Legend Tripping - The Legend Trip

The Legend Trip

The legend trip itself is usually made by foot, by groups of at least three adolescents. On the way to the site, the legend is usually retold, and additional legends are told that tell of the frightening consequences of past legend trips to the site. Sometimes, sexual experimentation is part of the legend trip; like horror movies or frightening amusement rides, the legend trip environment encourages people to get closer. Alcohol or drug use also may take place.

Once the legend trippers arrive, they spend some part of the night there, and perform the ritual if one is prescribed as a means of daring and testing the evil spirit that haunts the place. The rituals are varied; in legend trips to cemeteries, there is usually a specific grave that the legend attaches to, and sometimes a tombstone that must be climbed, stepped on, sat on, or moved. As they retreat, they interpret any strange sounds, shadows, events, or dreams as evidence that the evil spirit has in fact been adequately tempted. Sometimes the grave is said to have the power to "heal" itself; if a legend tripper returns to the site, and the tombstone has been restored to its original position, the legend has been confirmed.

If the experience is well done, everyone leaves both scared out of their wits, believing that something uncanny did in fact happen as a result of the nocturnal rite, and most importantly, convinced of their own courage: they have successfully invoked and defied whatever haunts that place. They now have a story to tell, and a tradition to pass on to their immediate juniors.