Story

“My favorite ghost story has to be the one about Bloody Mary. My mom would always tell me to stop looking in the mirror for so long growing up because Bloody Mary would jump out and pull me into the mirror. I also heard about it, though, at sleepovers growing up, and my friends would tell me that if you stand in front of the mirror and say her name three times, she would jump out and scratch your eyes out.”

Context:

My informant has heard this ghost story in two different settings. From her mother, she heard this legend as a warning to quit looking in the mirror. She heard a slightly different version at various sleepovers when she was younger, however, that suggested that you had to actively summon the ghost. My informant claims that doesn’t believe in this ghost story, but she still thinks about it sometimes when looking in the mirror. 

Final thoughts:

My informant’s relationship with this legend is proof of how legends can be twisted slightly when passed around. Despite minor discrepancies in the different Bloody Mary stories, they all share the common themes of fear and mirrors being used as portals. Her mother’s use of this legend shows how ghost stories can be used to warn children to obey their elders’ suggestions out of fear.