Whamageddon, what it is and what are the rules of the Christmas challenge against Last Christmas

Article contents

Have you ever found yourself trying to avoid the most famous and ubiquitous Christmas song of all time? Whamageddon It is the ideal challenge for those who want to test themselves against Last Christmas by Wham!. A game that has conquered social media and put music lovers around the world to the test.

How to play Whamageddon? The rules

The rule is simple: Don't listen to Last Christmas from December 1st to 24th. It seems easy, but the song is hiding everywhere:

Christmas playlists on Spotify or Apple Music.
Speakers in shops and shopping centres.
Radio shows full of Christmas classics.

If you accidentally hear it, you are out of the game and your challenge ends there.

What happens if you lose?

If the melody of George Michael takes you by surprise, it's game over for you. Here's what to do:

Announce your defeat on social media using the hashtag #Whamageddon.
Symbolically, they ended up in the famous Whamhalla, an imaginary place where losers reflect on their “musical weakness”.

Some details on the official rules:

Only the original version of Last Christmas counts. Covers or remixes do not eliminate you from the game.
Deliberately causing friends to lose their way is considered unsportsmanlike.
The game is a way to have fun and celebrate the Christmas spirit with a touch of irony.

Origins of Whamageddon

Whamageddon was born in 2010 on a video game forum called GTPlanet, where participants challenged each other to avoid Last Christmas. An official Facebook page was created in 2016, which helped make the game go viral.

Over the years, Whamageddon has become a regular fixture for:

Celebrities, like comedian Romesh Ranganathan.
TikToker and creator, who every December share their experiences of victories and defeats.

The Origins and History of Whamageddon

Whamageddon has roots dating back to the 2000s. One of the first documented mentions dates back to November 2009 on Maniac-Forum.de, a portal linked to a German video game magazine. The game gained popularity in 2010 thanks to the forum GTPlanet, specializing in sim racing. There, the challenge was known as “GTPlanet vs. Wham! – Last Christmas”, with similar rules to the current ones but with an extended duration until December 31st.

Over the years, Whamageddon has become a global phenomenon, thanks in part to social media. In 2016, a dedicated Facebook page was created, which helped spread the game. In 2023, a DJ from Sixfields Stadium Northampton played “Last Christmas” to over 7.000 people, effectively eliminating all the contestants present. The episode caused a stir, showing how seriously the game is taken by those who participate.

Curiosities and variations of the game

There are a few variations of Whamageddon for those who prefer alternative approaches:

Wham!Hunter: Here players accumulate points every time they listen to “Last Christmas,” turning the game into a celebration of Christmas music.
Little Drummer Boy Challenge: a similar challenge, but based on the song “The Little Drummer Boy”.

The various versions demonstrate how Whamageddon has inspired different interpretations, all united by the Christmas spirit and the desire to have fun.