Mystical urban legends USA

Urban legends in the United States are widely distributed and have a tremendous impact on the formation relationship to the paranormal, because it became the basis of many cult movies, TV series and literary works of world-wide fame. Including "x-files" (The X-Files), "Supernatural" (Supernatural), a lot of horror films like "Bloody Mary" (Bloody Mary) or "Creatures" (The Entity), the literary works of Stephen king, etc. to List such works can be very long.

Urban legend (in U.S. English - urban legend) is a modern variety of folk tales and is usually the fiction. However, in some cases such stories can be based on a real incident, the disclosures of which are distorted by many retellings.

The history of modern America dates back to 1565 when the Spanish founded St. Augustine, the first European settlement on the territory of modern USA. Themselves United States of America was formed in 1776 by combining the thirteen British colonies declared their independence. Residents swim across the ocean to search for a new life, and brought with him a cultural heritage that formed the basis of the local mythology. For the plots of myths was also affected by the rich cultural, historical and religious heritage of Mexico and the indigenous peoples of North America.

Let us look at the major stories of American urban legends and history of their origin.

To start perhaps with the theme, which is found in all peoples - mystic on the roads. The road as a mystical place describe a culture as if it connects not only settlements, but also different worlds. Travelers full of mysterious and spooky stories about ghosts of people, animals and even cars, the collector of souls, who votes on the night road, about the fire truck that suddenly appears on the highway and just as suddenly disappears, about UFOs and strange creatures run out into the road, about a mysterious companions, and more.

For example:

Night, in June 1994, a traveler from Alabama was driving on the famous track. Suddenly he saw that he was rushing towards the bus. The young man managed to roll to the side, and when we got to the first Motel, then found out from the owner that he was lucky. This bus for many years appeared on this segment of the route, and by his fault there were so many accidents.

or

Unsuspecting motorists who stop on the highway and out of the car to stretch my stiff limbs, are attacked by swarms of dog-demons that are just looking for new victims. A chilling howl, eyes flickering yellow light and sharp as knives teeth — this is a potential risk, which expose themselves to everyone who will stop for the night on the side of hell's highway in the territory of Utah.

The next highest frequency of appearance of mystical creatures, probably should be considered a cemetery. Again, Americans are not unique in this, almost every nation considers the place of burial of the dead a gateway to another world. About the cemetery there are many stories about ghosts and other mystical beings.

For example, a relatively well-known legend of the blond Mary

In the early 1980-ies past the cemetery passed the man and saw the woman locked in the cemetery after it is closed. He could not imagine that it is a Ghost; he thought that someone was left at the cemetery and needed help. The man went straight to the police station for help. Police arrived at the cemetery and no one noticed. But they found that the iron bars next to the gate of the cemetery was flattened, it seems, by human hands. The bars were blackened and burning, they were notch-like fingers.

But perhaps the best known is the phrase "the ancient Indian cemetery". In case of availability under the building or on any site that place may contain ghosts, poltergeists, and just to be a danger to inhabitants.

In American culture there are many references to ghosts in homes, public buildings, roadside motels, cafes and even gas stations.

In addition to the ghosts, and often meet mention of the strange creatures. The most famous legends can be called a meeting with moth Man, the Jersey devil and strange people, having some visible defect (for example, people with black or totally white eyes).

For example:

In October 2005, on one such occasion, told 47-year-old female realtor by the name of Ti. The stranger knocked on the door of the office right after lunch. He was 17 or maybe 18. Came on the bike. Asked if there was a vacant apartment.

"I remember I suddenly felt a terrible fear, barely saw his eyes. I crawl back, I just shook! How much work, and I do not remember that it happened to me once, says Ti. — I couldn't look him straight in the eye. It seemed to me that now I will die... He has not approached me, just stood behind the threshold and waited for me to ask him to sign or will lead to watch a free apartment. Talked to me normally, and I slammed the door on him and ran away from there — to hell. I had a feeling that I am in mortal danger. And all this because of his eyes. If I looked at them a little longer, I would, at the faithful who were not able to close the door. And then shaking for a few hours.

or

Late night November 15, 1966, two couples, Scarberry and Mallette were driving in the vicinity of an abandoned munitions factory, located seven miles from point Pleasant in West Virginia. Catching up with the factory gate, they noticed a strange glow emanating, as it seemed, from generator set. However, stopping the car and looking closely, they realized that two red light from the generator — they belonged to a living creature.

People noticed that it looked like a man, but six-and-a-half or seven feet, with folded back wings. Seeing them, the creature turned around and headed toward them. Frightened, Scarberry and Mallette jumped in the car and ran away. The creature spread its wings and gave chase after the car. It pursued the fugitives to the edge of the city, and its speed exceeded 100 miles per hour.

or

A shocking incident yesterday shocked the quiet seaside town of Atlantic city. Its inhabitants have had to become witnesses of such a mysterious and incredible tragedy. As expected, it occurred in the darkness of the night.
Hal F. Williams, an employee of the Electric company, he returned to Philadelphia with his wife and two children following on-sea weekend. Hardly anyone could have predicted that this is his last trip. Did he think about that when a minor crash forced him to stop near Atlantic city?

"Hal was a little annoyed about the delay, but did not show concern, says Mrs. Williams. — He disappeared for a few minutes. It happened soundlessly. I even thought he was pranking me, until I noticed on the grass bleeding. What grabbed him, appeared completely unnoticed."

Fortunately for the distraught Mrs. Williams, and her children were picked up by a passing late Mr. Dixon, a resident of a small town. NYU in the city Mr. Dixon was immediately taken to Mrs. Willyams to the police station. Struck by her story, Sergeant Cleveland's turned the whole police force of the city. And as soon as dawn broke, a detachment of police and volunteers immediately went to find the missing and his killer.
Found the body of Sergeant Patrick Cleveland. Here's what he says:

"I've never seen such mutilated corpses. The deceased had no legs and it looked like they just ripped or bitten".
When the fate of the electrics were clarified, the brave hunters went on the blood trail of his killer. Near highway, in one of the smaller caves, they found the lair. Frightened inmate does not want to leave his burrow. Not wanting to draw a dangerous animal, the police just shot him. What was the surprise of the hunters when they were out of the cave not the carcass of a Cougar or a grizzly, and... dead people!

From the "Atlantic news", July 11, 1964.

Most cultures in the world have their own legends about werewolves, and America is no exception. It is believed that faith in them they adopted from the Indians. Legends of the Navajo Indians tell about the "black" shamans and witches who can turn into wolves, coyotes, bears or birds, while maintaining the human mind.

One of the stories about werewolves:

In 1960, Delbert Cregg from Texas described the mysterious incident that happened with her in 1958. One night in tight metal mesh open window was someone scratching. The woman began to look closely and when the lightning flashed, he saw a terrible wolf face. When she jumped up with the flashlight, the monster ran off into the bushes, and soon instead of the bushes came a man who quickly fled in the direction of the road.

In America also has its own "Nessie": the mysterious creature in lake Champlain. There are stories about vampires and evil spirits. But not all of the stories remained unchanged.

A rather vivid example of the changing European ideas that have passed through the American culture - tomminokery. From the English miners ' folklore on the American earth came stories about Nocera. This word comes from the English knockers which, according to the New international dictionary of the English language Webster, means "spirits or goblins living in the mines and knock the warning about the possible obvalue". But the work of Stephen king "Tomminokery", where he calls the word pretty scary aliens, radically changed perceptions of them, giving rise among the new generation spooky legend about the creatures knocking at the door.

However, the most famous characters of urban legends can still be considered native American. On the territory of the United States began to popularize stories about encounters with UFOs and aliens. Mass surveillance of unidentified objects moving in the sky began in the mid-20th century. After the Case in the Cascade mountains , the subject of UFOs, aliens and "men in black" quickly evolved, acquired new stories and details.

"They flew about 20-25 miles and disappeared from sight. About three minutes I watched as the chain moving like saucers on the water, as if thrown flat stones, objects, stretching for at least 5 miles, maneuvered between the high mountain peaks. They were flat as pans, and, like a mirror, reflected the rays of the sun. I saw it all quite clearly and distinctly." they described their observations K. Arnold

Strict division of the children's and adult folklore in American urban legends is not noticeable. Among children and adolescents circulate the same stories that among adults. However, among adults is still considerably less possible to meet people, causing spirits or going to the graveyard or abandoned house with the purpose to tickle your nerves. Therefore, the most significant among the teen-children's folklore is the story of Bloody Mary is very similar to the legend of the Queen of spades, common in Russia. The rules of the summoning are as follows: "Look straight in the mirror and say three times: "Bloody Mary, come to me!" When you say these words a third time, you will see Mary behind your left shoulder." It is believed that it is very risky because it can kill the caller.

Thus, in urban legends of the US there aren't a lot of stories that have not been borrowed from other cultures. However, thanks to film, comics and American culture contributes to their differentiation and promotion. A distinctive feature of the urban legends of America can be called a frequent presence in the story the exact date of a particular incident that gives the opportunity to filter the actual components of the described case from the rumors, which he has acquired in the process of retelling.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»