What are the origins of some famous ghost pictures and stories?

The Bloody Mary story has various origins. Some believe it started as a superstition about a woman named Mary who was either a witch or a victim of a cruel death. People would say her name three times in a mirror to summon her. It might also have roots in old pagan rituals related to divination using mirrors.

The most famous ghost picture might be the 'Cottingley Fairies'. In 1917, two young girls took pictures that seemed to show them interacting with fairies. Many people initially believed these to be real spirits. As for stories, the Tower of London has numerous ghost tales. Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded there, is said to haunt the place. People claim to have seen her headless figure wandering around the tower.

Take La Llorona again. Its origin can be traced back to Mexican and Central American cultures. It was a cautionary tale told to children to make them behave. The story was passed down through generations orally, and over time, it became a well - known ghost story across different Hispanic regions.

For the haunted hospital, it could be due to the fact that hospitals are places where life and death occur frequently. When the hospital was abandoned, the memories and perhaps some unexplained events during its operation made people start to believe it was haunted. People's fear of the unknown and the morbidity associated with hospitals contribute to the creation and spread of these ghost stories.

There's the picture of the Tulip Staircase Ghost. In the photo, it looks like a figure is climbing the stairs. The story is that the staircase is in a very old building, and people have reported seeing a ghostly figure there for years. It's one of those pictures that makes you wonder if there really are spirits among us.

The Amityville Horror also has some supposed 'ghost pictures'. In the story of the Amityville house, a family experienced terrifying paranormal events. There were pictures that some claimed showed strange mists or figures. However, there has been a lot of controversy around these pictures, with some suggesting they were faked for publicity. But the story itself, of the family being haunted by the ghosts of the previous victims of a murder in the house, has been widely spread.

In Norse mythology, there is the story of the creation of the world from the body of the giant Ymir. Odin and his brothers kill Ymir and use his body parts to create the world, which is a very interesting ancient origins story full of vivid and wild imagery.

Religious beliefs also play a part in the origins of Midwestern ghost stories. In the past, some religious teachings about the afterlife and the existence of spirits could have inspired people to create or believe in ghost stories. For example, the idea of purgatory in some Christian beliefs might have led to stories of restless spirits in Midwestern areas. Additionally, superstitions passed down through generations within families and communities contributed to the growth of these stories. People would tell their children about haunted places as a way to warn them or just to pass on local lore.

Many Alberta ghost stories have their origins in tragic events. For example, the stories in the old hotels often come from deaths that occurred on the premises, like the bride at the Banff Springs Hotel. The deaths were so sudden and tragic that it's believed the spirits remained. Some stories from mines might be due to the dangerous working conditions back then, and the miners' deaths were so numerous that their presence is still felt.

Virginia's Native American history also contributes to ghost stories. There were many tribes in Virginia before European colonization. When the Europeans arrived, there were battles, displacements, and the loss of native cultures. Some of the more remote areas that were once important to the Native Americans are said to be haunted. It could be that the spirits of the native people who once thrived there are still present. Their connection to the land was so strong, and perhaps they are trying to hold on to what was once theirs, even in the form of these ghostly tales.