Urban legends have been around for quite some time, haunting children in their nightmares. However, there are two specific legends that will leave you frightened and constantly checking behind you. Here are the two of the most notorious legends and their stories.

La Llorona is an old Mexican urban legend that translates to “The Weeping Woman.” La Llorona’s original name was Maria. Maria was stunningly beautiful and had captivated the attention of a very wealthy man. They had fallen in love and gave birth to two sons. After the birth of their sons, The man had become bored of Maria. He packed his stuff and moved away, leaving Maria heartbroken. The man only visited to see his two sons, never acknowledging Maria. This caused her to despise her sons. One day, as Maria and her sons were walking on a trail, The man strolled by with a new woman only acknowledging the boys and ignoring Maria. This caused Maria to go into a rage. She grabbed her sons and drowned them in a nearby river. As she watched her sons’ bodies drift away, she had realized what she had done. Maria cried day and night for her sons. She died on the river bank searching for her sons.  Her ghost is said to be seen at rivers, and her cries can be heard. Children are told to stay away from the rivers because La Llorona will grab them thinking they are her sons. When she realizes they are not, she drowns them. It is said that if you hear the cries of La Llorona that you are her next victim.

The Candyman is an American urban legend. Daniel Robitaille was a slave from New Orleans. Daniel had fallen in love with his plantation owner’s daughter, Caroline. Daniel and Caroline had a forbidden relationship. Caroline was carrying Daniel’s child. Once the plantation owner found out about their affair, he gathered a mob and tortured Daniel. They cut off his right hand, poured honey on him and threw him into a beehive while singing and chanting “Candyman”. Daniel was in excruciating pain. Before he passed out, he cursed the plantation owner and his mob. Daniel is now known as The Candyman. He has a hook for a right hand, and it is said that if you stand in front of a mirror with the lights off and say “Candyman” 3 times, he will appear and seek revenge for his death.