When You're Feeling Less Than Jolly
Sitting on Santa's lap is a once-a-year opportunity at the mall. It's a chance to ask for the toys you truly crave, deep inside. Technically, there are no limits when you're inquiring with the big man himself. But as we all know, you don't always get exactly what you want on Xmas morning. Here, a little girl was encouraged to talk to Santa himself, but it looks like they didn't agree!
The photo shows the moment that she gave her opinion about the offer. We notice there's an identical twin here, who looks a lot calmer. Maybe her ask was more realistic?
When You Know You've Got That Seasonal Style
This photo is worth way more than a thousand words. Maybe only millions would do. There's so much to say about the whole thing, and we're not sure where to begin. Maybe it's worth commenting on the embroidered vest. It's green, but it's also colorful with all its flare. Layered over a patterned long sleeve tee, it's an incredible contrast. And those serial killer glasses — what a vibe!
There's no way to categorize this look and do it justice. It's too good to only be used as a Christmas card!
Joyless to the World
Sometimes, photos are authentic moments. But the posed ones can be just as special if you do them right. Here, you see an adorable gal holding a holiday prop for the camera. One parent tried her best to capture the moment in a photo. But before she could snap, the tears came down. Mom explained: “This was supposed to be our Christmas card. It turns out she just hated that sweater."
We're not sure if it was an itchy garment, or if she just hated the look. Even at a young age, kids have their opinions. Next year, let her pick!
We Wish You a Scary Christmas
December 24 is a time for tradition. Some things are universal, like trees, wreaths, and stocking stuffers. But most of us have a unique family quirk, too. Some households have scavenger hunts or watch a classic Christmas film on TV. On occasion, things do take a turn for the weird. This old picture shows a festive touch we've never seen before. What is this innocent child wearing, and why?
One woman posted it on social media, and we were horrified right away. She explained: "This was the picture that my family sent out as our family Christmas card back in '91."
Meet Him Under the Mistletoe
Every once in a while, Santa is a bad, bad man. We're not talking about too many cookies at midnight, either. He strays like anyone else when Mrs. Claus isn't around. Don't believe us? Here is the evidence. One Mom posted it online and explained: “Christmas 2009. We went to the mall to take a picture with Santa and seemingly nothing went wrong...my son didn’t cry, the line was manageable but Santa’s attention was focused elsewhere.”
We can see what she means by elsewhere: He is not paying attention to the boy, even a little bit. The man in red has other ideas for this meeting!
Happy Holidays From This Giant Cat
The war continues between cat people and dog people. The second group claims to enjoy unconditional doggy love. They also claim that cats would eat us alive if only they were bigger. Are they right? According to this holiday card, they most definitely are. Here, we a huge feline on the prowl, hoping to murder this entire family. As they run, a photographer snaps the moment before their gruesome deaths.
Just kidding, folks. This is just a clever Photoshop job. And obviously, it's a bit biased. Dog people are the only ones who would think of this concept. What is wrong with them?
Single All the Way
You know what they say: One man's pain is another man's meme. Today, it is time for the seasonal edition. This fellow sent out a personalized card to all his friends and family, as seen here. But this year, he was alone in the portrait. Usually, there would be a familiar woman by his side. What has changed? He explained: "My wife left me this year...Here is my Christmas card."
At least for a while, this guy is going to need to find a new concept. The loving couple idea was great until it wasn't. Now, it's all just a ghost of Christmas past.
So Many Emotions Here
Everyone celebrates differently, but we really feel a disconnect with this Christmas card. It just doesn't capture the mood of the day. A man and his cat both look cozy enough in sweaters and turtlenecks. We are just not sure if these two are having a holly, jolly Christmas. They might not even be aware it is the best time of the year. They look so sad, but this is a time to be glad!
As they stare off into the black abyss, we wonder: Did they miss black Friday? Did Santa return their letters with bad news? We've got theories.
Imagine Getting This Promo in the Mail
This photo is awkward in more ways than we can count. First, we see a small man in a pink princess onesie. Behind him, we see a head peeking out from a polka dot turtleneck. Neither of these items is in fashion, to say the least. But up front, a man with a mustache is actually pretending to be an elf. How strange can things get in one group? They've got to be up to something.
One social media user posted this pic online during the holidays. It turns out to be a marketing trick, that's all: "Just a Christmas card from my local pizza delivery guys."
Crawling in a Winter Wonderland
We know that the sleigh is the ultimate Christmas transportation. It's what Santa himself uses to get around the globe, all in one night. As you can see, this family is trying it out. Their strategy? Without reindeer, they pull it themselves. Dad is at the helm, and mom and the two kids are doing the hard work up in front. Just at the right moment, someone snapped a pic!
We're pretty sure this scheme never got off the ground. It's also kind of creepy. As long as they had a good time doing it?
Holidays With the Fam Be Like
Is meeting with your own flesh and blood more stressful than restful? Experts say that's normal. Even people we know say it can be a pain. And since Christmas time focuses a lot on family, that can be tough if you have that challenge. Here, a holiday photo shows the feeling that so many out there have. The teen on the left could not be more relatable, if you ask us.
His fingers are positioned like a weapon, and he's pointing at his head. Must have been awkward when mom and dad had the film developed, though. This looks like it was from that era. Yikes!
Have Yourself a Merry Little Bulldog
This family is a little out of the box, if you know what we mean. There's the man of the house with a handlebar mustache and an ugly Xmas vest. Then, we see his baby doll daughter and a sweatered bulldog by his side. We're not here to judge. But we do have a lot of questions, about this situation. For example, do they know they are all over the internet?
Odds are, they have no idea. So many funny photos are floating around that they may never realize millions are laughing at them. Or rather, laughing with them. Yes, that's it!
You Better Not Pout
Santa Puss is coming to town, and he's got his list. He's a bit grumpy today, though. Maybe that's because he is actually the family cat who was forced into a little beard and hat. Anyone who's been around felines for long knows they don't tolerate fools well. Here, we can see he is not trying to hide his feelings. The camera caught it all. Can you really blame him?
Even if you want to grab his cute little mad face, this is not the time. We recommend keeping your distance from his jaws and claws. He may strike at any moment!
Karate Is the Reason for the Season
Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee once said: "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." We totally get where he was coming from, with that. But when we look at this holiday card, we are not sure which type we're talking about. We observe not one, but three deadly ninjas. And for some reason, they want to wish us a Merry Christmas.
If push came to shove, we would kick the left guy right away. Next, we would slam the lady on the right. Then, we would flee from the little one. Those are the most dangerous!
This Thief Has No Shame
A Texas mom posted this incriminating photo online. She shared: “At Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church, an eager almost-two-year-old stole the show during the Nativity portrayal. When the young shepherd, Landyn, saw his grandmother, who was dressed as Mary holding the baby Jesus doll, he ran straight to her. He put his arms out for the baby, which she gave to him, and then ran as fast as he could to show his granddad!”
Sweet baby Jesus has been kidnapped by a grinning assailant, right on Xmas eve. We see Joseph just throwing his hands up in desperation, and Mary sits helpless. What a monster!
An X-Rated Xmas
Vintage Xmas is not supposed to be X-rated. That seems like a given. But here, we've uncovered a photo that shows a whole lot of something was going on in the old days. It looks like a group of friends decided to celebrate together, away from family. They set up a very traditional tree. They hung ornaments and they hung streamers. And then everything got wild — too wild, for us!
Men and women alike have stripped down as they sat next to their tree. They did put on some tasteful tape to cover their private parts, though. We see their strategy: Not too much, not too little.
Eat, Drink, and Be Monkey
When it comes to animals during Christmas time, monkeys are probably the most excited. The reasons are endless: There are trees to climb on, and lights to tangle. There are all kinds of new guests to bite and scratch in the home. You can smooch under the mistletoe. And finally, there are all kinds of funny little outfits your owner will force you into, just for the day. Like this elegant gown!
We don't see this more often, because these pets are illegal almost everywhere. But come on. Have authorities seen these two? Only a Scrooge would try to come between them!
O Come Let Us Adore Him
Here, we have a few reenactors trying to tell the story of the Bible. Mary and Joseph are dressed up in traditional garb, or whatever they imagine it looked like way back when. In their arms, we see sweet the baby Jesus. He looks different than the stories we've heard, though. O come, all ye doggos, joyful and triumphant. O come ye, o come ye to the kibble. That's how that song went, right?
Honestly, we think this just might be a dog. It's probably not even the savior of the world, at all. But if it is a pet, it's very well behaved. Bless you, doggo!
We Fish You a Merry Xmas
When it comes to Christmas feasts, the classic main course is a glazed ham. Maybe some people spend a bit more and get a turkey. But a big, stinky fish, and raw? Now that's a tradition we have yet to see. Until today, we suppose: Look at these proud fish owners, posing with their catch. We hope this went out as a couples card. It's just too awkward to keep from family and friends!
After the photoshoot, we assume they went to the kitchen. We recommend a little lemon and olive oil. There's a chance they went with seasonable herbs. Maybe butter was involved!
Baby, It’s Cold Inside
In December, it gets pretty chilly for most of us. Sure, Florida has a tropical Christmas just like every other perfect day of the year. But in real America, there's snow. This fellow decided to stay in and avoid the frost. He's decided to get cuddly with his cat, too, so he stepped inside his tree for insulation. And of course, he is in his birthday suit. There's nothing odd about that!
Some disagree, believe it or not, but to each his own. No one is making you climb into your evergreen, are they?
Now This Is a Silent Night
The Johnson family, pictured here, sent this Christmas card out for the holidays. It was so original that it went viral on the internet. But not everyone had positive things to say about the concept. Mom and daughters are silenced by green tape over their mouths. Dad is holding a sign that says, “Peace on earth” while his son gives a thumbs up. This family clearly had their own sense of humor. Did they care about the haters?
Not really. According to Mr. Johnson: “If you like it, great. We love it. If not, scroll up. About a half-section later you’re not even going to see it anymore."
We're Jealous of This Reindeer Ride
Every December, a massive delivery operation begins down millions of chimneys. How are all the gifts transported from the arctic? We all know the dream team that makes that happen. For hundreds of years, we have relied on Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. But sadly, not one of these veteran deer is here this year. Right meow, it looks like a herd of cats is stepping in to save Christmas.
Just kidding. This is a family photo of two men and their two cats. Not all families look the same, after all. Everyone seems to be in good cheer — even the leashed felines!
Dreaming of a White Christmas
There's a special feeling in front of the Xmas fireplace. It is hard to put into mere words, but we'll try. There's a bit of magic and a lot of real warmth. It's best to relax with loved ones, during this special experience. Here, we see one cozy man cuddled up with his lady. He's got his holiday sweater and his holiday blanket. We see he's decided on the fetal position.
If we're honest, he looks like a big baby. They say that Christmas is supposed to bring out the kid in you, but this is over the top. Awkward, much?
The Wildest Greeting You'll See This Year
Here, we see a proud American family in all their Christmas best. They put on dresses and button-ups and posed in front of their favorite heirloom. It appears to be a stuffed cheetah biting in the neck of stuffed gazelle. What kind of crazy people would put this on a holiday card? One social media user posted it online, explaining: "This is the photo that the mayor of my city gave around for Christmas."
Imagine that. American citizens elected this man, without even knowing about his taxidermy habits. Some might like him more for it, and some less. Next time, we'll see if the people endorse it!
When the Elves Make a Mistake
We understand that the north pole is a busy place, with millions of gifts getting wrapped per second. The assembly line must be intense, even for the most experienced elves. But when this package arrived at a family's home, there were more questions than thank you's. Did Santa's cat get wrapped, shipped, and dropped down the chimney? This little guy doesn't look terribly happy to be here. Can you blame him?
He should be curled up in the lap of Mrs. Claus, far, far away, But here he is, waiting to be unwrapped by strangers. How does the return policy work, after Xmas?
Xmas Around the World Is Pretty Terrifying
One social media user posted this photo with a caption: "Christmas was scary in Yugoslavia." Looking at it for just a moment, we agree. This is just not how we are used to seeing any of our familiar characters. Santa looks raggedy, and his eyebrows are out of control. There is some sort of clown and bunny man in the background, keeping guard. Who are they, and what do they want?
We really don't want to know more. We just want to make sure that we never celebrate the holiday in 1980's Central Europe. Luckily for us, that ship has sailed.
Fa-La-La-La-Llama
This family looks relatively normal, as far as vintage photos on the net go. But we cannot avoid commenting on the animals involved in this holiday card. For some reason, there is a pig and a llama, and no one in the frame seems to think that's odd. We're here to tell you that this situation has never happened before or since. It's totally unique and totally strange. And that's what we want to see!
We are a bit surprised that the llama agreed to wear that Santa hat, though. Maybe he feels the Xmas spirit. It is the most wonderful time of the year, after all!
Seasons Greetings From a Total Scrooge
When you take your kids to a professional photographer, you're looking for professional results. That's not what happened here, but we are not sure if the studio is to blame. We see a child who didn't follow directions. Mom explained: “We took the kids to take pictures with Santa. Needless to say we were shocked as we scrolled through the photos and saw our daughter’s middle finger up with her head turned and smiling.”
Sometimes you can see a personality early on. In this case, we see a little prankster who is probably going to grow up and do big things. Big pranks, probably!
When Christmas Isn't Claus For Celebration
Grandpa posted this Xmas photo online because he was amused. The kiddos sure don't look amused, but we adults have our own sense of humor. How does he explain the mayhem, here? We assume he grinned and then wrote: “My son, Miller and his wife, Annie, took their children, Vera and Duke, to see Santa around in Tampa, Florida. I think Santa feels the same way as Vera and Duke!”
Being a mall Santa must be tiring stuff. You have to be jolly all day long, no matter the emotions of the customer. That takes talent! Impatient, bearded, fat men need not apply.
He's Made Us Believe in the Magic
The original story of Christmas is often forgotten in between black Friday and ugly sweater parties. That's all commercial, even if it's fun. But let's backtrack for a moment. The bible told a story of a baby being born to a virgin named Mary. She was astonished to be pregnant, as we would be. But in the end, it all worked out. He became the savior for humanity, according to the story.
Here, we see a holiday card trying to recreate history. Did they succeed? Most of the elements are there, but at least one thing seems out of place. If you say beard, we're on the same page!
Don We Now Our Ugly Dresses
One grown gal posted this online and shared: "Our aunt Helen made these for the three of us and while I know she worked very hard on them, I was mortified. That’s me on the left. I’m smiling but my eyes are red from crying because I didn’t want to wear it. The compromise was that I didn’t have to wear the bonnet. I don’t have much of a fashion sense but even then, at a tender young age, I knew this was wrong, very wrong."
We admit the outfits are a bit busy. And hats like this went out of vogue at least a hundred and fifty years ago. But as far as awkward goes, this gets a top rating. An A for awkward, in fact!
Say Hello to Frosty the Snow Girl
At first glance, this winter portrait might be an adorable one. But the girl in focus has something hideous on her nose. Mom tried to make this seem like a harmless family craft. She explained: “Each year I get creative with our family’s Christmas card. With the help of a few craft items around the house and part of a snowman decorating kit, my daughter was transformed into a Snow Lady."
We understand the carrot concept. Frosty himself had a giant one, in every story. But in practice, rather than in theory, it just doesn't sit right on her face. This is awkward, at best!
Peace, Joy, and Beer Bellies
The fact is, more of us are jiggly than we would like to admit. The holidays certainly don't help the health kick we claim to be on. Oh, bring us some figgy pudding; we say again and again. This couple decided to use their situation for laughs. In their holiday photo, they bump bellies. Both look pregnant. But we know that at least one person here is just bloated, at best.
Roast potatoes, turkey, gravy, stuffing, and fruitcake are no match for willpower. But do we have any? Yum, yum, yum. At least these two are honest. Let's admit that's refreshing!
They're Wise but They're Not All Men
Hey, remember when the wise men came to visit baby Jesus? They heard rumors about him and they wanted to see the real deal. We'd probably pop by, too. A verse in the book of Matthew recounted: "They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
Here, we see a family trying to dress up and remember the past. The outfits are pretty realistic. But if you look at the faces of these folks, it's just an awkward shot. A least three boys are freaking us out!
Only a Grinch Would Hate This Photobomb
It's Christmas eve, and the feast has finished. Everyone is in the living room, and you know what that means. The whole family is now gathered for their yearly holiday photo. It's going right into the album, to compare from year to year, for decades to come. But just as the photographer gets ready to capture the magic, an intruder appears. Who is this, and who do they think they are?
He's little, he's fluffy, and he's white. Why, it's just the adorable family pooch! There's no harm in keeping this picture, as a blooper. Sometimes, those are even better than the planned shots!
Blinking in a Winter Wonderland
This family did a great job of getting together at the same time on the same day. As we all know, that alone can be impossible for busy adults. But they made the effort. After putting on matching sweaters like a big, loving, bunch, they all posed and said cheese. Sadly, this is what they have to show for it. When the film was developed, there was a big problem. Notice anything odd?
Immediately, we see that all eyes are closed. It's almost impossible to get this coordinated so badly. Maybe it's a one in a trillion chance. But Xmas is a magical time: Anything is possible!
Ho, Ho, Ho
Everyone loves the gimmick of matching sweaters on Christmas. The tradition has become sillier and sillier as the years have gone by, with full-blown ugly as the current look. Here, we see four people trying to start a new trend. All are wearing matching t-shirts. They clearly sought out a custom print, with one concept for the man and a different one for the gals. But as you can see, the ideas do fit togerher.
It's funny, but we certainly hope they are not related. Is this a husband with his three wives? Maybe it's a man with three young, female friends. We don't know, and maybe we don't want to know.
Coning Around the Christmas Tree
Dogs get fixed, most of the time. We don't want too many of them running around without loving homes, do we? When this little buddy had to get neutered over the holidays, he was stuck with an uncomfortable cone. It's important, for his healing. But he must have felt so alone, as a walking cone. Because these two humans loved him, they decided to put some on, too. What a touching Christmas moment!
Most dogs will need to wear this for about 10 days after the surgery. We doubt these two stayed coned for the full duration. But even temporarily, it's moral support!
When You Just Can't Get Enough Husky
Huskies are known to be loyal, yet stubborn dogs as companions. They are often on the internet, racking up clicks and views. People love to watch their vocal arguments with owners. We see that this one must have won the debate this year. What kind of tree will the family have, this time? Looks like a tree stuffed with as many husky dolls as possible. Check it out, right here!
There are fake huskies of every type, at every level. There's even a husky hat, on top. The doggo seems proud, and poses next to the masterpiece. It's not the typical tree, and he likes it that way. We do, too!
Not Even He Knows if This Is Serious
This holiday card is a real puzzle in the stack. If it's meant to be a joke, we may have missed the punchline. We just don't know if this fellow is dead serious or silly. There are signs pointing in both directions. The black background is somber. The sweater is respectable. But the cat in the hat kind of spoils the mood, in that sense. What is going on here?
At the end of the day, the truth of the matter doesn't really matter. We think it's awkward, and it belongs on this list. That's we love it, and you do, too!