20+ Hilarious Holiday Fails That Are Better Than Gifts

It's that time of year again! The snow is falling, the malls are packed with excited shoppers, and millions of people are gearing up to produce some of the most spectacular holiday fails you can imagine. We're talking demented Christmas cookies, dogs riding a sugar high, and decorations that will turn your neighbor's house into the talk of the town — and probably not for a good reason. Better strap in, then, because this sleigh ride is going to get bumpy!

70 Christmases later...

Getting gifts for people can be harder and harder as they age. After all, what do you give the guy who has lived through more than 70 Christmases? Well, we can't fault whoever gave this grandpa the exact same shirt he had on for Christmas dinner. At least they know he'll actually wear it!

Rockin' around the Christmas tree

This cat took "rockin' around the Christmas tree" to a whole new level. And by "a whole new level," we mean the floor. To be fair, a Christmas tree could easily be mistaken for a cat toy. Just look at the shiny ornaments, bendy branches, and irresistible tinsel! It's every kitty's dream.

Like your Christmas present, do you?

Yoda Claus is coming to town! And if there is a planet where Yoda is Saint Nick himself, then we'd like to hop into the Millennium Falcon and visit for Christmas, please. All jokes aside, you should know that one Redditor's grandma assumed the puzzle was of a spritely elf, not a wizened Jedi Master in a Santa suit...

Scary Christmas

"On a dark and stormy night, a man got the shock of a lifetime when he came upon two gigantic nutcrackers in the middle of nowhere..." Actually, the real story isn't quite as Halloween-y. This Redditor simply forgot about his rather imposing Christmas decorations, and when he turned his headlights on one morning, he "just about [soiled his] pants."

He's a mean one...

Let us guess: the Grinch has taken on a part-time job. Why else would so much lighter fluid be available at such low, low prices during the holiday season? If we know anything about the Whos down in Whoville, though, it's that they prefer to "light up Christmas" the old-fashioned way: with lights, not fire!

Cringy Christmas card

Be honest. You roll your eyes whenever you get a Christmas card from those relatives you barely know, don't you? The perfect smiles and painfully cheerful holiday sweaters can definitely start to feel stale after a while. Well, we doubt you'd roll your eyes if you got this card in the mail! Why did this woman want to pose with sheep for Christmas, anyway?

A very merry mess

Is it the cold weather, the nostalgia, or the absolute rush of sugar that makes baking such a delight during the holiday season? Whatever it is, it turned what should have been a merry masterpiece into a depressing disaster. Those orange cupcake eyes will haunt our dreams.

Nightmare before Christmas

Remember that nightmare we all had as kids? The one when we accidentally showed up to school in only our underwear? Well, this is the grown-up version of that. This guy showed up to work hoping he'd impress his co-workers with his holiday spirit, but he ended up bumping into corporate instead!

Oh thumb, let us adore him

Just when we thought we'd be able to avoid putting any horrible Christmas ornaments on this list, we came across this monstrosity. Sure, it looks like an innocent baby Jesus up close, but from afar? It's a severed toe. Or thumb, depending on your perspective.

Up on the rooftop...

What's that we hear on the roof? Could it be... reindeer hoofs? Jingle bells? Santa's sleigh?! Oh, wait. The cat's just stuck in the wall again. And we gotta say, it's pretty rude of the feline to cause such a commotion. She didn't even bring a sack full of toys!

Same shirt #2

Well, well, well. Looks like the unimaginative gift-giving from the beginning of this list has returned. It's no wonder this kid looks so unenthused — he's holding the same exact shirt as the one he's already wearing! And we'd be disappointed too, kid. Whatever happened to toys and candy?

This DIY disaster

Christmas is a great time to experiment with decorative DIYs. Just don't expect them all to be a slam dunk. Yup, even something as simple as ice can get complicated if this person's DIY disaster is any indication. What was supposed to be colorful Christmas decor ended up looking like melty sherbet!

Where's Snoopy?

Remember the tree from A Charlie Brown Christmas? This is him now. Feel old yet? In all seriousness, this, uh, unique Christmas tree could totally be a relative of the one from A Charlie Brown Christmas. They're nearly identical, from the sparse needles to the wilted branches. Maybe if we sing around it, it'll magically transform into something beautiful!

Ho ho... huh?

Honestly, there's not much to say about this picture beyond "How did this happen?" Did no one during the manufacturing process take a step back and see what they created? Sure, it's fun for the kids, but just think about how Santa feels! This can't be pleasant for him, no matter how jolly he seems to be.

Cookie monsters

Don't be surprised if Santa gives these cookies a hard pass. There's just something about them that makes us feel uneasy. Maybe it's the soulless googly eyes, but we have a feeling that eating one of these sugary creations would result in Christmas Eve nightmares. And what even is that orange creature?!

Ornament-shaped ornaments

Well... they're not wrong. "I'm going to put them on my Christmas tree-shaped Christmas tree," a Redditor captioned this image, and they're not wrong, either. Here's an idea: why don't they buy these bells with their money-shaped money, drive home in their car-shaped car, and wrap them in wrapping paper-shaped wrapping paper? Just a suggestion-shaped suggestion.

A bloody good time

Imagine getting this gift in the mail? It looks like something Santa would send as a threat to an unruly elf. And we'd probably call the cops before realizing that it's paint decorating the outside, not blood! Phew, for a minute there, we thought we were on Santa's naughty list for sure.

Deck the stalls

Is it possible to take the Christmas spirit too far? Ask whoever buys this festive plunger, and you'll be met with a jolly "heck no"! After all, who doesn't want to be inundated with Christmas cheer in the bathroom? Unclogging the toilet just became a lot merrier... and more difficult, judging by those pesky branches.

He sees you when you're sleeping...

Look at this picture from afar, and it probably seems perfectly normal. Who doesn't like a smiling Santa from time to time? But if you peer a little closer, you'll notice something horrifying: the frozen faces of children. Were these kids on the naughty list at some point? We have so many questions for ol' Saint Nick here.

A haircut for Christmas

Is it really Christmas if your child doesn't end up in tears at least once? What started out as a perfectly pleasant morning got a little, well, knotty when this poor girl got a brand new drone tangled up in her hair. Looks like she'll also be getting a haircut for Christmas!

Santa's stressed

Look, December is the busiest time of year for ol' Saint Nick. He spends every waking hour either tinkering away in his workshop, dealing with bratty kids, or checking his darn list over and over again. It's no wonder this doll version of Santa looks so crazed. He hasn't slept for weeks!

Rudolph's rump

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer had a very shiny..." Well, you know the rest. We can almost guarantee that whoever walks by this merry decoration isn't going to notice Rudolph's nose, though. Yep, there's something far more cheeky on display at this house! Whether they realize it or not, these homeowners are giving their neighbors quite the show.

Sorry, Allison!

Tell us you don't approve of your daughter-in-law without telling us you don't approve of your daughter-in-law. "My parents made my wife a stocking for Christmas" is the simple caption this Redditor used to describe this pic. We think "make" is too strong a word; "found in a pile of dirty clothes" is more fitting. Poor Allison!

Merry snooze-mas

As if the holiday season wasn't hectic enough, let's add a cranky toddler to the mix! To be fair, being a kid at Christmas is exhausting. You have to write a letter to Santa, decorate a Christmas tree, eat dozens of cookies, and, most importantly, you have to be on your best behavior at all times. We can't blame this little guy for taking a nap at the airport!

It's a major award!

We bet you recognized this major award immediately. But according to the lamp's owner, not everyone has such refined taste. Apparently, this Redditor's neighbors even questioned him about the "weird, gross leg" in his front window. Don't they know Italian craftsmanship when they see it?! We triple dog dare them to watch A Christmas Story this year.

Same shirt #3

Seriously, people?! As disappointing as it must be to receive a present you already own, at least it's a sign that the gift-giver really knows you. Plus, it makes for a very entertaining unwrapping experience for everyone else in the room, if this guy's stunned face is any indication!

Bad Santa

Okay, you really shouldn't do what Santa says in this case! We can't think of a worse place to put a "jump for joy" sign except for, perhaps, the very top of a volcano. Instead of "jumping for joy" on a bridge, why don't you "carefully and cautiously walk to a secure location" instead?

Here comes Santaur

There's a lot to unpack here. Actually, don't — it's probably best for this creature to stay in his packaging. We're not sure how or why Santaur here got the green light, but who knows? Maybe he'll become the unofficial mascot of Christmas one day. Nothing screams festive quite like horse legs.

Chaotic Christmas

A foot plowing through the attic ceiling — doesn't this just shout Christmas? The chaos of this moment pretty much encapsulates the holiday season for us. And according to one Redditor, all his wife had wanted to do was get their Christmas tree from the attic. If only she had realized there was drywall up there...

Tighty lighties

We're not in Whoville anymore! Clearly, whoever decided on this town's holiday decor — or more specifically, the shape — put about one second of thought into it. We gotta admit it's still a pretty design, even if it isn't exactly kid-friendly. 'Tis the season!

Messy Christmas

What began as a merry Christmas morning turned into a messy Christmas mourning (sorry) when this cake ended up on the floor. But seriously, seeing those delicious, sugar-encrusted bananas all over the tiles makes us wonder if there really is a Santa. How could he allow something like this to happen?!

Onto the naughty list

It's hard to tell from this picture, but this dog has caused sheer Christmas-time chaos. That tree is actually supposed to be standing upright, and those ornaments scattered across the floor should really be on the tree. And this dog with the innocent grin? Well, he's just another pup who has made his way onto the naughty list... for now, anyway.

A reindeer treat

When will Santa learn to clean up after his reindeer?! Oh, wait... it's just chocolate. Leave it to Reese's to make one of the most delicious candies ever created look like, well, something a reindeer left behind. Be extra careful the next time you find a peanut butter cup lying around!

All I want for Christmas is a nap

It's around 8 p.m. on Christmas day, which means one thing: meltdown time! Whether you're overloaded with Christmas cheer like this tyke or a flustered parent riding a post-egg nog high, take a few minutes for yourself today. After all, there are only 364 days until it starts all over again!

Hoppy the elf

This Elf on the Shelf spent a little too much time in the ceiling lamp — something the child of the house hopes to avoid repeating. That's why they wrote him this adorable/vaguely threatening note! And, yeah, best to actually put the doll on a shelf next time — especially if you don't want a house fire for Christmas.

Merry cashmas!

The only thing worse than this happening on Christmas is grandma getting run over by a reindeer! In all seriousness, we can't imagine what we'd do if we accidentally ripped a $100 bill. Scream? Cry? Plead with Santa Claus for a second chance?! We guess there's always Scotch Tape...

Satan Claus

Ah yes, the classic Santa/Satan mix-up. If only the two names didn't share so many of the same letters. The fact that this sign is for an elementary school only makes things worse (and, we'll admit, a little bit funny). Just keep an eye on the kids who do show up — maybe they didn't misread the sign at all...

Stealing Christmas just got easier

He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake... except not really, since these terribly placed decorations are completely covering up the security cameras. We hope someone ended up moving that wreath, or we may end up with yet another Grinch situation on our hands.

The naughty puppy list

Looks like someone is getting coal for Christmas. And don't give us those puppy dog eyes, they won't work... seriously, they won't! Sigh. Fine, we won't tell Santa — but only if you clean up all this wrapping paper!

Trio of carolers

Four carolers make a delightful quartet, but three? That's just ridiculous! We blame the packaging, which clearly got confused somewhere along the way. Hopefully, there's a fourth caroler straggling in the back of the box. Otherwise, their rendition of "Jingle Bells" is bound to be a letdown!