Content creators across the United States have come up with a new way to infuriate their unsuspecting parents and partners as part of a viral ‘Christmas gas’ prank.
‘Christmas gas’, Another day, another TikTok trend
The latest prank-for-views has thousands of creators telling their parents or partners that they’ve filled up their cars with ‘Christmas gas’ and filming their reactions.
The so-called ‘Christmas gas’ prank is simple. It involves a teenager or young adult calling a parent or romantic partner, telling them they’ve either done them a favour and filled up the family ride or that they’ve just made a big mistake at the petrol station.
The term ‘Christmas gas’ is fictional and part of the prank.
The pranksters typically express concern, remorse, or panic, suggesting they accidentally selected the wrong fuel type or made some other error while refuelling. They may tell their parents/partners that they saw a Christmas gas sign and thought it was a special holiday fuel.
The intention is to create a moment of confusion and worry for the parents who may not be familiar with the term ‘Christmas gas.’ The teenagers then reveal that it’s a prank and share their parents’ reactions on TikTok, contributing to the viral nature of the trend.
As with many social media pranks, the goal is often to capture authentic and amusing reactions for entertainment purposes. However, pranksters need to consider the potential impact on their parents’ stress levels and emotions, ensuring that the prank remains lighthearted and harmless.
Typically, a teen will call their parents and say something is wrong with their car – either it won’t start or break down or their dashboard warning lights are orange, yellow, or red.
When the parents ask what the issue is, the teen goes into a brief backstory, saying they were at a gas pump beforehand and had tried the new Christmas gas. Parents, especially dads, are typically flabbergasted and left wondering what it is.
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The teen then explains that the gas came from a holiday-themed green handle. As nearly all green handles in the US are typically reserved for diesel fuel, parents freak out at the prospect of their kids using the wrong gas – and breaking their car in the process.
TikTok users film themselves calling their parents, or for the brave few, telling their parents in person about their car troubles. When asked why they would put diesel in their cars, teens typically say they saw other social media users raving about ‘Christmas gas’ on TikTok.
Some content creators even tell their parents they thought ‘Christmas gas’ was a unique, limited-edition, or seasonal offering at select gas stations in their area. In response, parents are usually shocked, angry, disappointed, or even at a loss for words. Usually, it’s all of the above.
