Ah, the wild imaginations of today’s youth.
A new game called “Charlie Charlie” (alternatively “Charly Charly”) is sweeping grade schools nationwide and has become the single most Googled thing this week as parents scramble to figure out what it is. You play simply by crossing two pencils on a quadrant of “Yes” and “No” squares and asking an imaginary demon an arbitrary question. (Imagine Ouija lite.)
The game is rumored to be a playground favorite in the Spanish-speaking world, but there have been mixed accounts on precisely where it originated. Its surge in popularity is likely just a product of social media virality.
According to BBC Mundo’s Maria Elena Navez, the game is the brainchild of some inventive American children and has little to do with Mexican folklore.
“There's no demon called 'Charlie' in Mexico," she says. "Mexican legends often come from ancient Aztec and Maya history, or from the many beliefs that began circulating during the Spanish conquest. In Mexican mythology you can find gods with names like 'Tlaltecuhtli' or 'Tezcatlipoca' in the Nahuatl language. But if this legend began after the Spanish conquest, I'm sure it would've been called 'Carlitos' (Charlie in Spanish).”
Quite frankly, this game can be chalked up to vivid imaginations and a fair amount of boredom. I say let them keep blowing on pencils to make them spin if it keeps them out of trouble.
What do you think of all this? Let us know in the comments!
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