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19: Games We Shouldn’t Have Played
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Remember those creepy games we dared each other to play at sleepovers — Bloody Mary in the bathroom mirror, the Pencil Cross game at school, or hiding from a possessed doll in the dark?In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore the origins and unsettling folklore behind the games we were warned never to play.From the mirror rituals that trace back to old divination practices, to the Japanese legend of Hitori Kakurenbo — “One-Man Hide and Seek” — where dolls become vessels for the dead, these so-called “games” blur the line between childhood curiosity and ancient superstition.We’ll uncover how these traditions evolved from European love omens and séance parlor tricks to modern internet dares, and why we keep playing them — even when we know something might be watching back.👁️ “Three Games We Shouldn’t Have Played” —Because sometimes, playtime opens the wrong door.🔦 Listen wherever you stream your favorite spooky stories.🎃 Follow @LetsTalkSpooky on TikTok and Instagram for episode visuals, behind-the-scenes lore, and listener submissions.
📚 Sources & References:
- Ellis, Bill. Lucifer Ascending: The Occult in Folklore and Popular Culture. University Press of Kentucky, 2004.
- Dundes, Alan. Bloody Mary in the Mirror: A Ritual Reflection of Pre-Pubescent Anxiety. Western Folklore, Vol. 57, No. 2/3 (1998), pp. 119–135.
- Bennett, Gillian. Alas, Poor Ghost! Traditions of Belief in Story and Discourse. Utah State University Press, 1999.
- Yoda, Hiroko. “Hitori Kakurenbo: The Deadly Game of Hide and Seek.” Japan Subculture Research Center, 2008.
- Radford, Benjamin. Mysterious New Mexico: Miracles, Magic, and Monsters in the Land of Enchantment. University of New Mexico Press, 2014.
- Foster, Michael Dylan. Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yōkai. University of California Press, 2009.
- Reddit r/Paranormal community discussions (2009–2018): eyewitness accounts of Hitori Kakurenbo experiences and mirror-game phenomena.
- BBC Future. “Why We Can’t Stop Playing Cursed Games.” October 2021.
- Smithsonian Magazine. “The Creepy Origins of Bloody Mary.” October 2019.
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By Shauna TaylorSend us a text
Remember those creepy games we dared each other to play at sleepovers — Bloody Mary in the bathroom mirror, the Pencil Cross game at school, or hiding from a possessed doll in the dark?In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore the origins and unsettling folklore behind the games we were warned never to play.From the mirror rituals that trace back to old divination practices, to the Japanese legend of Hitori Kakurenbo — “One-Man Hide and Seek” — where dolls become vessels for the dead, these so-called “games” blur the line between childhood curiosity and ancient superstition.We’ll uncover how these traditions evolved from European love omens and séance parlor tricks to modern internet dares, and why we keep playing them — even when we know something might be watching back.👁️ “Three Games We Shouldn’t Have Played” —Because sometimes, playtime opens the wrong door.🔦 Listen wherever you stream your favorite spooky stories.🎃 Follow @LetsTalkSpooky on TikTok and Instagram for episode visuals, behind-the-scenes lore, and listener submissions.
📚 Sources & References:
- Ellis, Bill. Lucifer Ascending: The Occult in Folklore and Popular Culture. University Press of Kentucky, 2004.
- Dundes, Alan. Bloody Mary in the Mirror: A Ritual Reflection of Pre-Pubescent Anxiety. Western Folklore, Vol. 57, No. 2/3 (1998), pp. 119–135.
- Bennett, Gillian. Alas, Poor Ghost! Traditions of Belief in Story and Discourse. Utah State University Press, 1999.
- Yoda, Hiroko. “Hitori Kakurenbo: The Deadly Game of Hide and Seek.” Japan Subculture Research Center, 2008.
- Radford, Benjamin. Mysterious New Mexico: Miracles, Magic, and Monsters in the Land of Enchantment. University of New Mexico Press, 2014.
- Foster, Michael Dylan. Pandemonium and Parade: Japanese Monsters and the Culture of Yōkai. University of California Press, 2009.
- Reddit r/Paranormal community discussions (2009–2018): eyewitness accounts of Hitori Kakurenbo experiences and mirror-game phenomena.
- BBC Future. “Why We Can’t Stop Playing Cursed Games.” October 2021.
- Smithsonian Magazine. “The Creepy Origins of Bloody Mary.” October 2019.