Can You Survive the Holiday Season with #Whamageddon?

The holiday season is here and with it comes the iconic 1984 Wham! hit “Last Christmas.” But a growing number of people are turning down the volume of that Christmas classic in a viral survival game known as “Whamageddon.” The #Whamageddon hashtag has more than 12 million uses on TikTok, with people sharing videos when they “die” – or hear the song and get sent to “Whamhalla,” or the end.

The viral trend has had people avoiding Wham’s 1986 song “Last Christmas” each holiday season for about 18 years. It’s a simple game that has participants across the world hoping they can make it to Dec. 25 without hearing the holiday breakup ballad. Many share their hilarious accounts of how they got “whammed” on social media. But only the original version applies, which means covers like Emilia Clarke’s rendition in the Wham!-inspired film, “Last Christmas,” and even off-key a cappella singing with friends are approved. You’re considered out as soon as you hear and recognize “Last Christmas.”

The game – which can be played by anyone, anywhere – kicks off Dec.1. The creators of the game, a group of friends from Denmark, have created a website to explain the rules. How to play The challenge runs from Dec. 1 through the end of Christmas Eve. All you have to do is avoid hearing “Last Christmas” by Wham until Dec. 25. Will a win “save you from tears?”

The game has become a popular way to pass the time during the holiday season and has been embraced by people all over the world. Some participants are disappointed when they hear the song and get “whammed”. Others, however, rejoice that they lived another day without the tune touching their eardrums.

Whether you’re playing for fun or hoping to make it to Dec. 25 without hearing the song, “Whamageddon” is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. So, if you’re feeling brave, why not give it a try?