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Knitted sweaters, questionable Santas, and a sock-full of mandarins. Ah, Christmas. The only thing missing now is a photo that captures all of the chaos.

Awkward Family Photos is a friendly place online where everyone can come together and share their uncomfortable family moments. Mike Bender and Doug Chernack started the project by posting a few childhood photos of their own, and the site quickly took off and became an Internet sensation.

Bored Panda covered Awkward Family Photos some time ago but since the holiday season is just around the corner, let's not forget what matters at this time of year—laughing at yourself and your loved ones. Oh, and cherishing the memories you shared, of course.

More info: awkwardfamilyphotos.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Discover more in 50 Hilarious Family Christmas Photos Shared By People Who Cringe At Them Today

Click here & follow us for more lists, facts, and stories.

#1

My Uncle, Comforting My Father After Breaking A Toy On Christmas Morning, 1969. That’s Brotherly Love

Two young boys in vintage sweaters, one comforting the other, in a nostalgic family Christmas photo moment.

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Bender said that holidays really do mean more awkward shots. "Families are more likely to get together and take photos," he told Bored Panda. "Plus, a lot of families have holiday traditions like dressing up in matching outfits which always leads to [even more] awkwardness."

But Bender said there are other occasions that produce these pictures too. Like birthdays. Someone will undoubtedly capture the kids in their most (you guessed it) awkward stages of life. And weddings. "You are bringing together not just one awkward family but two and generally, people are intoxicated and I don't think I have to explain how that can get weird," he pointed out. Lastly, he mentioned hospital delivery photos. The mothers never seem as enthusiastic about taking pictures as the dads!

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    #2

    We Were Taking Our Family Christmas Photo, And Let’s Just Say The Dogs Weren’t In A Holly Jolly Mood. This Photo Was The Worst Of The Batch, But Now It’s A Conversation Starter. We Keep It Right By The Entrance Of Our Home Here In St. Louis

    Three people in white turtlenecks holding dogs that are snarling in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    "The pandemic has brought all families closer together. We're spending more time with each other and so we're also taking more photos. Also, we truly can't get away from our family when we're in quarantine so that ensures lots of awkward moments. As far as Christmas, we like to say it's the most awkward time of the year and the gift that keeps on giving."

    #3

    The Only Baby Picture I Have. Why?

    Smiling baby wearing colorful overalls sitting in front of a decorated Christmas tree in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #4

    Being In A Family With Five Children, You Hardly Ever Get A Great Photo With All The Kids. 27 Years Later My Sister Decided We Should Reenact This Photo On The One Day A Year We All Get Together

    Hilarious family Christmas photos with matching outfits and props recreated years later in front of a decorated tree.

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    #5

    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

    Family posing with Santa in a festive setting, capturing one of the hilarious family Christmas photos that people now cringe at.

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    #6

    My Boss, Who Has 6 Kids, Captured Every Sibling Dynamic Possible In One Photo

    Family Christmas photo of kids opening gifts with mixed reactions in front of a decorated Christmas tree and festive wrapping.

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    #7

    The Infamous Christmas Photo Shoot Of 1984. Dad’s Short-Shorts And High Socks Highlighted His Fashion-Forward Attitude And Athleticism; My Sister’s Cheerleading Perfection Revealed Her Vow To Never Look Bad In Any Photo- Ever, And My Single Jazz Hand Stance Complete This Awkward Family Christmas Card From Over 30 Years Ago

    Vintage family Christmas photo with awkward holiday outfits and stockings hanging on desert cactus outdoors.

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    #8

    This Was The Picture That My Family Sent Out As Our Family Christmas Card Back In '91

    Child in vintage vampire costume posing awkwardly near Christmas tree in a hilarious family Christmas photo cringe moment

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    #9

    This Is The Photo My Grandmother Sent Out As Her X-Mas Card In The Early 70s

    Vintage family Christmas photo with awkward poses and expressions, capturing hilarious and cringe-worthy holiday moments.

    She didn’t like my dad’s not-smiling face so she cut out one from a different picture, pasted it in place and sent it to the printers. Note the glue on my dad’s face where grandma had attempted to affix the smiling face before it shifted during printing. Still one of the funniest things ever sent to more than 200 friends and family

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    #10

    Merry Christmas From Your Friendly, Neighborhood Mall Goths, 2005

    Family Christmas photo with people in gothic makeup and outfits posing with a Santa Claus, creating a hilarious and cringe-worthy scene.

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    #11

    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

    Three children in matching colorful patterned dresses posing in front of a Christmas tree in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #12

    My Memories Of Meeting Santa Are Fond Ones. I Came Across This Pic, However, And Was Startled By The Look On This Particular Santa’s Face. He Looks A Little Less Interested In What I Want For Christmas, And A Little More Interested In How I’d Taste In A Stew

    Child looking uneasy sitting on Santa Claus's lap amid vintage Christmas decorations in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #13

    Christmas Was Scary In Yugoslavia

    Vintage family Christmas photo with people in unusual costumes including Santa, a clown, and a white animal suit posing with a child.

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    #14

    My Dad Built This To Protect The Tree From The Cat

    Christmas tree decorated with colorful ornaments enclosed in a wooden cage to protect it, family Christmas photo cringe moment.

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    #15

    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

    Family dressed in red and black outfits posing on a red bench in front of a decorated Christmas tree for holiday photos.

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    #16

    We Were Trying To Create A Winter Wonderland Scene And Save Money By Shooting Our Own Picture. We Ended Up With Almost 90 Photos That All Looked Like This, So We Just Went With It And This Year I Got Actual Requests To Post This Card

    Two young children in festive outfits capture a hilarious family Christmas photo with playful and awkward expressions.

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    #17

    Our Photographer Sent Us All The Images From Our Holiday Photo Session Including This One And I Love It

    Two children sitting in a festive setting with Christmas decorations and a plush reindeer toy, capturing family Christmas photo moments.

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    #18

    Mom, There’s A Reason There Wasn’t A Line To See This Santa…

    Santa Claus holding a distressed baby in a family Christmas photo that captures a hilarious and awkward holiday moment.

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    #19

    The Moment My Mom Realized I Was Going To Be A Handful

    Family Christmas photo from the 80s showing awkward expressions and festive outfits in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

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    #20

    I Tried To Get Some Christmas Card Photos With My Boys This Year. My 5 Year Old Was Not Having It And Refused To Cooperate (Look Under The Sign). But This One Took The Cake For Me Since The Baby Is Puking As Well

    Family Christmas photo with a woman laughing and kids in festive outfits posing in a red vintage truck decorated with wreaths.

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    #21

    This Is The 2006 Christmas Card Photo That We Sent Out, With Our 6-Year-Old English Bulldog, Joan

    Family Christmas photo with parents, baby, and dog in festive sweater by decorated fireplace and holiday wreath.

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    #22

    This Is A Picture Of My Dad And Uncles Sitting With Santa. My Uncle Tex Is The Youngest Who Was Clearly A Bit Nervous

    Group of children in vintage sweaters looking unsure while sitting with Santa in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #23

    The Year My Father Got My Mother A Hoover For Christmas, 1984

    Woman sitting on couch in a messy living room with Christmas tree, illustrating hilarious family Christmas photos cringe moment.

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    #24

    Every Romanian Child's Christmas Summed Up In One Picture

    Vintage family Christmas photo with a child held by a person in a creepy Santa Claus costume indoors.

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    #25

    My Sister And I Thought It Might Be A Good Idea To Have Our Kids’ Photos Taken As A Christmas Present For My Mom. With Two Hungry, Tired Newborn Babies And A Bored 3 Year Old, It Was Quite Possibly The Worst Day Of Our Lives. This Was The Best Pic We Could Get Of All Three Of Them

    Three children in matching plaid outfits posing awkwardly by a Christmas tree in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #26

    This Is A Picture Of Me Around Age 3 Or 4, Meeting St. Nicolas Himself In Poland. This Would Explain My Fear Of Clowns

    Vintage family Christmas photo with child holding doll sitting next to person dressed as Santa, capturing hilarious holiday moments.

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    #27

    This Was Supposed To Be Our Christmas Card. It Turns Out She Just Hated That Sweater

    Young girl crying while holding a red JOY sign in front of a decorated Christmas tree in a family holiday photo.

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    #28

    My Boyfriend When He Was 3. The Ussr Was A Strange Time

    Child dressed as clown standing next to oversized mouse figure in a vintage family Christmas photo setting.

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    #29

    Me And My Parents, December 1992

    Family posing awkwardly in front of a Christmas tree wearing retro 90s clothing in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #30

    Christmas In Frankfurt, Germany, 1998. My Grandma Knitted Sweaters For My Granddad, Cousin, Brother And Me

    Family Christmas photo with matching sweaters showing a father, grandfather, and three children posing indoors.

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    #31

    The Holidays Are The Cringiest Time Of The Year!

    Child covering face while sitting on person dressed in creepy Santa costume in hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #32

    One Year Old Me, Santa In Furry Slippers And The Most Disturbing And Scary Befana Ever. Italy, 1996 (In Italy The Befana Is Supposed To Be An Old, Kind Woman Who Deliver Gifts To Kids On Epiphany Eve

    Child standing nervously near a person dressed as Santa and another in creepy mask in funny family Christmas photo.

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    #33

    This Photo Is From Azerbaijan Which Is Old Ussr Country. I Was 6 Years Old In This Last Day Of 1999. It Is Nice To See How East And West Meld In One Photograph

    Child in a mouse costume standing next to a heavily decorated Christmas tree in a vintage family Christmas photo.

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    #34

    Christmas Sometime In The Early/Mid 90s And This Is Me And My Two Sisters. My Neighbor Worked For Marlboro Cigarettes And My Mother Decided That Since Their Company Sweatshirts Were Red, We Should All Wear Them For Our Christmas Pictures

    Vintage family Christmas photo with kids in matching hoodies and a man dressed as Santa, part of hilarious family Christmas photos.

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    #35

    So Many Amazing Things About This Picture. I Am The Beauty With The Middle Part Bangs Accompanied By My Life Size Barbie. My Mom Is Clearly Feeling What Every Mother On Christmas Feels While My Dad Is 90’s Fabulous

    Family posing awkwardly in front of a decorated Christmas tree in a hilarious family Christmas photo from the past.

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    #36

    When I Was A Kid, My Mom, Who Is A Seamstress, Would Make Funky Gifts Every Year For Christmas. Sometime In The Late 80s, She Got Her Hands On Some Giant Men’s Underwear And Made Sports Bra’s Out Of Them. Hence, My Two Aunts And Grandma Modeling Them On Christmas Eve

    Three women posing awkwardly in matching white tank tops near a Christmas tree in a cluttered living room, family Christmas photo.

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    #37

    My Husband's Coworker When She Was A Kid

    Vintage family Christmas photo of a serious child sitting on Santa Claus's lap, capturing a hilarious holiday moment.

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    #38

    Christmas Morning, And Everybody Except Young Tim (Middle) Gets A New Bike. We As Parents Should Have Anticipated The Reaction

    Children riding bikes indoors in a family Christmas photo that brings hilarious cringe and nostalgic holiday memories.

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    #39

    The Santa Display Was Sad, And Santa Looks Even Sadder. I Found This Pic Of Me With Santa And Couldn’t Help But Notice The Surroundings And His Miserable Look

    Child sitting on a man dressed as Santa Claus in a vintage, hilarious family Christmas photo from the cringe collection.

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    #40

    I Refused To Sit On Its Lap

    Vintage family Christmas photo with two children and a person dressed as a poorly made Santa Claus indoors.

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    #41

    Me And Another Small Town Goth Going Dancing At A Winter Formal

    Two people posing awkwardly in a vintage setting with Christmas decorations in a hilarious family Christmas photo.

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    #42

    My Brother And Me, Circa 1977, With The Credit Union Santa And His Creepy Bear Sidekick

    Vintage family Christmas photo with children sitting on Santa and a person in a bear costume, capturing a hilarious moment.

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    #43

    This Picture Was Taken In About 1952. The Boy Sitting On The Lap Of ‘Santa’ Is My Husband’s Cousin, Teddy. ‘Santa’ Is ‘Uncle Bob’ Who Apparently Didn’t Notice That His Mask Was Melting Off. My Husband Thankfully Doesn’t Remember Any Of This. No Word If Little Teddy Ever Recovered From The Trauma

    Vintage family Christmas photo with children sitting with a person dressed as Santa, capturing a hilarious and awkward moment.

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    #44

    Christmas 1998. I'm The One Crying

    Family Christmas photo with children and Santa, showing a mix of smiles and awkward expressions, capturing hilarious holiday moments.

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    #45

    My Mom Took My Brother, Sister And I To The Mall To Get A “Nice” Santa Photo Taken. When She Picked Up The Photo, She Was Outraged

    Three children posing with a man dressed as Santa in a vintage funny family Christmas photo from an awkward holiday session.

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