The Top 6 Urban Myths

Urban myths, also known as urban legends, have always fascinated people. In past times, rumors about malevolent creatures like werewolves or witches that flew through the sky on brooms, and bizarre beings like the basilisk were urban legends. Today’s modern folktales are less fantastic, and more realistic. Here is some facts about every urban legend, and they warn you about.. Join us as we explore six of the top urban legends, and the horrifying truth about them. 

What is an Urban Myth?

Urban myths are stories about things that can and sometimes have happened, but these stories come with some of the facts greatly exaggerated. They are almost always based on real stories, but urban myths are told from one person to the next, and each person who tells these stories tells them differently. Over time, the stories change by growing, and the initial facts are combined with things people have contributed to them, some of which will have started off as white lies. When enough time goes on, people sometimes forget the original incident that started the urban legend in the first place. Urban legends are often about tragic or dangerous scenarios and are used to warn people to be careful. The stories say that the worst things possible could happen to people if they don’t take the warning the urban legend gives.

The History of Urban Myths

Urban myths and legends have always been around, but the first time the term “urban legend” is known to have been used in print was in 1968 by folklorist and professor Richard Dorson. He believed folklore was rooted in history and should be examined. The term “urban legend” later became popular because of the writings of another educator, named Jan Harold Brunvand, who published books on various urban legends, including The Vanishing Hitchhiker. 

Urban legends begin by word of mouth, with friends and neighbors sharing details with one another. Today, these stories are circulated in books, articles, and news stories. The earliest urban legends were usuallystories about heroes. One such hero written about was Gilgamesh, who is now believed to have been a great king and hero whose life was so revered, he was deified. It is believed he lived in the second millennium BCE and was a king in Uruk in Sumeria. He is named in The Sumerian King List and was credited with rebuilding the walls of Uruk. It was written that he was so well-loved, he was buried in the sacred riverbed of the Euphrates, and the flow of the river was diverted, so he could be laid to rest there.

Epic myths speak of heroes like Gilgamesh with superhuman strengths, who were probably at one time ordinary humans who just found ways to persevere through great difficulties and help to uplift their communities. Literature professor Joseph Campbell believed myths were humanity’s way of understanding reality, that myths heal us, and myths are “mankind’s one great story.”

Urban myths are newer myths, but they function the same way myths from history do. They help us to explain what is happening, and when details are missing, we fill in the spaces with what we think might have happened. We have always created myths and we always will. Today’s modern urban legends will become the legends of the past, told in folklore books and in classical literature.

The Most Well-Known Urban Myths

People have always had frightful stories they share, and today’s urban legends are just as popular as those of history. It is impossible to name all the urban legends of today, but some hold our imaginations captive more than others. Perhaps urban myths are told to entertain more than they are told to frighten people, but they seem to serve both purposes. The most popular urban legends express concern about things that could harm us today in our modern world, as opposed to telling stories about things like a king from centuries ago.

Conclusion

Urban myths might not have all the facts correct, but they do hold some truth. Maybe Bigfoot or the Yeti don’t exist, but scientists discover new species all the time, one day they might be real. There have not been incidents reported of Halloween candy being poisoned, but not all strangers can be trusted to have good intentions. An apparition in the mirror can’t drink your blood, but it is unwise to conjure spirits whose energy and objectives you don’t know. It is never a good idea to be alone with a stranger, and there is always a chance somebody hitchhiking is a dangerous individual, and might even be a spirit. Always check the backseat of your car before you get in, because thefts and kidnappings do happen.

Are you suspicious that some malevolent forces are at play, but you need validation from a psychic medium about a spirit’s intention? Are you concerned you might be in danger, and you want an intuitive to clear things up for you? Look no further than Mysticsense. What’s even better is if you sign on as a new client today, you get five free minutes that you can apply to a reading. 

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