One man tag.

ginanubismon · Thu 03/09/2009 21:31:43

Ah, the air is getting cooler, day is shorter, leaves are changing colors and all of that poetic fall garbage talk and that means one thing.

Time for ghosts.

And being September also usually means it is time for the Hungry Ghost festival at my house, which food is put out and hell money is burned and departed family (and friends) are welcomed in. And in honor of this time and everything else to do with spooks (obon, all hollow's eve, day of the dead and the fore mentioned Hungry Ghost Festival) I will share a game, a test really, of courage.

A word of warning though, this can get dangerous so make sure to have A) your friends nearby in case something happens, )B leave your windows and doors shut and C) leave some like a radio or tv on.

Things you need: A doll, any thing with movable limbs will work, a lot of rice, hair clippings, finger nail clippings, red string, a cup of salt water (full), a sharp object like a knife or a scissors, an area blessed (religion of choice) and a tub full of water.

First thing you do is hollow out a doll and replace the insides with rice, place hair and clippings inside and stitch it up with the red string then bind the body up with more red string, place the doll in the tub filled with water and say "I'm it" over and over then go to your blessed area of the house and wait a few minutes before coming back and cut the string that binds the doll and tell it that it's it (say that five times fast) then go back to your hiding spot.

To end the game, and you have to do this, you must take the glass of salt water and place half of the glass in your mouth then find the doll. When you do spit on the doll with the water, then pour the rest of the glass on it while saying "I won", repeat saying it over and over (usually it is three times but keep going to be safe) then destroy the doll by burning it.

And if you want, or need, to know where the doll is just turn on a tv or radio, for some reason it tends to screw with the signal.

Well, that is basically all I really want to say. If anyone has a comment, or their own courage game/test/challenge for the coming ghost season (fall) just go ahead and post.

Chicky · Thu 03/09/2009 21:40:55

Sounds fun! Who cares if this works or not, i like freaking myself out.

Nikolas · Thu 03/09/2009 22:15:53

I guess that parents will be freaked out as well as wives, for those who have it. Can you imagine a house filled with water, burned out material, droped rice everywhere and a tv that won't work?

discordance · Thu 03/09/2009 22:30:12

Ahhh! I'm scared just thinking about it. And it would probably elicit some strange looks from those around me if they didn't understand exactly what I was doing. "Yep, guys, just, uh, making a doll and stuff. The TV signal should come back soon, I hope."

Phemar · Thu 03/09/2009 23:16:59

No offense, but this sounds retarded

Andail · Fri 04/09/2009 14:57:41

I've done this every Tuesday morning, for years. Didn't know it was a known ritual.

Anian · Fri 04/09/2009 14:59:05

Quote from: Andail on Fri 04/09/2009 14:57:41
I've done this every Tuesday morning, for years. Didn't know it was a known ritual.

Quote from: Phemar on Thu 03/09/2009 23:16:59
No offense, but this sounds retarded

Well not retarded, but sure sounds like someone needs friends.

SSH · Fri 04/09/2009 15:03:45

Which religions are officially recognised by ghosts for making your blessed area? Does FSM count?

Anian · Fri 04/09/2009 15:07:10

Quote from: SSH on Fri 04/09/2009 15:03:45
Which religions are officially recognised by ghosts for making your blessed area? Does FSM count?

I think "voodoo" is a safe bet. Even the lower dieties included. But you can always leavea window opened and it'll go searching for you outside the house...dolls are stupid that way.

FSM? Maybe if you put meat and tomatoes instead of rice in the doll.

SSH · Fri 04/09/2009 17:07:38

Quote from: anian on Fri 04/09/2009 15:07:10
Even the lower dieties included.

Dieties? Like Dr Atkins?

Khris · Fri 04/09/2009 20:05:34

When are you going to tell us about the part where courage is tested?

Atelier · Fri 04/09/2009 20:16:39

What's the Hungry Ghost Festival? It sounds interesting.

Anian · Fri 04/09/2009 20:21:24

Quote from: SSH on Fri 04/09/2009 17:07:38Dieties? Like Dr Atkins?

I meant "deities", you spelling nazi.

monkey0506 · Fri 04/09/2009 20:28:35

Quote from: anian on Fri 04/09/2009 20:21:24you spelling nazi.

Hey, you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.

By the way, this is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard of. What happens if you don't burn the doll, eh?

SSH, were you born in Germany too?

Atelier · Fri 04/09/2009 20:31:22

The nail clippings inside will rot and start to smell?

Chicky · Fri 04/09/2009 20:51:41

I can get a similar result from going to the local run down chinese takeaway.

Stupot · Fri 04/09/2009 21:32:20

This reminds me of when I was about 12, and me and my mate were too scared to say 'Candyman' five times in the mirror. We'd always threaten to, and then chicken out, replacing the 5th Candyman with 'cameraman' or 'candyfloss' or something similar.

But, yeh, anyway... the point is... I was 12.

discordance · Fri 04/09/2009 21:37:24

Quote from: monkey_05_06 on Fri 04/09/2009 20:28:35

By the way, this is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard of. What happens if you don't burn the doll, eh?

The doll comes to life and eats your children.

auriond · Sat 05/09/2009 01:27:27

Quote from: AtelierGames on Fri 04/09/2009 20:16:39
What's the Hungry Ghost Festival? It sounds interesting.

Among the Taoist/Buddhist Chinese community, there is a belief that during the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the hell gates open and the spirits of the dead walk the earth. And they're hungry. Hence the Hungry Ghost Festival. We living types have to burn offerings and put on performances to appease them.

Interesting factoid: the Hungry Ghost Festival is no longer practised in China (the urban areas anyway) because of the communist ideology. My students from China are fascinated to see us still practising these old traditions. So actually, things like the Hungry Ghost Festival live on in expatriate Chinese communities.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Sat 05/09/2009 07:52:11

Why hair and fingernails? Why not a bag of human blood or a sheep's stomach or something?

Traditions like this just remind me of the days when I used to read pap voodoo books about making gris-gris and removing hexes. A novel source of entertainment but the ingredients are always bizarre for added 'oh, this must really work' effect.