Bloody Mary

*I have returned, dear readers.*

Bloody Mary is a ghost or witch that will appear in a mirror when someone recites her name three, thirteen or hundred times, depending on the version of the legend. Typically this is part of a game played at slumber parties. Similar tales appear in other places but use different names, such as Mary Worth, Mary Worthington, Hell Mary or Black Agnes, to name a few.

The game is usually a test of courage. This is because one variation on the legend says that upon appearing, Bloody Mary will proceed to kill the summoner in a rather violent fashion. This varies from tearing off the summoners face to scratching out the eyes, from driving the person insane to pulling them within the mirror with her.

Another variation on the legend says that upon appearing, Mary will reveal to the summoner their future, usually revolving around marriage and children. Also, if the summoner chants the name thirteen times at midnight, Mary is said to appear and allow one to speak with a deceased person until 12:01.

There are different stories on who Bloody Mary actually was. Some version, she was a child murderer. Others, she was newly married and then murdered, possibly while with child. Another version says that she is the spirit of Queen Mary I, known as "Bloody Mary". Queen Mary I's life was marked by numerous miscarriages and false pregnancies. There is speculation that the miscarriages were induced and that Mary went mad over the loss of her children, thereby fitting with the legend of Bloody Mary. It is likely, however, that she is mainly the source of the name.

Sources:
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/bloodymary.asp - Urban Legends Reference Pages: Bloody Mary
http://www.mythologyweb.com/bloodymary.html - Bloody Mary, Mary Worth and other variants of a modern legend - MythologyWeb
http://www.ghosts.org/faq/bloodymary2.html - Obiwan's UFO-Free Paranormal Page > Ghosts and Hauntings FAQ > Urban Legends > Bloody Mary