If you go into a bathroom, dim the lights, and say 'Bloody Mary' three times while looking in the mirror, a ghostly or demonic figure will appear and scratch you.
Bloody Mary is a folklore game that plays on pareidolia (the mind's tendency to see faces in random patterns) and suggestibility. In dim light, the mirror naturally creates distorted reflections. The anticipation of seeing something scary increases the likelihood of perceiving ambiguous stimuli as a threat. Generations have played this game, the 'apparitions' are psychological, not paranormal.
Reception
Sources
- Bloody Mary - Wikipedia PRIMARY
- Snopes: Bloody Mary REFERENCE
- Wikipedia: Bloody Mary PRIMARY
- Psychology Today: Pareidolia REFERENCE