An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend is a genre of folklore comprising stories circulated as true, especially as having happened to a friend or family member, often with horrifying or humorous elements. These legends can be entertainment, but often concern mysterious peril or troubling events, such as disappearances and strange objects. They may also be confirmation of moral standards, or reflect prejudices, or be a way to make sense of societal anxieties.
Urban legends are most often circulated orally but can be spread by any media, including newspapers, mobile news apps, e-mail, and social media. Some urban legends have passed through the years with only minor changes to suit regional variations. Recent legends tend to reflect modern circumstances: for instance, the common legend of a person being ambushed and anesthetized, only to wake up and realize that they are now missing a kidney that was supposedly surgically removed for transplantation.
Source: Wikipedia
The White Lady of Kinsale Her spectral form, a chilling reminder of love lost, haunts the cobblestone streets of Kinsale. The White Lady of Kinsale – Data Urban Legend Name: The White Lady of Kinsale Origin Location: Kinsale, Ireland First Mention Year: Unknown Peak Popularity: Present Type: Ghost TheUrban Where modern folklore […]
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Hanako-san The echoing silence of an empty bathroom is shattered by a soft knock, three times. Hanako-san – Data Urban Legend Name: Hanako-san Origin Location: Japan First Mention Year: Unknown Peak Popularity: 1980s-1990s Type: Ghost TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher of urban legends, contemporary folklore, and the unexplained. More
Cow Tipping In the dark, even the most harmless creatures can become terrifying. Cow Tipping – Data Urban Legend Name: Cow Tipping Origin Location: United States First Mention Year: 1970s Peak Popularity: 1980s-1990s Type: Cryptid TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher of urban legends, contemporary folklore, and the unexplained. More
The Legend of John Fare Beware the roads at night, for John Fare may be lurking. The Legend of John Fare – Data Urban Legend Name: The Legend of John Fare Origin Location: United States First Mention Year: Unknown Peak Popularity: 1960s-1970s Type: Ghost TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher
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Madam Koi Koi The murky waters of the Louisiana swamps hide more than just their secrets. Madam Koi Koi – Data Urban Legend Name: Madam Koi Koi Origin Location: Louisiana swamps First Mention Year: Unknown Peak Popularity: 1950s-1970s Type: Cryptid TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher of urban legends, contemporary
Guegue Beneath the dense canopy, something unseen watches, waiting. Guegue – Data Urban Legend Name: Guegue Origin Location: Amazon rainforest, Brazil First Mention Year: Unknown Peak Popularity: Present Type: Cryptid TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher of urban legends, contemporary folklore, and the unexplained. More Post by TheUrban Guegue –
La Llorona Her wails echo through the night, a chilling reminder of her eternal sorrow. La Llorona – Data Urban Legend Name: La Llorona Origin Location: Mesoamerica, later spread throughout Latin America and the United States First Mention Year: Unknown (originated in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica) Peak Popularity: 16th-19th centuries Type: Ghost TheUrban Where
Herobrine In the endless blocks of Minecraft, something sinister lurks. Herobrine – Data Urban Legend Name: Herobrine Origin Location: Internet (global) First Mention Year: 2010 Peak Popularity: 2010-2015 Type: Cryptid TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher of urban legends, contemporary folklore, and the unexplained. More Post by TheUrban Herobrine – Story In the
Red Mercury In the shadowy world of espionage, one substance has long been whispered about: red mercury. Red Mercury – Data Urban Legend Name: Red Mercury Origin Location: Soviet Union First Mention Year: 1989 Peak Popularity: Late 1980s to early 1990s Type: Cursed Object/Location TheUrban Where modern folklore meets the unexplained Researcher
Lampshades Made from Human Skin The soft glow of the lamp belied the chilling story it illuminated. Lampshades Made from Human Skin – Data Urban Legend Name: Lampshades Made from Human Skin Origin Location: No specific location is consistently associated with this legend. First Mention Year: Unknown Peak Popularity: 1950s-1970s Type: Body
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