The Legend Of Bloody Mary

@Chryssi (828)
United States
April 5, 2007 3:41pm CST
I'm sure you've all heard about Bloody Mary.. I'm not sure that you all know her legend. She lived deep in a Pennsylvania forest, in a tiny cottage and she sold herbal remedies for a living. Folks living in the town nearby called her Bloody Mary and said she was a witch. None dared cross the old crone for fear that their cows would go dry, their food stores rot away before winter, their children take sick of fever, or any number of horrible things that an angry witch could do to her neighbors. Then the little girls in the town began to disappear, one by one. No one could find out where they had gone. Grief-striken families searched the woods, local buildings, and all the houses and barns, but there was no sign of the missing girls. A few brave souls even went to Bloody Mary's home in the woods to see if the witch had taken the girls, but she denied knowledge of the disappearances. Still, it was noted that her haggard appearance had changed. She looked younger, more attractive. The neighbors were suspicious, but they could find no proof that the witch had taken their young ones. Then came the night that the daughter of the miller rose from her bed and walked outside, following an enchanted sound that no one else could hear. The miller's wife had a toothache and was sitting up in the kitchen treating her tooth with an herbal remedy when her daughter left the house. She screamed for her husband and followed the girl out the door. The miller came running in his nightshirt. Together, they tried to restrain the girl, but she kept breaking away from them and heading out of town. The desperate cries of the miller and his wife woke the neighbors. They came to assist the frantic couple. Suddenly, a sharp-eyed farmer gave a shout and pointed towards a strange light at the edge of the woods. A few townsmen followed him out into the field and saw Bloody Mary standing beside a large oak tree, holding a magic wand that was pointed toward the miller's house. She was glowing with an unearthly light as she set her evil spell upon the miller's daughter. The townsmen grabbed their guns and their pitchforks and ran toward the witch. When she heard the commotion, Bloody Mary broke off her spell and fled back into the woods. The far-sighted farmer had loaded his gun with silver bullets in case the witch ever came after his daughter. Now he took aim, and shot at her. The bullet hit Bloody Mary in the hip and she fell to the ground. The angry townsmen carried her back into the field, where they built a large bonfire and burned her at the stake. As she burned, Bloody Mary screamed a curse at the townsfolk. If anyone mentioned her name aloud before a mirror, she would send her spirit to avenge herself upon them for her terrible death. When she was dead, the villagers went to the house in the woods, and found the unmarked graves of the little girls the evil witch had murdered. She had used their blood to make her young again. From that day to this, anyone foolish enough to chant Bloody Mary's name three times before a darkened mirror will summon the vengeful spirit of the witch. It is said that she will tear their bodies to pieces and rip their souls from their mutilated bodies. The souls of the unfortunate ones will burn in torment as Bloody Mary was once burned, and they will forever be trapped in the mirror.
1 person likes this
2 responses
• United States
5 Apr 07
Thank you for sharing this. I have heard about Bloody Mary, but never really kndw the entire story. I love these old legends and wive's tales. They are so interesting. Most come from some sort of reality that really happened.
@Chryssi (828)
• United States
5 Apr 07
You're welcome. I love folklore and urban legends as well, even though most of them have strayed from their origin.
1 person likes this
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I've never heard this legend before and my family lives in Pennsylvania. I have heard of Bloody Mary though. I think the legend changes from country/state/town all over the world. There are probably hundreds of variations. One legend I've heard comes from Europe. It is said that a Queen Mary (the Spanish Queen I think) used to have girls kidnapped and then she would bath in their blood to stay young forever.