Bloody Mary: Origins of the Urban Legend - Extra Mythology

Ever whispered 'Bloody Mary' into a mirror? Discover the haunting origins of this spine-chilling legend. 🕯️🔍 From an innocent herbalist named Mary Worth in 1600s New England to the blood-curdling curse that promises vengeful terror, plunge into the dark heart of this enduring myth. Is it just an urban legend? Or is there more lurking behind your reflection? Dare to watch, but don't say we didn't warn you!

Artist: Jordan Martin I Writer: Duncan FyfeI Showrunner & Narrator: Matthew Krol I Editor: Aidan Strite & Mac Owens I ♪ Music: "Extra Mythology Theme" by Big Giant Circles

#ExtraHistory #BloodyMary #Mythology

[BennygoatHistory]

surprised you didn't mention any of the other folklore origins behind Bloody Mary, in England we were always taught that it was Queen Mary I of England, Bloody Mary herself

[andrasbiro]

Obviously when Bloody Mary appears, he'll say "Please state the nature of the medical emergency!". She's a disembodied healer after all.

[tjoyce]

I said Bloody Mary 3 times at brunch today and she cursed me with a hangover.

[jaydoggy]

Fun fact there's an actual psychological phenomenon at play here: Staring at your reflection in darkness if you can partially see will actually eventually temporarily distort what you see. It's your mind trying to "fill in" the rest of the picture it can't make out. It's an instinctual survival tactic, but that's why superstitious people who try it will assuredly tell you they saw a ghost. Also I remember a variation where the villagers killed Mary's son, and so she left them with that curse. If you say her name 13 times and then say "I know where your son is" she'll come out looking for him.

[kirbyinhalesjotaro]

As a kid I did the Bloody Mary ritual only when the lights were off I stubbed my toe on a piece of broken wood which cut it and drew blood all over the floor. So that was fun!

[lavenderotaku]

I was told Bloody Mary was a woman who lost her baby (it was taken or something), either in childbirth or because she killed it and then regretted her decision. And that if you said her name, she would come out and scratch you. BUT if you REALLY wanted to see her, then you had to say her name and tell her “I have your baby” and rock your arms like you were holding said baby. Then you’d feel a weight in your arms (and in some iterations, even hear it crying!), and mom herself would come out looking for it. Scary!!! One does NOT get between a mom and her baby, much less an undead one with that much urban street credit behind her!!

[Gillemear]

Also in Ireland, we link bloody Mary to Mary Tudor, the successor of Henry VIII, and responsible for the first Plantation of Ireland (Plantation here meaning bloody awful colonisation)

[alexwalsh]

Growing up in Canada I was always told by older kids you had to hold a knife to your throat and say her name 9 times in the mirror, funny how the urban legend differs from region to region and time period

[SocktheWorm]

I wish you'd briefly talked about why silver bullets are used to kill ANYTHING at all: Silver is a holy metal. That's why vampires don't have a reflection and why werewolves are struck down by it, and why he planned to use them on the witch. It banishes the unholy.

[SirHenryMaximo]

The subtle change in aspect ratio was key for the jump scare! Kudos!

[DMystic]

so if she cursed the villagers, their children and their children's children, anyone that doesn't have any ties to that village would not be effected by the curse as it's only on the bloodline of those that wronged her.

[kiranus]

It's 11 pm in India and that jumpscare scene at the end really took me off-guard and out of sleep😂

[philtkaswahl]

I did as you asked, but being from the Philippines all I did was confuse the local ghosts and monsters.

One of them chided me about calling them just to order some tomato-based bar drink.

[PsychticCamel]

Been a huge fan of you guys since the beginning! Love to see how the EC team has branched out into so many different subject types, urban lore is so fascinating and underappreciated. Thanks for sharing!

[Ammttai]

I did that in the school bathroom in 1st grade. pitch dark. as an adult, logically I know all you are seeing is your own reflection as your eyes adjust, but I still get squicked out being in a dark bathroom.

[jennaheiser]

7:45 I hate when I know jump scares are coming and THEY STILL GET ME. 🙃

[Gigihere]

That jump scare was so good it probably can scare a kid to cry

[Toonrick]

Question: How come so many myths take place in a bathroom with plumbing? Between this and Hanako-san (or kun) I wonder why these myths started in a place where the worse thing you would see is a toilet that someone forgot to flush.

(Maybe that last part could of answered my own question...)

[History-and-stuff]

Bloody Mary? Isn’t that the alcoholic beverage?

[WinkieTheGremlin]

The version I grew up with: Boody Marry was a married woman in a small town during the 1800's, she caught her husband in bed with his mistress. She took an axe to them both then, stricken with rage/grief went on a murdering spree across the town before being put down by the town's sheriff.

To summon her you have so spin 3 times while chanting her name 3 time in a dark room with a mirror, and her vengeful spirit will leap out of the mirror and attack unless you scream very loudly, which will scare her away.