Buzz
With Halloween drawing near and the eerie Friday the 13th arriving this October, it's the perfect time to dive into tales of creepy urban legends that have haunted generations.
Much like the classic tales, these urban legends have been passed down from one generation to another and are sure to keep scaring the future for many years to come.
10. El Silbon
Originating in Venezuela and Colombia, El Silbon is the story of a cursed creature condemned to wander the Earth, burdened with a sack of bones.
Once a spoiled child living with his parents in Venezuela, the boy’s every whim was indulged. As an only child, he became a demanding and ungrateful brat.
One night, after persistently demanding deer meat for dinner and throwing a tantrum when his father couldn’t deliver, the boy stabbed his father, ripped out his intestines, and presented them to his mother to cook.
Though the mother cooked the entrails, her suspicions grew as the meat’s appearance seemed wrong. Overcome with horror, she realized what had happened, and in her grief, she left the boy to his grandfather’s judgment.
The grandfather beat the boy mercilessly and then applied chili and lemon juice to his wounds. He handed the boy a sack filled with his father’s bones and unleashed a pack of dogs to chase him. Just before the dogs could kill him, the grandfather cursed the boy, marking the birth of the creature El Silbon.
It is said that El Silbon continues to wander, whistling as he slips into homes unnoticed. He sets down his bag of bones and begins to count them inside the house. If no one notices him, a member of the household will meet their end. However, if the family becomes aware of his presence, their misfortune is reversed, turning into a streak of good luck.
9. Japanese Suicide Drawing
Some of the most unsettling urban legends stem from Asia, with many even becoming the inspiration for terrifying horror films. One such story tells of a teenage Japanese girl who drew a stunning picture of a young girl, whose gaze seemed to pierce directly into the viewer’s soul. After posting the drawing online, the girl mysteriously took her own life shortly afterward.
Soon after the drawing was posted, comments started pouring in, with people claiming they could see sorrow or even anger in the eyes of the depicted girl. Some viewers reported that her lips would begin to curl into a sinister smile the longer they stared, while a ring formed around her. Some even said that those who stared for more than five minutes met an unfortunate end, ending their lives just as the girl had.
8. Nykur
Throughout history, horses have been depicted as magnificent creatures in artwork and film. However, if you find yourself in Iceland and spot a gray horse standing by a large body of water, such as the sea or a lake, take a moment to inspect its hooves. If they are facing backward, you may be in for a frightening experience.
The creature, known as Nykur, is said to be a water-dwelling beast that sometimes emerges from the depths to lure unsuspecting people to their watery graves. Its skin is slick, and if someone is entranced by the horse and climbs onto its back, they will find themselves unable to dismount. Instead, they will be dragged to Nykur's submerged lair, where they will drown.
It is believed that shouting the horse’s name will cause it to flee back into the water, leaving the person unharmed.
7. The Baby In The High Chair
This chilling urban legend is known worldwide, but its roots seem to lie in Norway. For many years, a Norwegian couple never managed to take a proper vacation. However, one year everything fell into place: they found a reliable nanny for their baby boy and set their sights on a long-deserved getaway.
On the day they were set to leave, the nanny was late. She eventually called to explain that her car had broken down. However, she reassured the couple that she would call a mechanic and walk to their house, as she was only about 15 minutes away.
Relieved, the couple placed their baby in his high chair, kissed him goodbye, and left for their vacation, already running behind schedule for the airport. They left the back door open for the nanny to enter.
One version of the story suggests that the nanny arrived to find the door locked, the wind having blown it shut. Assuming the couple had taken the baby with them, she left without entering the house.
One variation of the tale suggests that the nanny was tragically struck and killed by a truck while on her way to the house. Another version claims that the nanny was actually an elderly relative of the couple who passed away from a heart attack before she could reach their home.
In all renditions of the story, the couple returned to their home to find their son lifeless and swollen, still fastened to his high chair.
6. The Studley Girl
Some of the most terrifying urban legends are those that feel too close to reality. Three years ago, a Reddit user shared a story that had haunted him since his childhood and teenage years. He resides in the town of Mechanicsville, Virginia, home to a winding road called Studley Road.
Many years ago, a young girl lived with her mother and alcoholic father in a modest house on this road. One fateful night, the father, overcome with rage, brutally beat his wife and daughter to death before taking his own life with a gun.
With her jaw shattered and dangling from her face, the young girl didn't die instantly. Instead, she staggered down Studley Road, desperately seeking help, before finally collapsing, her pajamas soaked with blood.
Today, as you navigate one of the sharp bends on Studley Road that leads into the forest, you might catch sight of the ghostly figure of the little girl, slowly walking down the road with her back to you.
Drivers unaware of the legend have pulled over to offer assistance, only to have the girl turn around and emit a chilling scream from her dangling, broken jaw. On occasion, she also gurgles through the blood still dripping from her mouth.
5. Ghost Wagon
South Africa is home to a number of eerie urban legends, including tales like the hitchhiker of Uniondale and The Flying Dutchman. However, one of the creepiest stories dates back to 1887, a tale shared by Major Alfred Ellis in South African Sketches, which continues to be passed down to this day.
Four men—Lutterodt, Seururier, Anthony de Heer, and an unidentified visitor from Cape Town—embarked on a wagon journey from Ceres to Beaufort West. This area was known as the spokeveld (“ghost region”) and was even marked as such on early South African maps.
During their journey, one of the wagon's wheels suddenly broke, and it took them until 3:00 AM to repair it. Hardly had they resumed their travel when their horses became spooked, eventually halting and refusing to move any further.
Out of nowhere, the men heard the sound of a wagon speeding toward them. When they looked, they saw a driver cracking a whip at 14 horses, the wagon barreling directly toward them.
Seururier, Lutterodt, and the unnamed visitor jumped off the wagon, but de Heer grabbed the reins and skillfully steered his wagon out of the way of the speeding carriage.
Annoyed, de Heer shouted at the driver, 'Where do you think you're going?' The driver replied, 'To hell.' Then, both the driver and the wagon vanished into thin air.
Later, Lutterodt revealed that they only realized afterward that anyone who dared to confront the spooky driver of the vanishing wagon would be cursed. A week following the incident, de Heer's lifeless body was discovered at the foot of a cliff, surrounded by the wreckage of his wagon and the bodies of his dead horses.
4. Baby Blue
Much like Bloody Mary, Baby Blue is an eerie legend that stems from a tale about a deranged mother who killed her infant son with a piece of mirror glass. Over time, some people have tried to summon the spirit of Baby Blue (the name given to the deceased baby).
The ritual to summon the spirit involves entering a bathroom at night, fogging up the mirror, and writing 'Baby Blue' on it. Once that's done, the lights are turned off, and the person who wrote the name on the mirror must extend their arms as though holding a baby. The ghost of the baby will then materialize in their open arms. If the person drops the phantom baby, the mirror shatters and the person will die.
Another version of the story claims that if you enter a dark bathroom and chant 'Baby Blue' 13 times while rocking your arms back and forth, the baby will appear and scratch you. However, the best course of action is to drop the baby and flee, as his deranged mother will materialize in the mirror and kill you if you don't.
3. Teke Teke
An especially disturbing Japanese legend tells of a female office worker who was raped and assaulted by American soldiers in Hokkaido shortly after World War II. Devastated, the young woman jumped off a bridge that evening, but tragically, she was struck by a train as she fell onto the tracks below.
Her body was severed at the waist, and because of the extreme cold, she did not bleed out immediately. She managed to drag herself to a train station, where a horrified attendant covered her with a plastic tarp. She later succumbed to her injuries in excruciating pain.
According to urban legend, three days after hearing or reading this story, the ghost of the young woman will visit you, making a chilling teke teke sound as she crawls toward you on her arms. You won't be able to outrun her, as she can move at speeds of up to 150 kilometers per hour (93 mph).
Her goal is to catch as many people as possible, and once she does, she will sever and steal their lower halves. The only way to avoid certain death is by answering her questions. If she asks whether you need your legs, you must urgently say you need them. If she inquires who told you her story, the correct answer is 'Kashima Reiko.'
2. The Devil’s Toy Box
Inspired by the Hellraiser films, a terrifying legend circulates in America about a cabin in Louisiana known as the Devil's Toy Box. The story claims that the cabin contains mirrors covering every surface, from floor to ceiling. If someone enters the cabin and stays for too long, the Devil will appear and claim their soul.
During their investigations, paranormal experts discovered that the mirrors in the cabin form six sides, all facing inward. It's said that no one can last longer than five minutes inside.
One man stayed for just over four minutes, emerged mute, and never spoke again. A woman allegedly suffered a fatal heart attack while inside, and a teenage boy had to be dragged out of the cabin, kicking and screaming. He ended his life two weeks later.
1. Poinciana Woman
One of the most disturbing urban legends from Australia tells of a young woman who was assaulted by Japanese fishermen at Darwin's East Point. Upon discovering she was pregnant, she was horrified and hanged herself from a poinciana tree.
The restless spirit of the woman began to haunt the men of East Point, initially appearing as a mesmerizing figure in white. But as soon as the men were entranced, she transformed into a terrifying hag with long claws, slaughtering them and feasting on their intestines.
For those who dare, the Poinciana Woman can be summoned by spinning three times under the dark sky of a moonless night while calling her name. A chilling scream will confirm that she has been called forth.
