Text:

The informant and a few of her friends were having a sleepover in elementary school. They decided to try and summon Bloody Mary. To do this, they all headed to the bathroom. They looked into the bathroom mirror and chanted “Bloody Mary” three times. After, they turned off the lights three times as well. Bloody Mary was nowhere to be seen, but she recalls turning the lights on and off to be the scariest part.

Context:

When the informant was in elementary school, attempting to summon Bloody Mary was a popular activity, which is why her and her friends were inclined to try it themselves. At this age, she still believed that there was a possibility that ghosts were real, so it was nerve-racking to try to summon Bloody Mary.

Analysis:

For children, things like ghosts and other supernatural topics are much easier to believe in. I think Bloody Mary was such a popular game for children because it was a way to start to explore and form those beliefs for themselves. Also, since most adults do not advertise the idea that ghosts are real, it is a way for children to attempt to rebel against grown-ups.

Text:

At the informants elementary school in Georgia, USA, there was a beaten down, white shed behind the play structure that no children would even think about going near. This is because the shed had an incredibly ominous aura about it and was said to be haunted.

Context:

The informant recalls being terrified of the shed, and that after her classmates told her it was haunted she stopped playing on the play structure because of how close it was to the shed. As she got older, she stopped believing the shed was haunted. She said that her classmates would dare each other to peek into it or touch it, but no one ever did because they were too scared.

Interpretation:

It seems like children are more susceptible to believing in ghosts or haunted things. This could be because they seek excitement in this sense or because they have not reached the age where belief in ghosts is not accepted. I think children are more open-minded about paranormal activity, which could be why haunted areas (bathrooms, sheds, etc) at schools are so common. (I also had a haunted shed at my elementary school).

Text:

In Czech culture, children are told the story of Babajaga. They are told that if they go outside without shoes, Babajaga will come get them and take them away from their family.

Context:

The informant first heard this story when her family was over for dinner at their family friend’s house. Her and the other kids were playing outside, but her brother did not have shoes on. The adults started scaring them with the story of Babajaga, and the informant was so frightened that she ran back inside to grab her brother’s shoes for him and pressured him to put them on before Babajaga could take him.

Interpretation:

I think the story of Babajaga is a way for parents and adults to teach children that shoes should always be worn outside. In this sense, it is a way of protecting kids from possible injury. Additionally, I think frightening kids with a story is more effective in getting a message across than simply having adults telling the kids to do or not to do something, as children naturally want to rebel against adults.

Text:

In the informants hometown, there is a place called Alien’s Landing that is a popular lookout spot for teenagers. To get there, you have to trespass through someone’s yard and hop a fence, and it’s overlooking a graveyard. It’s very isolated and open, and the entire sky can be seen from it. Everyone who goes knows the story of how, in the 90s, aliens were spotted roaming around the lookout and UFO’s were also seen. That is when it was named Alien’s Landing.

Context:

The informant heard this story from her friends the first time she was invited to hang out at Alien’s Landing. She said that no one goes expecting to see aliens anymore, but every once in a while someone claims to see a UFO flying overhead at Alien’s Landing.

Interpretation:

I think that the story that aliens have been seen at this lookout is a way for teenagers to create groups. Only the people who have been to this spot know the story behind it, so it could be a way of separating those who know from those who do not. The fact that the informant was told the story the first time she went to the lookout sounds like she was being brought into the group officially by being told the story.