Top 10 Scariest Urban Legends From Around The World

There are countless urban legends out there. Many urban legends have been passed down from generation to generation and it’s impossible to know which ones are true and which ones are false. But that doesn’t stop people from being scared of them! Some are more well-known than others, but all of them are creepy and unsettling. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the top 10 scariest urban legends from around the world.

The La Llorona of Mexico

The La Llorona is a figure in Mexican folklore who is said to haunt the country, killing children who cross her path. The legend of La Llorona is popular, and there are many different versions of the story. Some say that she is the spirit of a woman who drowned her own children, while others say that she is a woman who was jilted by her husband and took her own life. Regardless of the origin story, the La Llorona is a fearsome figure who is said to prowl the country, looking for innocents to take.

The legend of the La Llorona has been passed down for generations, and there are many who still believe that she is out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike. If you’re ever in Mexico, be sure to keep an eye out for her.

Krasue – Thailand

This scary legend originates from Thailand. The Krasue is a vengeful spirit that takes the form of a woman with her internal organs dangling from her neck. She floats through the air and preys on human beings, especially those who are sleeping. 

The legend says that she was once a beautiful woman, but she was cursed and her head became detached from her body. The Krasue is the spirit of a woman who died while pregnant and is cursed to roam the earth forever. It is said that she was either murdered or committed suicide.

This creature is said to have a long tongue which it uses to suck the blood of its victims, and its internal organs are said to be visible through its translucent skin. The Krasue is said to be afraid of the light, and will only come out at night.

The Blood-Sucking Legend of the Philippines

The Philippines is home to many different legends and myths. One of these is the legend of the Aswang, a blood-sucking creature that is said to prowl the night in search of its next victim.

The Aswang is just one of many different creatures that are part of Filipino folklore. It is said to be a shape-shifter, able to take on the form of a human or an animal. It is also said to be able to fly, and its favorite food is said to be human blood.

The Aswang is said to be active at night, and it is said to be attracted to the sound of screaming. It is also said to be able to kill with just a glance.

There have been many sightings of the Aswang over the years, but there is no proof that this creature actually exists.

Japan’s Kuchisake Onna

Japan’s Kuchisake Onna, or “Slit-Mouthed Woman”, is a terrifying legend that has been around for centuries. According to the legend, Kuchisake Onna was a beautiful woman who was disfigured by her husband. He cut her mouth from ear to ear, giving her a permanent smile.

Kuchisake Onna is said to wander the streets, preying on children. She will approach them and ask, “Am I pretty?” If the child says no, she will kill them. If the child says yes, she will slit their mouth from ear to ear, just like hers.

The legend of Kuchisake Onna is so popular that there have been several reports of sightings of her across Japan. In 2007, there was even a mass panic in Japan after several children reported seeing her.

Whether she is real or not, Kuchisake Onna is definitely one of the scariest urban legends from around the world.

Teke Teke- Japanese Urban Legend

Teke Teke is believed to be the spirit of a woman or schoolgirl who was killed by an approaching car after falling on a railway line. The vengeful soul, outraged by her early demise, now spends the nights haunting cities and railway stations. 

She drags herself on her hands and elbows because she no longer has legs, producing a terrifying “teke-teke” sound. If you come across Teke Teke, flee! If the evil spirit catches you, she will use a sickle to cut you in half. She is incredibly fast, despite her lack of legs, and has been known for keeping up with the speed of cars.

In some versions of the narrative, If she asks where her legs are, you must respond “Meishin Expressway” in order to live. In less fortunate instances, your only hope of surviving is to outrun her, which is impossible.

The Ghostly Hitchhiker of Brazil

The Ghostly Hitchhiker of Brazil is a famous urban legend in Brazil.

It has been told that if you are going from one town to another and you stop in the middle of the road for some reason, you will see the ghostly figure of a woman. If this happens, she will try to get into your car even without a ride and if she does, she will report that her name is Maria Elizabeth da Veiga. After that, she will tell you to take her home because it is not safe there. Then she will disappear again when you arrive at her destination.

The Black-Eyed Children – United States

Black-eyed children, also known as black-eyed kids, are paranormal entities who resemble kids between the ages of 6 and 16, with pale skin, and black eyes, and have been spotted wandering or begging, or on the doorsteps of residences.

They are said to approach strangers and ask to be let into their homes. If the person refuses, the children are said to become violent.

The Skin-Walker of Navajo Legend

The Skin-Walker of Navajo Legend is an urban legend that is widely spread among the Navajo Indians. It has been told that Skin-Walkers are able to transform themselves into any animal they want and they can also take over the body of a human being, but only for a limited time.

This legend was first told by elders and it was used as a warning to children. They were taught not to be alone at night because Skin-Walkers would come get them and turn them into animals or scare them until they died from fear.

The legend goes that a person who has the power to shape-shift walks up to you, offers you some food, and when you refuse, they take off their skin and put it on you. Once they put the skin on your body, they can control your movements. The only way to get rid of the skin is by cutting off the head of the person who put it on you.

Singapore’s Pontianak

The Pontianak is a Malaysian, Singaporean, and Indonesian urban legend. The term “Pontianak” has been derived from the Malay word for ghost, “pontianak” which means “woman who died in childbirth”. 

One of the earliest mentions of the Pontianak was in a 19th-century Malay manuscript entitled Hikayat Abdullah. The protagonist Abdullah, after being bitten by a snake, is told by the village’s kampung-head that he will die soon and tells him about pontianaks. 

He recounts a story of a woman from the nearby town who would come to visit her sister-in-law to give birth, but she died in childbirth. Her baby was dead but the husband wanted it buried with her and was greedy for money, so he took out his wife’s breast milk and sold it for a lot of gold. Legend has it that these female ghosts would come out to take revenge on men by killing them.

Thailand’s Nang Tani

Nang Tani is a young beautiful spirit frequently seen in traditional Thai green clothing. Nang Tani lives amid a grove of wild banana trees known as Tani. She is a lovely spirit who has been known to bring food to monks during their morning alms. 

Legend has it that if given the chance, Nang Tani will come out and punish bad men who have wronged or abused women, despite the fact that she will only display her appearance during a full moon. 

People typically tie a length of colored satin cloth around the trunks of trees suspected of being haunted by them. Her banana tree can be found in rural areas, however, her fruits are not edible. Cutting down her tree is frowned upon by the locals, who believe it will bring bad luck and a late-night visit from an enraged Nang Tani.

Conclusion

Urban legends are spooky stories that are typically passed around in person or online. These are just a few of the many scary urban legends around the world. Be sure to be careful if you ever hear one of these legends, because they may be more than just stories!