Traditionally, during warm spring nights children play Ghost in the Graveyard--a game that may be known by many other names, such as "The Witch Ain't Out Tonight" and "Bloody Murder". It's not only fun, but it's also good exercise. This is an old game that has been handed down from one generation to another. Let's not lose it!
Step 1
Find some friends to play with. The more people you can round up, the better.
Step 2
Designate one house's yard or another area in the neighborhood for the playing field. You will need a home base on which everyone can stand or all touch at the same time such as a large tree, front stoop, or back patio.
Step 3
Choose one person to be the "ghost". You can do this any way you like: picking a number, asking for a volunteer, rock, paper, scissors, etc.
Step 4
Have everyone but the ghost stand at the home base while the ghost runs off to hide somewhere outside.
Step 5
Chant slowly as a group, "One o'clock... two o'clock... three o'clock..." and so on, up to twelve o'clock. Then shout, "Midnight! I hope I don't see the ghost tonight!" Alternatively, "Starlight, star bright, I hope to see a ghost tonight!"
Step 6
Leave the home base and search for the ghost in the yard. The ghost's job is to jump out, surprise, and tag a player. When anyone encounters the ghost they should yell, "Ghost in the graveyard!" and try to run away. When the ghost catches someone, they become a ghost too. Anyone who is able to run back to home base is safe.
Step 7
Have all the people who were caught go and hide with (or close to) the original ghost. The people on the home base start again with the chant, "One o'clock... two o'clock..."
Step 8
Continue the game like this until everyone is caught. The last person caught becomes the ghost for the next round.
Tips
- Be sure and wait until after dark to play.
- In some variations of the game, the "ghost" counts to twelve o'clock and then everyone else shouts "Midnight!" but this has the disadvantage of potentially giving the ghost's hiding spot away.
- The ghost may also be called, in some variations of the game, a "witch" or "bloody murderer".
- Another variation of the game includes the home base players holding hands while they search for the ghost. When the ghost is spotted you break hands and dash back to home.
- You can choose a different place to play, such as a grass field.
- In another variation of the game, multiple ghosts can play. This works well with a lot of people playing.
- Another version has all those on home base actually go and seek out the ghost, who remains hiding. The person who finds the ghost yells out, and all must then flee from the ghost and return to base.
- Another alternative is having the ghost start at the base while the other players hide on the field. To add a humorous spin to the game, the players can bring "gifts" to the ghost and make up a a story of something that happened to them while they were still alive. The gifts can be things like toys or other random objects around the house and be used as things one would possibly bring to a grave of a deceased family member.
Warnings
- Ask your parents' permission before going outside, especially after dark.
- Be careful not to run into obstacles. You might want to pick up hoses and gardening tools before playing.
- This game might not be suitable for older people with weak hearts, or younger kids who are easily scared. It can be extremely scary when the "ghost" pops out at you.
- Do not play this game in an actual graveyard. The possibility of damaging or displacing grave markers is very high. Not only that, it's disrespectful of those who have passed on and those who still tend the graves.
- You will want to designate boundaries for the playing area before you begin. This will help avoid arguments later.
- be careful not to yell too loud because other people may be trying to sleep.
