In different cultures around the world, scary stories and urban myths have been passed down throughout generations.
The Legend of Hanako-san is a well-known horror story from Japan about the spirit of a young World War II-era girl named Hanako who haunts school bathrooms. Variations of the story include that she was killed either by a parent or a friend or committed suicide in a school toilet.
A popular character from Chinese folklore is Jiang-Shi, the hopping vampire. In Chinese legend, the Jiang-Shi is an undead creature, typically portrayed as having greenish skin, long hair and powerful strength. It is said to come to devour the infants and children of villagers living nearby.
A famous story that originated in England and is wildly popular in the United States is the story of Bloody Mary, which stemmed from
The Lady in Red is another popular Chinese ghost story about a beautiful young woman, usually said to be wearing a red qipao. She haunts the streets at dusk and lures men to follow her. The men are never seen again after they follow her, a prime example of a classic Chinese story about a vengeful spirit with a tragic past.
In Mexico, a popular urban legend is that of La Llorona, a vengeful ghost in Mexican folklore. She is said to roam near bodies of water, mourning her children that she drowned in a rage after discovering her husband’s infidelity. Whoever is unlucky enough to happen upon her crying spirit suffers severe misfortunes, death, or their life becomes unsuccessful in every way.
The Yara-ma-yha-who is an Australian myth that Aboriginal children were told as young kids as a story about discipline and a reminder not to venture too far into the woods from home. The Yara-ma-yha- is a type of red monster with no teeth and is said to swallow children whole like a snake. There are slight variations of this tale that change it from children to unsuspecting travelers.
Learning about scary stories across different cultures reveals the universally shared fascination with the ‘unknown’ and displays the power of storytelling.
