Charlie Charlie Challenge
Charlie Charlie ChallengeTwitter

A dubious Ouija-board inspired game ― Charlie Charlie Challenge ― has taken the Internet by storm.

Thousands of youngsters have been playing this game, fuelled by the 'spooky' claim that its players are able to connect with a dead Mexican spirit known as Charlie.

On Twitter, #CharlieCharlieChallenge is one of the most shared trends with hundreds of youngsters sharing tweets, videos and memes on the popular 'creepy' game.

How to play #CharlieCharlieChallenge?

The game, which clearly seems to have its origin from the widely played Ouija-board games is claimed to be an "ancient Mexican tradition."

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According to pencils.com, before starting the game players must chant "Charlie, Charlie, can we play?" twice, and wait to see if the crossed pencil points towards "Yes" or "No".
If the pencils point towards "Yes", they may ask questions.

To play the game, there has to be more than one player. Place two pencils on a piece of paper in the shape of a cross, with "Yes" or "No" written inside a square drawn on the paper.

The most important rule of the game is to ask Charlie's permission before stopping the game. The players must ask "Charlie, Charlie can we stop?" They can stop playing the game only when Charlie says "Yes".

After this, they must drop the pencils to the floor so "the demon portal to his or her own home hasn't been left wide open forever."

Here is an explanation found by a Redditor- mgmfa on how to play the Charlie Charlie Challenge:

The best explanation I have found is here.

You've probably heard of using a Ouija board to contact spirits, but I bet you haven't heard of using pencils to have your questions answered by supernatural beings! The Pencil Game, also called "Charlie, Charlie," is a traditional Mexican ritual wherein players (usually children) are said to contact the spirit of a child named Charlie.

To play The Pencil Game, you will need six pencils and a partner. Facing each other, each person must hold three pencils and arrange them as three sides of a box, with the open end facing the other person. It is best to use unsharpened pencils, or to hold the tips so that the eraser ends are pointed toward your partner. The ends of your pencils will need to touch your partner's to form a complete rectangle.

To begin the game, both players must chant: "Charlie, Charlie, can we play?" If the pencils move inward or up, the answer is yes. If they move outward or down, the answer is no. If one side goes one way and the other side goes a different way, it means maybe or the question can't be answered at this time. You can then ask the spirit of Charlie yes or no questions, and he will respond by moving the pencils. Charlie is kind of like the spirit world version of a Magic 8 ball. To end the game, both players must chant: "Charlie, Charlie, can we stop?" After the pencils move, both players drop all of the pencils on the floor to break contact with Charlie.

How does the pencil move?

While several 'rather spooked' social media users have posted video and tweets claiming that the pencil actually has moved, in reality there is nothing supernatural about it.

Here is an explanation by another reddit user on what makes the pencil move:

Here's an explanation for the Ouija board. I imagine that this is very similar. If you're playing the six pencil game then you're actually moving the pencils yourself.
As for the version with two pencils in a cross shape, it's just simply someone blowing on it - again not on purpose. Try it yourself, get two pencils on top of each other and see how little effort it takes to blow on one to make it spin. Now imagine 5 or 6 people sitting around scared shitless, holding their breath in anticipation, then one breathes out and bam! Everyone loses their shit.

Twitter Reactions

ş a f f ŕ ό n έ l l ‏@saffronelle_xo 

I'm scared for the people who doing the Charlie Charlie challenge

remmie ‏@mulliniallgars

IF yoURE GOING TO DO THE CHARLIE CHARLIE CHALLENGE DON'T FORGET TO SAY "GOODBYE CHARLIE" #charliecharliechallenge

Perry Wood ‏@_PerryWood 

What utter the bullshit there is no such thing as God's, demons, ghosts, spirits or that bollocks Unless I see

She'sCoolie ‏@ayezannii 

Everybody doing the Charlie Charlie Challenge and instead of saying goodbye to the demon, they running away.

gwen ‏@tmhblount 

the sequel to the movie ouija should be about the charlie charlie challenge LMAO OK

_ayek. ‏@bruhh01

Still don't get this Charlie Charlie challenge thing work? What did I miss?

Steve Marks ll ‏@stevemarks27 

I think people are gonna be using their pencils for the charlie charlie challenge instead of their finals today

Myra Amler ‏@mamler 

Spent way too much time yesterday telling middle school children that the "Charlie, Charlie Challenge" is bogus.