Growing up in the 1970s, I had plenty of opportunities to attend slumber parties. One of my favorite party places was the house of my best friend up the street, Jody. (She’s the one who had a horse.) She had all sorts of mysterious things at her house like a fortune-telling 8 ball. You could ask it a question, shake it, and the answer would appear through a dark, watery window in the bottom. I always thought the answers were a little lame, but it was fun to feel like I was receiving some magical advice. My friend’s family also had a Ouija Board that could supposedly be used to talk to the dead like in a séance.
One of my least favorite slumber party games was Bloody Mary. In this game, you go into the bathroom alone with a candle. You light the candle, turn out the lights, and look in the mirror. Say “Bloody Mary” three times slowly. It’s supposed to make Bloody Mary (whoever that is) appear. I didn’t like this game because I needed to be alone for it. I didn’t want to be alone if and when a creepy person appeared! I don’t recall ever doing the game myself, but I may have watched other people do it. (We bent the rules on being alone.) I don’t recall any specter appearing in the mirror, but we were scared out of our wits, which I guess was the whole point.
One of my favorite games was Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board. We played the version where one person lays down (there’s another version where a person sits in a chair). Everyone would gather around under dim lights and placed two fingers from each hand (index fingers) underneath them. The goal was to lift the person off the ground. If we would try to lift the person at this point, it wouldn’t work because we’d be giggling and uncoordinated. But if we tried to lift as we recited the chant associated with the game, the person would rise as if levitating.
The first record of this game came from a British Naval administrator in 1665 who saw a group of French girls doing it. The leader of the game (usually the person at the head) says, “She’s looking ill.” And everyone repeats that in a call and response a few times. Then the leader says, “She’s looking worse,” in the same call and response. Then, “She’s dying,” and “She’s dead.”
This initial ritual is completed when everyone stacks their hands atop the liftee person’s forehead, alternating so that their hands are separated by the hands of another person. The leader then tells the group that they are opening the liftee’s body to supernatural influences and that outside spirits are entering the body to make it lighter.
After that, everyone puts their fingers back under the person. The leader chants, “Light as a feather, stiff as a board,” repeating the phrase many times. Then the group begins lifting the person slowly. Unlike the first lifting attempt, this one should happen easily and for only a few inches. Then the group lowers the person back to the ground.
The game was spooky, exciting, and mysterious. How could we all lift such a weight with only a few fingers? I did a little research and discovered the game is actually based on physics. The weight of the person is divided equally among each lifter. The stiffness of the lifted player also helps the trick work. As the lifters chant, the liftee will become stiff and focused. Their rigid, tense body makes the lifting easier. The supernatural references just make the game more fun.
As with many things in life, the ultimate secret to the “magic” of this game is the synchronization of the group. Many hands (in this case, fingers) working together makes for light work.
Did you ever play these games, or something like them?
Marie's Meanderings 
The only one I remember playing once was Oija board. Otherwise, I remember a few Boy Scout campouts with everyone telling tall tales or spooky stories.
I have mixed feelings about the Ouija board. I could never tell if one of my friends was moving the device or if it was supernatural forces. But I guess that’s the whole point. Scout camps are great places for stories. I bet you heard some good ones, like about the person with a hook for a hand….
Ah, the hook appendage. That is universal. 🙂
As a young girl growing up in the 1980s, I have vivid memories of playing Light as a Feather and summoning Bloody Mary during countless sleepovers. Just so you know, I’ve given it a try and nothing happens. One of my friends even crafted her own Ouija board, painting it onto a sheet of plywood. Of course, everyone had those Magic 8-Balls, which were always used to settle disputes. In fact, I had my own.
Thanks for sharing your memories. Glad to hear no demons were summoned during Bloody Mary!
We had slumber parties almost every weekend in the summer when I was growing up. Ouija Board was one of our most popular games. Others were ones we just made up, but what ever we did there was a lot of giggling involved. Now, we have a girls weekend once a year. We stay in one of our cottages or houses and it’s like one long, weekend slumber party. Great times 😊 Maggie
I’m glad you’re still getting together. Come to think of it, I usually do an annual girls’ weekend, too. But we go to bed at a reasonable hour. Too old now for staying up all hours!
Ah, those were the days!
When life was simpler and more occult. 🙂
I like where you went with this: from nostalgia to you second to last paragraph. Yes, if we all focus and get our hands together, we CAN elevate.
Yes, this was one of those rare times when I knew the theme I wanted before I began writing. Usually, I don’t figure it out until it happens!
I personally had a Magic 8-ball and Ouija board. Probably played with them at slumber parties. Mostly pranks, ghost stories, other silly stuff.
Sounds like my friends and I were in good company, then.
What a fun trip down memory lane. Slumber parties were indeed big in the 70s. I went several and had at least one, that I remember. We played Bloody Mary. We had an Eight Ball and a Ouija Board. We did the lifting game too. We also told ghost stories.
How fun that you did the lifting game, too!
I had the Magic-8 ball and Ouija board. We also played a version of Bloody Mary. Yup, it is strange how these things seem silly now but were sooooo fun back then!
One “game” I didn’t mention was where you’d dip the hand of a person who had the audacity to fall asleep into warm water. Supposedly, this made them pee. I don’t recall if that ever worked!
I heard of this but never did it. Hopefully, it never really worked!!!
Same!
We sometimes had an Ouija board, or played “truth or dare.” When I was young, it was also not uncommon for girls to pierce their ears at slumber parties, using a potato, ice to numb the ear and a needle. Luckily, I never went to one of those parties!!
I never went to an ear piercing slumber party, either. Ouch! Thanks, Ann.
I definitely remember those days and not wanting to do “Bloody Mary” alone!
Thanks for reading Jody! You had the *best* slumber parties.
I wasn’t allowed to go to slumber parties so this post was especially fun for me to read what happened in them. Did you ever actually sleep? 😝
Oh, that’s sad about no slumber parties in your youth. We’d usually fall asleep around 2 or 3 a.m. But then there was always the danger that those still awake would do the old game of putting your hand in warm water to make you pee! (I’m not sure if this ever worked. I never did it to anyone — thought it was too mean. But that threat was always there if you fell asleep too soon.)
😹
Marie, I loved this piece! I had totally forgotten about Light as a feather, stiff as a board! Thanks for bringing back some great memories for me!
Thanks for reading, Leigh Anne. I’m glad to hear it brought back good memories. Sorry for the delay in responding. Your comments went into my spam folder for some reason!
No worries! Glad we connected
Also, I have a magic eight ball in my classroom and the kids absolutely love to shake it and ask questions!