Previously: The Binoculars Game.
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There’s a story that goes along with the Veronica Game, or Nueve Veces Veronica (Nine Times Veronica), as it’s known in Spanish. The story states that the titular Veronica was a teenage girl who played a supernatural game without treating it with the proper amount of respect — and that she died horribly as a result. After losing her life, she became Bloody Mary-like, appearing in mirrors to those who summon her… and those who, like she once did herself, disrespect the supernatural.
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Although Mexico is sometimes cited as the Veronica urban legend’s country of origin, my research suggests it’s more likely to have originated in Spain, possibly in or around Madrid. Either way, though, it has apparently been around for a significant amount of time: One of the oldest mentions of it I’ve found online is in a newsgroup post that dates back to 1997, meaning the story has circulated for at least 20 years.
That newsgroup post mentions several children recounting a story they referred to as “Veronica, the one of the Ouija”: According to the children, Veronica had been “driven mad by spirits” while playing a Ouija-like game with a pair of scissors and subsequently “[buried] the scissors down her own throat.” They went on to caution that Veronica will appear and kill you with her scissors if you play a paranormal game without taking it seriously — but also noted that you could simply summon her by standing before a mirror at a specific time and chanting her name.
Given the date of this post, I’m curious whether the Veronica legend might be connected to the Vallecas case, which occurred in 1990. It’s possible it might have been inspired by that real-life incident — which, by the way, did inspire the 2017 Spanish film Veronica.
There is another game that has periodically been referred to as a version of the Veronica Game (here, for example, and here). This game involves the use of a book, a pair of scissors, and sometimes a red ribbon or thread; it is played in order to gain knowledge to which you might not otherwise have access.
That game is not the Veronica Game.
That is the game Veronica was allegedly playing when she met her untimely end.
Perhaps will explore this other game at some point in the future, but for now, let us focus on Veronica and her game.
As always, play at your own risk.
Players:
- 1 principal.
Requirements:
- 1 mirror.
- A clock, watch, or other timekeeping device.
- A quiet room.
- A candle and matches or a lighter (optional, but recommended).
- A sense of respect.
Instructions:
The Prelude:
- Begin shortly before midnight.
- Set up the mirror in the quiet room, if it is not already there. You may position it however you like (hanging on the wall, propped up on a tabletop, etc.); the only requirement is that it be upright and at a height at which you may comfortably look into it and see your own reflection gazing back at you.
- If using, position the candle in front of the mirror. Alternately, you may hold the candle in your hands. Wherever you position it, it should be capable of illuminating your face when lit. (Do not light it yet.)
- Close the door to the room. See that you aren’t disturbed.
- Turn off the lights.
- Keep an eye on the clock.
- At precisely midnight, proceed.
The Summoning:
- If using the candle, light it.
- Sit or stand before the mirror.
- Look at yourself in the mirror.
- Speak her name: Veronica.
- Repeat it: Veronica.
- Speak her name a total of nine times: Veronica.
- Wait.
- Look.
- Wait.
- If using the candle, extinguish it.
- Turn on the lights.
- Open the door.
- Leave the room.
In The Days To Come:
- Tread carefully. Be vigilant.
- Whenever you are alone, listen carefully. If you hear any noises for which you cannot identify the source, vacate the premises immediately and seek out the company of other people.
- Whenever you are in the dark, pay close attention. If you sense any movement for which you cannot identify the source, turn on the lights immediately. It is recommended that you also vacate the premises and seek out the company of other people. Keep a light on and nearby until you are able to do so.
- Whenever you are near a mirror, stay alert. If you feel the temperature drop or notice the mirror fog up, vacate the premises immediately and seek out the company of other people.
- There is no undoing this ritual once it has been performed.
- She will be with you from now on.
- Always.
Additional Notes:
Bystanders may be present in the room while the principal performs the ritual; however, they may not speak, make noise, or otherwise interfere in the proceedings. They may observe only.
Some variations of the game require the use of a more specific name repeated a different number of times. If the ritual achieves no results with the method described above, you may try again using the name “Veronica Jaja” instead of simply “Veronica,” repeating it only three times instead of nine. Note, however, that your results may differ from those previously described, should you choose to employ this alternate method; the risks may be greater, your safety even more at risk.
Do NOT laugh, make jokes, or make light of the proceedings at ANY POINT during the course of the game.
Concerning “In The Days To Come”:
If you’re near a mirror and you notice it fog up, you might try something besides vacating the premises… if you’re brave, that is.
You might try clearing the mirror’s surface.
If you do so, you might then try looking into the mirror after it has been cleaned.
You might see some words — a message that has been scrawled across the mirror’s surface: “I am Veronica.” You will be unable to erase these words; it will be as if they had been written on the other side of the mirror, untouchable from your side of the surface.
But if you instead see a girl reflected in the mirror — a girl who isn’t you, who stands there smiling at you, who grips a pair of sharp, sharp scissors in her hands — treat her with respect.
Do not antagonize her.
If you do, you’ll find out exactly what she uses those scissors for.
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[Photo via Sbringser/Pixabay]
You see the rituals that have a hypothetical reward: whatever you desire or something else.
Then you see the ones like this, with no clear benefit to the principal, and you just wonder, “Why?”
she will be watching you every moment after the first course?
I’m gonna guess that she will not attack you unless you make her feel disrespected. You’re on your own this is all I can do to help.
Can I bow/kneel to her? I tend to bow when I’m scared of someone.
I think it would be okay. Just if you can I think it would be best to maintain eye contact with her while you are bowing.
Then does that mean I don’t have to leave the premises if any of the things mentioned happen as long as I’m respectful towards Veronica? Even if I see her in the mirror?
This is great! I’ve been trying to find websites like this but it’s impossible! This is the perfect website for my ghost stories thirst.
Welcome! We’re happy to have you here!
So many of these rituals/games specify exact times for things to be done, but clock times are so arbitrary. What about time zones? Daylight saving time? Leap seconds?
If I live right near the edge of a time zone, could I perform the ritual at midnight and then cross to the other time zone to immediately perform it again? If government officials decide to move the time zone (which happens sometimes) would that prevent the ritual from working when it otherwise might have? It seems strange that the spirit world would care about official time zones or daylight saving time…
Could I perform a ritual twice in one night when the clocks are set back for daylight saving time? If I’m impatient to start a ritual, can I cheat by setting my clocks forward? It doesn’t seem like I should be able to – but then, why would my arbitrary new time be any more or less correct than the “official” time, which is also totally arbitrary?
so scared!!!!! I was sitting close to a mirror while reading!!!!!! (sorry for bad spelling!!)
Your spelling is fine haha
GETTING CHILLS!
I tried this game when I was younger, it’s kind of like bloody mary. Sadly nothing happened in either one
If I read this game out loud to a friend, would I be in danger of her being summoned by accident? You don’t exactly need much to do this ritual and I want to be safe.
Depends… were you in a quiet room, with a mirror, at midnight, with a candle? No? Then you’re good.
OMG!
Why would someone want to have a ghost’s company for the rest of their lives?!!
Maybe you’re lonely
So is veronica malevolent or not? She seems to be neutral but I can’t tell.
Think about it this way:
YOU played a horror game just for fun then you got scissors into your throat. Then you got stuck into a mirror for ever. You just are there, having those scissors in your hand and then someone calls your name just to make fun of you…
do you really think she would just leave you alone after that
(Sorry for [meybe] bad grammar
Yeah, uh, NO. Who the hell makes up these games????? Nope nope nope nope! Never in my quiznaking life am I playing this! Who wants an evil ghost girl to follow them for the rest of eternity?? Certainly not me! But this was an awesome post, nonetheless, Lucia. Why does it seem like every game involving a mirror is cursed? Hmmm…
Pretty much anything that reflects back to you such as a mirror, water, etc. Can be a portal for spirits and entities to come through. Any object can be used as some sort of body that the entity can use to posses. For example, you have a mirror in front of you and a teddy bear (or any object for that matter). If you were to summon something using the mirror, it’s likely the entity will take over the teddy bear or your object to function and roam around freely. Just remember though that even if you preform a closing ceremony or try to rid the spirit, it will 5/10 times go away so just be aware of that when preforming a ritual or summoning ceremony.
What if she comes before you finish??
That’s REALLY rare to happen… But if she does… No one really knows…
About treating Veronica respectfully:
Should you smile to her, try to start a friendly conversation or would she think you are disrespectful then? Or would it be smarter to just stare back on her and bow or something. I mean, what does she think is respectful?
How would you be able to sleep in the dark? Also, what would happen if you started getting random marks or cuts on your body..?
Concerning Veronica: She’s gonna kill you with those scissors of hers if you try to be brave, huh? Also, what does she find as respectful? Can I just bow, smile back at her, or something like that, or do I do nothing at all?
A friend of mine told me this story when I was a kid (I am from Spain), but the ritual was slightly different: you have to carry a rose, a candle and a razor. You have to stand in front of a mirror at midnight, light the candle, burn the rose, cut yourself and knock nine times the mirror while saying”Verónica”; then a beautiful girl with long black hair and green-colored eyes will appear in it. You can talk friendly with her, but if you upset her she will kill you with your own razor.
In this version, Verónica is more a demonic entity rather than a ghost and she doesn’t follow you everywhere, but calling her is risky because maybe she is not in the mood for a chat and kills you without a word…
I guess that every country has an urban legend like this. Remainds me that eerie japanese Hanako story.
Nice site by the way!
Ooo, this is super interesting — thanks for sharing!
And thanks for the kind words! Glad you’re enjoying the site!
So what happens if you summon her with the intention of being really nice and respectful to her? Will she be…ok with you?
How would bystanders be affected by this ritual? Are they impacted by any of the results afterwards, or do the results only affect the principal player?
How would you say “Veronica Jaja”? English j sound as in “jar”? Or Spanish j like “haha”?