek "Bloody Mary!" and it could be heard all through the school. When people went into the bathroom to check on her the room was completely covered in blood (and I assume the girl was dead.) Note that one of my friends was known for completely making stories up and claiming them as true, and the other may have just been going along with it.

5th grade was about 13 or 14 years ago, by the way, and this was in Hermosa Beach, California.

Also: I recall around the same time reading about Bloody Mary in one of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books: and that she was supposed to be named Mary Worth. I became afraid to read the comics section of the newspaper, because the Mary Worth of the comic strips might be the same person, and just looking at her might be enough to make her jump out to get me.

Answer 3

my husband and I were just talking about this...bloody mary:
I first heard the story when I was 10 years old at a slumber party in North Carolina. 1988,

My husband is 38 he knew about it as well, a california native. Around the same time late 80's early 90's.

The version I heard Goes as such:

Go into a bathroom, turn off the lights, repeat 3 times bloody mary: and a small child appears with a razor, to slash you.

You are supposed to come out with scratches on your body: now I was too terrified to do this, and still to this day refuse to try:

Answer 4

I first heard it in the late 80's. The story went like this: go into the bathroom, turn off the light and say into the mirror three times "Bloody Mary, I killed your son." and she is supposed to come out of the mirror for you. I am from Indiana

Answer 5

Yes she is a lovely cocktail and after a few of her I tell great stories!!! Check it out for yourself! Remeber a Bloody Mary recipe prepared sloppily is an insult to the guest as well as the vodka that anchors the drink. Prepare your Bloody Mary recipes correctly, and the dignity of your bar is upheld. The Original Bloody Mary Ingredients 1.5 oz vodka 3 oz tomato juice 0.5 oz lemon juice 7 drops Worcestershire sauce 3 drops Tabasco sauce freshly ground pepper 1 dash celery salt, freshly grated Serving Instructions Combine ingredients in glass filled with ice. Stir gently. Serve the Bloody Mary in a pint glass. Garnish with slice of celery, pickled asparagus. And your off to story land!!

Answer 6

Early 90's Me and a couple of friend were at a sleep over and one of my friends bought it up. We all gathered in the bathroom but I was too chicken to stick it out, around the second 'Bloody Mary' I ran out but they continued and said they saw her. I dunno if it was true, I mean we were only like 8-10 yrs old. But our story is identical almost, it was the early 90s and an all girl sleep over. I don't know of any men who mention the story as well. I wonder///
I'll keep checking on this question to see what developments u come up with.

Answer 7

You have to do it at exactly Midnight and you turn around 3 times while saying Bloody Mary where is your baby and the first time you do it a small dot will apear. The second time an image will apear and the third time she is will harm you.

Answer 8

I heard this a long time ago, believe me a lot of guys know about it. I haven't really heard about it in a long time. My brother, sister and I used to be so scared to do it. It's really just a trick with your eyes adjusting to the light. you see your own reflection. That's similar to the version i heard. Mine was different in that instead of reching out to get you, you would actually come to see your reflection and a cloaked figure behind you with a knife to stab you. I still think it's apretty cool story.

Answer 9

Yes, everyones heard of Bloody Mary. Google it.

Answer 10

I'm a male from the midwest and I've heard it. I heard it when I was younger from kids I hung around, back in the late 70's. We always heard she'd just appear in the mirror, I think behind you though.

Answer 11

my scottish friend told me 2 years ago. i heard that if u flush all the toilets n switch on all the sinks and say Bloody Mary 3 times her eyes will appear. I have never tried it.