An Indian burn, also known as a Snake bite or Chinese burn in the UK, is a pain-inducing prank, where the prankster grabs onto the victim's forearm or wrist, and starts turning the skin away from themselves with one hand, and with another hand towards themselves, causing an unpleasant burning sensation to the skin.^[1] The prank is popular in a school setting.^[2]

Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. (July 2022)

The prank is known by various different names in the United States, such as Indian sunburn^[3] or Indian rug burn,^[4] and also as Chinese wrist burn,^[5] and as the snake bite.^[6] In the United Kingdom, it is known as a Chinese burn.^[2] In Mexico, it is known as an "enchilada". In Sweden, it is called "tusen nålar" ("a thousand needles").

A variation of the prank can be done with a yarn that can be rubbed against the skin in a similar manner when starting fire in a small and dried haystack.^[6]

Some Native Americans disapprove the use of the term Indian burn, including other vocabulary starting with the prefix "Indian-", such as Indian corn, Indian summer and Indian giver, among others.^[7]

According to a poll carried out in the United Kingdom, with a sample size of 1,844 adults, 27% recalled receiving Indian burns in secondary school.^[2]

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