The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

When I was younger, my friends and I always had
pajama parties for our birthdays. There were a
lot of things we did to stay up late but one of
them was always considered the most scary. We
turned all the lights off and lit one candle just
before midnight. One of us would turn around with
our eyes closed ten times while standing in front
of a mirror and saying bloody Mary. As it was
turning midnight you were to look over your shoulder
and Bloody Mary's reflection was supposed to be
in the mirror. I never saw anything, but it was
still looked upon as a solemn practice. My
friends sometimes said they saw something, but
I think it was just for the effect of scaring us.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND

Date learned: 00001980S