This article was originally published on Mako
The holiday spirit is a hot commodity that comes easier to some of us than others. But the fact stands, we all want a little bit of that holly jolly goodness. The cheer, nostalgia, and giggles can be hard to find all year. This is the time we get to sift through old memories and regale tales of what mom used to be like back in her day. Go back to wherever home is, or fill a new home with cheer. In this article, we’ve got a bit of that holiday spirit bottled up for you with the goofiest family dynamics the internet can produce.
Angsty Souls
Santa never turns a young soul away, no matter how angsty or generous with the brush. This scene depicts enthusiasm beyond that of the everyday Santa visitors. Seasonally themed outfits, and looks that kill. The mixture of characters here ranges from goofy to sadistic. And everyone including Santa seems to be down for this particular brand of gothic holiday cheer. They’ve managed to capture the Christmas spirit that would usually escape people this age.
We could all learn something from this rag-tag bunch of twilight enthusiasts. To embrace the holidays in our own way, and have a good bit of fun while we do it.
Botched Edit
The Christmas season is always roughest on parents. Managing to get smiles out of the kids` wasn’t so difficult a task. But this father has cleaned up one too many holiday spills, and it shows. Mom had made her best effort to hide his depleted cheer, but it was all in vain. A solemn expression, and a botched edit made for a comical Christmas card for the whole extended family.
Despite the fatigue present in the father’s face, and the blissfully unaware kids. The most comical part of it all is how the mother looks up, praying that it’ll turn out alright.
Santa’s Vampire
Santa’s little vampire came by to warm their stone-cold cheeks by the freshly stoked fire. From the knee-high socks to the intense widows peak. This Christmas card took all the prep for a payoff that came as quite a surprise to more distant family members. It’s the kind of card that says we do Halloween every day of the year but can still stick around for a little holiday cheer.
All little Tobi asked for this Christmas was for an extra quart in their stalking. Maybe a new clip-on. And for grandma to keep her garlic bread at home this year.
Ramona and Beezus
Pride comes in many forms, and this family has it all. The athleticism runs in their blood. No amount of holiday decorations could perfectly portray their spirit. They decided to take the stockings outside this year to pose in front of their favorite voluptuous cactus. Dad grabbed the tennis racket while the kids put on their uniforms. Let’s just hope dad didn’t get poked while running in from the self-timer.
The sisters are true Ramona and Beezus, lovingly highlighting each other's eccentricities. Dad’s proud but can’t seem to get his mind off how he has to move all this stuff back inside.
Kinetic Energy
Hysteria often ensues on the holidays. And this family's gift time was no exception. Looking at this picture, you hear the screams and cheers. The holiday spirit is being torn down here and built up there. And still, one beaming smile shines out over all the chaos. So much emotion and kinetic energy makes for a slightly blurry scene. But it’s hard to capture a family dynamic like the parent giggling behind this camera has.
It doesn’t matter too much what’s in the boxes. All of us who grew up with siblings know someone will always come out on top of Christmas morning. Competition finds its way into the darndest things.
Naughty Santa
Even when everything seems to be going right, something will always go wrong. The Christmas card this year featured naughty Santa peeking when he ought not to. It made for an awkward conversation with the elves when developing the photo. They wanted to commemorate a successful Christmas, and mom and dad seem to be so happy that things have come together. Little did they know Santa would be the one making the funny face.
Let's hope one of the people on the mailing list was Mrs. Claus, she won’t be happy to hear. And it’d be hard to explain that surprise look like one of drowsiness.
Family Recreation
This family captured something special and managed to get that energy back over two decades later. Down to the logos on the shirts five goofballs made for one of the best reenacted Christmas photos out there. From swaggerlicious to visibly distressed it shows how the range of holiday emotions takes a toll on each of us. It’s the time of year to unload it all on family, bad or good.
It gives us tons of inspiration to see such a wholehearted recreation. It’s a testament to hours spent digging through the parents’ attic and sifting through thrift store merch to find something passable.
Baby Fever
This very pleased, jeans hiked up, handsome lookin’ fella made Christmas a very giggly one. He’s a happy little guy that has the whole holiday spirit thing down. Holly and jolly all the way through the season, he sure keeps the whole family smiling through the end of the year. All they would have to do is jingle a little bell or give him a little wink, and he’s photo-ready.
It’s photo’s like this that give us baby fever around the holiday season. It would be fun to see him digging into baked goods after an eyes wide open unveiling of the stalking.
Christmas Quarrel
It’s hard to tell whether the dogs are angry with each other or the middle sibling. Either way, he seems a little startled by it. Smiles all around but the kids on the outside sure seem a little more frivolous about the situation. This is the type of scene that comes about after Lily gets into Luna’s Christmas treats, but they already put the turtlenecks on so they decide to just snap a few.
Christmas quarrels make for a comical encounter. And these two pups are no exception. After being set down, a violent outbreak turned to a tucked-tailed retreat to both sides of the room.
Tragedy
A tragedy strikes Christmas morning as a fallen toy joins the many broken and melted army men at the bottom of the toy bin. A sober and loving brother comes to the rescue with the comradery that will soothe your soul. This picture shows true kinship as one brother lovingly shares in his loss. It’s hard to imagine a future where things didn’t improve shortly after the sympathy in this picture was shared.
Loving touch is obvious given their matching pants, hair, and complimenting sweaters. We just can’t quite tell if the backdrop is black and blue? Or is it white and gold?
Joy
Nothing says Christmas quite like this little lady breaking down in front of the tree. There's always a vast range of emotions and expectations during the holidays. And this year the Christmas card setup was too much. Barely able to hold up the block handed to her, the discontent finally boiled over when mom went to snap the picture. So much emotion makes for a true depiction of the holidays.
Something always seems to go wrong despite the immense amount of planning and preparation required for holiday affairs. It’d be a shame if this relatable masterpiece never got sent out.
St. Nicolas
Most of us would have sprung at the opportunity to meet jolly old St. Nicolas. This little girl got so excited when mama told her she’d be meeting Mr. Kringle himself. But didn’t realize what she was getting into, that before long she’d be met with a sinister grin. Eyes that scream silly but push just past that into uncanny black holes. The fear in her face tells the whole story.
With scary, yet somehow goofy pictures like this. It shows just how far we’ll go to make the holidays memorable. If this isn’t true Christmas spirit we don’t know what is.
Poor Kid
The poor kid’s face screams “Just take the picture!” Getting grappled by a deranged Santa Claus. Pulled closer and closer to the dead-eyed and busty miss piggy, multiple nightmares merge together to form one crazy reality. This is the kind of picture you get when you leave his uncle in charge of getting a Santa visit together. His heart was surely in it, but we think maybe too much so.
We’ve got to wonder if there’s anyone in the miss piggy costume. It looks like Santa may have just found it in a Christmas bin and thought it would make for a funny prop.
Matching Outfits
There are a lot more interesting things during the holidays for a three-year-old than picture time. No matter how dapper the matching outfits, she’d been fed up from the start. Mom’s taunting from behind the camera still managed to get half a smile. As for the babies, one’s strained confusion and the other’s constipation make for two plaid peas in a pod. With looks that say “I’d rather be in my stroller.”
A single white patio chair, a Christmas canvas, and three little of Santa’s best helpers made for an unforgettable memory. This card will serve as a perfect memory of the simpler times.
Masked Santa
Masked Santas nearly always dip into the uncanny valley. It's what happens when you try too hard to get that holly jolly attitude across. And end up with this eyebrow-raising mess. The pieces are all there, but even the little lad suspended by St. Nick knows something’s up. This isn’t the same Santa from the stories or the one he’s been sending letters to. It’s a snappily dressed imposter that scooped him up.
The brother doesn’t seem too bothered. He’s been around the block enough to know Santa will arrive for picture time every year. Looking the same, with a familiar muffled tone.
Misogyny
Websters doesn’t include a picture with the word “Misogyny” but this would serve that purpose well. Many of us fall victim to buying gifts for ourselves rather than loved ones during the holidays. Father reasoned that it was a gift for the whole family, but mom obviously got the implications. Her distant stare into the entertainment center says it all. This velvet-clad queen knows she’s worth at least a Dyson.
Such a busy picture really depicts a lively home. From the matching curtains and carpet to the decked-out media center. The setting can be picked apart for all sorts of hidden stories.
Range of Emotions
There’s a vast range of emotions in this old family photo. The parents managed to get all the boys together for a Santa trip but didn’t plan for the whirlwind that would ensue. Some more, some less excited, and some downright put off. Uncle Tex took center stage and couldn’t hold it together as he was placed on the stranger's knee. A look of astonishment, wonder, and a damp lap.
By the size of the stain, we’ve got to wonder how long it took. How’d Santa realize? Did he see it first, or feel it? Seems the photographer has a pretty clear view.
A Few Hundred
A few hundred decorations and attacks on a bank account have the father distressed. Giving away the praise he’s due to this “St. Nicolas” just makes him feel silly. And he’d rather have a good smoke and lose himself in some literature than hear his daughter ceaselessly thanking Santa to the air. Luckily or unluckily the little lady seems blissfully unaware of her preoccupied father, her smile beaming next to her new stuffed horse.
Just after taking the photo, mother asked that they all gather in front of the stockings for a group photo. Father said we should wait just one more minute though.
Humpy Companion
If you can’t beat them, join them. It’s the old adage that asks us to lean into it. To run in the rain or… Whatever’s happening here. The pup sure is leaning into something, that can be said for sure. While Dad looks like he may not have been too sure about letting the dog in on it. The big toothy grin on mom says they prefer the goofy life.
The young kid chewing on his knuckle has all the right influence. Including a fluffy and humpy companion in a slick Christmas sweater. Ryan, Mandy, and Matt will definitely remember this photoshoot.
Kids
Kids make everything better, well, maybe not better but definitely more interesting. Parents always seem to try their best to take the most amazing and memorable Christmas photos which they can look back on over the years, but most of the time it seems as though the kids have different ideas for them. While one decides he has had enough and pops the Merry Christmas sign on his back, the other one just throws up.
At least this mom handled the situation perfectly by just laughing it off, which actually made for a really good Christmas photo. Well, besides for the throwing up baby of course.
Help
Although this could be the movie poster for a movie similar to Home Alone, it is just your average old awkward Christmas photo. It looks like the mom is looking at the dad like “help, you also played a part in making this child” and he seems to not be taking note at all. At least the oldest girl tried to put the effort in even though she looks like she would rather be anywhere else.
It is a pity that people don’t do photos like this anymore, all dressed up with pearls, but maybe it is because of kids who ruin them that people stopped trying.
Eggnog
This Santa looks like he got into the eggnog a little too early that year. And we all wonder why some kids do not like sitting with Father Christmas for photos because to be fair, we would not want to sit with this one either. His droopy face looks like he would rather be suited for the role of grumpy in the seven dwarfs than for the mall Father Christmas.
As far as cringy goes, this Father Christmas can take the blame for that, but as for the kid, his reaction makes us feel sorry for him. Even though it’s a bit funny.
Reindeer Teddy
If this was just one of the photos the family got, it is safe to say that it was probably one of the last. You know the photos we take when people are overtaking photos and just can’t anymore, yeah, it’s just like one of those. This little boy could not have pulled a more cringy face than this one and his poor sister looks like she doesn’t even know what is going on.
Not even the reindeer teddy looks like he is keen to be there, with his slightly crazy look. Luckily for this family, this was not the only photo they got.
Histeria
These parents should have titled their card “The Christmas Tantrum” because there is no other way to describe this photo than that. The brother underneath looks like he really does not want to be the one who is being laid on and the one on top looks like he does not want to be there either. As for the teddy bears, they also did not sign up for this winter wonderland shoot.
Parents should just stick to paying the professionals for Christmas photos, that way they can avoid these awkward and uncomfortable pictures, and miserable children. And obviously, they walk away with less cringy photos too.
Kids and Pictures
If this does not say enough about what kids feel towards Christmas photos then we do not know what else will. At least the first daughter came to the party and pulled off a happy pose, as for the others, they need to work on it. One is pulling a middle finger, one does not know what he is doing and the other one seems as though he just dug into his nose.
Parents should really just give up on putting kids in Christmas photos if they want a good outcome. Although, we would not have much entertainment from them if they did.
Security Cage
Is the Christmas tree being locked in or is something being locked out from the Christmas tree? Well, anyone with cats would understand that it is definitely the latter. But what is more cringy here, the amount of time and effort it must have taken to put up this security cage or the fact that people do this to protect a tree which is up for a few short weeks?
If this was done in 2020 they could’ve gone with the excuse that the tree was in quarantine. Because that would sound more plausible than locking up a tree because you can’t control your cat.
Yugoslavia
Nope. Nope. And nope again. This should not be part of Christmas photos. With the scary-looking clown and the demented easter bunny, someone lost the memo that Christmas is a cheerful and joyful time. Even Santa looks wrong with his terrible unibrow and rosy cheeks. Somewhere this got lost in translation and Halloween got involved with this Yugoslavian Christmas photo. Luckily the kid doesn’t seem too phased, because this could traumatize an adult.
Remind us to never celebrate Christmas in Yugoslavia because we are pretty sure that we will never fully recover from their strange traditions. Cringey, for sure. Hilarious, not so much.
Creepy Santa
Creepy Santa’s should be a thing during Christmas time, especially when it comes to photos. This seems to be a recurring situation where Santa does not look like he is there to grant your gift wishes but rather to creep you out, make you not want to be there, and traumatize children for life. It may just be easier to explain to kids the real situation around Santa if you know what we mean.
Besides the creepy Santa though, at least this kid seemed relatively pleased to be on Santa’s lap even though he may not have got a glimpse of his face. It may just have been better.
Nicholson
This dad on Christmas morning looks like Jack Nicholson who had a rough Christmas Eve. At least he has some sort of Christmas spirit along with him, the patterned robe and a gift if that counts. We bet everyone is wondering why he looks so terrible for such a fun day. We will go with the idea that he is just violently hungover and could not be bothered with all this Christmas nonsense.
For a moment there we thought that was a flask in his hand, a “hair of the dog” situation. But unlucky for us, it was just a small gift he had just opened.
Auction Them
Poor aunt Helen worked very hard on these Christmas outfits just for them to be bashed a few years later by people around the world. To be fair, it is rather difficult to try and like these outfits as well as to try and find the Christmas part to them. They would have been perfect for Handmaids Tale or Midsommer instead, perhaps she should try auctioning them for the next seasons.
The two older girls seem quite pleased with them though, but the youngest one just could not bear it. At least she got away with not wearing the bonnet.
Sweaters
Matching sweaters are the in thing during Christmas time, but we can not say that these would make the cut for our modern-day society. She also obviously did not like their dad because he did not get one, although we are sure he did not make a fuss about it. These grey sweaters, although knitted well, seem a little far off from the Christmas theme as well. Maybe grandma was color blind.
It must have taken her a long time to knit all of these sweaters, just for them to be mocked a static TV screens years later. Luckily dad was off the hook with this one.
Clothing Choice
Although this photo was taken in 1992, it seems as though this family got stuck in the ’80s with the clothing choice. Now we understand photos were important in those days, so would you not think that they would have tried to look a bit happier for their Christmas photo. Mom is mid bubblegum chew, dad looks like he’s having a midlife crisis and baby is chilling as we have never seen someone chill before.
Hopefully, there is a less cringy and busy photo that was better suited for the time. If not, here is a lovely memory of how they all felt in 1992.
Awkward Shot
People can really take their sports far too seriously. When your swim team takes their Christmas photo in their swimsuits and still decorates the tree with award ribbons, then you should know you have made it far in the sports industry. These poor kids must have been freezing just for this one awkward shot to be taken, especially the young boy in his speedo. And why did the adults get to wear sweaters?
What could’ve made this photo even better was if they had worn their swim caps with Christmas decor on top, or at least just a Christmas hat. Still half undressed, but with a Christmas flare.
Pajamas
When mom said, “We should all wear our pajamas for our family Christmas photo”, she meant the ones they wear around the house, not once they wear in bed. Because now, this dad has made this Christmas photo look extremely awkward. All the girls wore these really cute Christmas pajamas and if the dad also had the same ones on, or something similar, then this photo would not be here.
Maybe this is something part of a “dad joke” and we just do not understand. But even if it were so, having dad and his manboobs in for the Christmas photo just does not work.
USSR
The Soviet times were strange times indeed. Why is Mickey mouse wearing Dumbo’s ears for a Christmas photo? And what is this little boy supposed to be? With his red spotted pointed hat and very un-Christmasy outfit, it is hard to tell. At least back then, Mickey Mouse could bring some sort of cheer during Christmas time, even if he had the wrong ears on and is carrying an alarm clock.
This picture looks extremely cringy, however, we may never understand what the meaning was behind this. It is however much better than a creepy Father Christmas face, that’s for sure.