With access to social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the Internet itself, it is no surprise that a game called “Charlie Charlie” has made its way to our shores. Samoa News has received calls from concerned parents and residents about this supposedly ‘satanic’ game.

According to online reports, the game is an old Mexican tradition, a supernatural ritual that is used to contact ghosts. It is known by various names, such as ”‘Six Pencils”, “Charlie Charlie are you there?” or “The Charlie Challenge”. Some people believe that you are contacting the spirit of a young boy who killed himself, while others believe this ritual is dangerous and that you are in fact, contacting a demon.

A local concerned parent told Samoa News that this game is becoming more and more popular with the young children here in American Samoa. “I believe that this is not a game. It is something more and kids should not be playing it. Some people said to me that I am weak in my Christian faith because this scares me. That is why I do not want my name mentioned, because of the ridicule I will receive,” she said.

Another parent stated, “I know that kids will be kids. But we as parents have to monitor their every move. I am glad that my kids asked me about this game before playing it and I told them the same thing that I have been telling them for their whole lives — stay away from things you know nothing about. As a parent, this is very concerning.”

There were also people that said this is just a game and you can’t believe anything you get off the Internet. (Apparently, the Internet is where the game was first seen and taken from by the kids here in the territory). A few people with young children even scoffed when asked if their children ever played this game. “Child’s play. Harmless,” said one parent.

Samoa News asked some 4th and 5th graders if they had ever played the game Charlie Charlie and they all stated yes. “One time, me and me and my friends played it, but nothing happened while we were playing the game. But after I got home I had bad dreams,” said a 5th grader. Said a 4th grader, “I played it and nothing happened to me. I don’t want to play it again.”

Samoa News was told of one incident when the game was being played, where all of the doors and windows of the house they were in, became locked.

CHARLIE CHARLIE

“Charlie Charlie” is played much like the popular Ouija board game (or spirit board/talking board) which is a flat board marked with the letters of the alphabet, the numbers 0-9, and the words ‘yes’, ‘no’, and ‘hello’, along with various symbols and graphics. It uses a planchette (small heart shaped piece of wood or plastic) as a movable indicator to indicate a spirit’s message by spelling it out on the board during a seance — usually with more than one participant. A participant then asks a question while placing their fingers on the planchette, which then moves, to the various ‘markings’ on the board, supposedly directed by an unknown force, to answer the question.

The Charlie Charlie game is not as elaborate as the Ouija board game but has the same concept, which is to attempt to make contact with the unknown.

Some young students showed Samoa News how to play the Charlie Charlie game, on Wednesday when questioned about it.

According to what Samoa News was shown, it is played by taking a piece of paper and drawing two lines on it, forming a cross. You then write word ‘yes’ in the upper left and lower right squares while writing the ‘no’ in the other two squares. You then place a pencil on the lines going left to right and balance another pencil on top of it along the line going up and down.

At that time you chant out loud, “Charlie, Charlie, can we play?” Once again, supposedly Charlie will either make the pencil move to yes or no. If yes, then you can ask it yes or no questions and it will answer. To end the game, you must chant, “Charlie, Charlie, can we stop?” When you get a yes, you say goodbye and remove the pencils from the paper to break contact. If he says no, you keep trying until you get a yes.

Samoa News will be keeping track of this Charlie Charlie game. Perhaps it’s the Real Deal—or just another kids’ game.