Play Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary is a very old, very frightening game—and not particularly pleasant! Some say Bloody Mary refers to the English queen known for having heretics burned, beheaded, or otherwise treated unkindly. Others say she was a princess, murdered in front of her mirror. Does the game Bloody Mary really call this darkly haunted spirit, or is it just powerful imagination playing tricks on the gullible? There's only one way to find out for sure. Curious? If you're brave enough, we'll show you how to play, but be forewarned: you may never be the same!

Steps

1. Understand the origins of Bloody Mary. If you know a little historical background, you'll have a better idea what you might expect, and what first-aid supplies you should keep on hand. This game's origins are lost in the mists of time, so the stories we are left with in the twenty-first century are varied and mysterious. However, it is enlightening to understand the thoughts behind the scares, so the story's basics are outlined under "Tips".
2. Gather your tokens. Since you are reading this step, it is assumed that you have reached the point of no return and convinced everyone that this game is worth playing for a few scares and thrills. Begin by assembling the items that you will need: a candle, a bathroom with a mirror, some friends (preferably including at least one who screams well), and a cell phone: you never know what could happen!
   • You want to make sure you have at least one other person playing. Some people prefer having only one person go into the bathroom to increase tension in all the players. If you're playing the game this way, do not lock the bathroom door. That way, if someone wants to leave quickly, they do not freak out when they cannot open the door.
3. Spin around three times. It is sometimes suggested that you spin around three times if you see nothing. Feeling dizzy does wonders for seeing things. Always be confident.
4. Reach out to her. Have one person touch the mirror with one hand and the others hold hands, including the free hand of the person touching the mirror.
5. Turn on the faucet. Having water running may help call the spirit, because according to some legends, that was the last thing Bloody Mary heard before being brutally murdered.
6. Begin chanting: "Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary..."
   • Continue chanting slowly, 3 to 1,000 times. Chanting "Bloody Mary" thirteen times is the most popular count. The exact wording and the amount of times to speak the words can vary considerably, depending which version of the story you choose to follow. See "Tips."And follow.
7. Watch the mirror. Believe that what you do or do not see is a personal, subjective experience—if that belief gives you comfort. Remember that you may or may not have control over your own mind. Who knows? What you see may just be your imagination—or it might be Bloody Mary herself!
8. Stop when you have had enough! Once you are sufficiently terrified and quaking in your shoes, quickly leave the bathroom and breathe some fresh air. Laugh to release the nervous tension, and apply first aid to any wounds Bloody Mary may have given you. The game has had its impact and it's time to go and relax, be calm and forget about what has happened today.

Tips

• Do not lock door.
• If she does show up on the mirror, back up so you don't get injured.
• The tale of Mary behind the game. There are several possible sources of Mary:
  
  
  • It is said that there was once a woman known as Mary Worth who lived almost 100 years ago in England. Claims were made about this woman being a witch. The people put a mirror in front of her to show Bloody Mary her shame as she died. Each person sliced her face while she watched in the mirror. Suddenly, she cursed the town and swore to seek vengeance on them all. Finally, the father of the child she had harmed thrust the fatal stab, killing her. Her spirit is said to be trapped in the mirror, waiting for someone to believe in her so she may be released.
  • Going back even further, the Mary may have been Mary I, Queen of England, who was known as Bloody Mary for her treatment of people (burning at the stake) during her short reign. Others, however, claim this is a mistaken mix-up.
  • More recently, some say Mary was the victim of a horrific car accident.
  • Some even say that Mary lived in the woods and was a witch. The little girls in the nearby village began disappearing one by one. It was a mystery until the villagers found out that Mary used the girls' blood to make her skin softer, and their souls to give her a younger appearance (hence the name Bloody Mary). As a punishment, they burned her at the stake. Right before she was put into flames, Bloody Mary said she would appear in mirrors if conjured up in front of one.
  • Some people claim that she was a woman who was killed by her boss. Then, she came back to kill him and anyone else who says her name.
  • The reason for inclusion of a baby/child in the tale also varies considerably. Do your own online or library research—research can be even more interesting than the scare.
• She may not appear, but the point of the game is to test your bravery.
• There are quite a few variants on how to summon Mary that vary from region to region, depending on how this game has been interpreted. This article offers but one interpretation and you are free to add more variants if you wish.
• Ritual games that create fear are perfectly normal for children in early adolescence and are usually viewed as a harmless outlet for releasing anxiety and fear.
• There are various movies that depict this game being played, often having subtle variations in how its played. For example, in a movie appropriately called "Bloody Mary", the player has to be female and naked. She has to say, "I believe in Bloody Mary" over and over until Bloody Mary really does show up.
• Note that this is a fairly popular (mostly) girls' sleepover game.
• Bloody Mary was said to be killed by her husband and daughter. Her throat was slit with a piece of glass.
• It is sometimes suggested that you spin around three times if you see nothing. Feeling dizzy does wonders for seeing things.
• Don't be so scared that it will give you nightmares! Some times you can't help it.
• You don't need to say Bloody Mary very fast.
• I was familiar with one variation- saying "I hate Bloody Mary" 30 times, then turning around and staring into the mirror (no blinking) until you see her.
• If you are brave, then switch off all the lights of your house until it is completely dark and play around 3:00am.

Warnings

• Don't force anyone to play the game if they're uncomfortable with it!
• Whatever you do, don't let Bloody Mary out of the bathroom. She won't be able to be stopped.
• Don't panic. Most of the excitement and thrill is the build-up to the game and you have all probably scared one another witless.
• Don't force a young kid to do this. It's not funny and you could leave them scared for days! If they are sensitive, you could scar them for life.

Things You'll Need

• Candle
• Bathroom
• Mirror
• Some scared friends/non-believing friends.
• A phone if something happens to someone.
• Video Camera to share your experience

Related Articles

• Stop Being Scared After Watching Scary Movies
• Overcome Fear
• Be Fearless
• Stop Being Superstitious
• Play a Kid Friendly Game of Consequences
• Play Knuckles

Sources and Citations

See also

• Play Werewolf (Party Game)
• Play the Spirit Channeling Game "Ghost"
• Play Ghost in the Graveyard
• Play Murder in the Dark
• Play the Mummy Wrap Game

What links here

• Tell Scary Stories