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As much as we’d like the cursed year of 2020 to end without leaving it the opportunity to raise our cortisol levels from stress even further, it doesn’t mean that the Christmas holidays are canceled.

In fact, if you’re reading the post, I must give you a big round of applause for surviving it, ‘cause at this point, no one can be sure about virtually anything. Like whether or not we won’t choke on a turkey breast covered in gravy, or whether or not you might enter a warzone with your in-laws for making fun of Covid deniers.

But that doesn’t mean there were no fails. On the contrary, Christmas makes everyone super vulnerable to all kinds of failure. Like, receiving the worst Santa gifts, finding the perfume bottle you gifted to your loved one next to the toilet fresheners, or simply realizing your Christmas hasn’t been very merry—no one is immune to their fair share of festive breakdown.

I leave the stage to this merry Bored Panda compilation of all the what-ifs and oh-my-gods turned reality that just reminds us once again that this is not your usual Christmas. It’s Christmas: 2020 edition.

#1

There Was An Attempt To Wrap A Gift For Christmas

There Was An Attempt To Wrap A Gift For Christmas

midnighthunder0 Report

#2

My 81-Year-Old Grandma Didn't Look Close Enough At The Jumper She Bought For Xmas This Year

My 81-Year-Old Grandma Didn't Look Close Enough At The Jumper She Bought For Xmas This Year

_hummusapien Report

#3

My Sister Rented A Flat Here In North Of Iceland For Christmas, This Is Her View

My Sister Rented A Flat Here In North Of Iceland For Christmas, This Is Her View

maggipedia Report

The average British household spends around £500 on gifts during the traditional holiday season, equaling Americans who spend about $650, according to BBC. Let these numbers sink in for a moment. Gifting is a quintessential part of the Christmas season, the act which makes us all somehow happier, and even helps to make our relationships stronger.

Equally, choosing the wrong gift to your loved one or a family member can have a negative toll on your relationship with them. Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada told BBC that “choosing the wrong gift can be kind of risky for relationships because it says you don’t have anything in common.”

A similar 2008 study looked at how good and bad gifts can influence relationships. The results published in Social Cognition magazine showed that “males, as opposed to females, reported less similarity to their new romantic partner after receiving an undesirable gift, suggesting that males are more likely to react unfavorably to receiving gifts they do not want.”

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#6

Watched My Friends Dogs Today While They Were Gone, Tried To Get A Cute Picture For Them And Ended Up With Accidental Gem/Nightmare. Merry Christmas!

Watched My Friends Dogs Today While They Were Gone, Tried To Get A Cute Picture For Them And Ended Up With Accidental Gem/Nightmare. Merry Christmas!

jillyjillyjilio Report

Other studies have shown that while shopping for gifts, we tend to focus on the person’s unique traits. As a result, gifts become very specific, but it may lead us to “ignore other aspects of their wants and needs, which may make us buy them an inferior gift.” As an alternative, gifting the same things to multiple people won’t make them compare who got what, and they also may be happy with the same thing.

The question remains whether we, as a society, put too much importance on the vain side of Christmas. Stressing out about gifting and receiving gifts causes the danger of forgetting what we all gather for in the first place. After all, these unprecedented times that we live in now urge us to rethink our values and priorities and turn to increasingly everlasting things.

#7

Most Of My Gifts Are Stuck In A Distribution Center, And Have Been For Over 2 Weeks. Guess My Brother In Law Gets This

Most Of My Gifts Are Stuck In A Distribution Center, And Have Been For Over 2 Weeks. Guess My Brother In Law Gets This

TurtlesCantDrive Report

#8

My 6-Year-Old Got Tattoo Markers For Christmas And Disappeared For Half An Hour. Bonus: We Can't Get It To Come Off

My 6-Year-Old Got Tattoo Markers For Christmas And Disappeared For Half An Hour. Bonus: We Can't Get It To Come Off

stephicus Report

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Vic
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's one very mature looking and angry 6 year old :-D

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#9

That Is How You Know Your Mom Listens To Everything You Say

That Is How You Know Your Mom Listens To Everything You Say

BickertonMiss Report

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me
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To bee honest, those are pretty cute and those book's might bee good reads.

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#10

For Christmas, My Dad Received The Exact Outfit That He Was Wearing

For Christmas, My Dad Received The Exact Outfit That He Was Wearing

CircuitBoredom Report

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Cip IESAN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With this outfit nothing can go wrong, he really likes it!

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#12

Sister-In-Law Orders A Japanese Whiskey For Me Every Christmas. I Don’t Think She Read The Description This Time When She Shipped Me A $50 Bottle Of Soy Sauce

Sister-In-Law Orders A Japanese Whiskey For Me Every Christmas. I Don’t Think She Read The Description This Time When She Shipped Me A $50 Bottle Of Soy Sauce

Whippity Report

#13

My Girlfriend And I Bought Each Other The Exact Same Present. I've Never Laughed So Hard In My Life

My Girlfriend And I Bought Each Other The Exact Same Present. I've Never Laughed So Hard In My Life

joelham01 Report

#14

Well, Back To Video Games And Beer

Well, Back To Video Games And Beer

FlintTheDad Report

#15

I Ordered A 6ft Tall Rainbow Tree From A Facebook Ad And This Is What Showed Up. I'm Crying From Laughing So Hard, I've Never Had This Happen In Real Life

I Ordered A 6ft Tall Rainbow Tree From A Facebook Ad And This Is What Showed Up. I'm Crying From Laughing So Hard, I've Never Had This Happen In Real Life

soomanytomatoes Report

#16

I Got My 80 Yr Old Father This As A Gag Gift. When He Opened It, He Got All Embarrassed And Immediately Tucked It Away. Later, I Privately Asked Him Why He Got All Weird About It, And I Found Out That He Was Under The Impression That It Was A Sex Toy

I Got My 80 Yr Old Father This As A Gag Gift. When He Opened It, He Got All Embarrassed And Immediately Tucked It Away. Later, I Privately Asked Him Why He Got All Weird About It, And I Found Out That He Was Under The Impression That It Was A Sex Toy

PyroNecrophile Report

#17

My Parents (Late 70s) Got Me A PS5 Controller For Christmas. I Do Not Own A Playstation 5

My Parents (Late 70s) Got Me A PS5 Controller For Christmas. I Do Not Own A Playstation 5

Yabba_Dabbs Report

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Vic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But they tired to get you something they thought you would like, but they don't fully understand.

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#18

I Know It’s Supposed To Be A Soldier Kneeling But I Don’t See That

I Know It’s Supposed To Be A Soldier Kneeling But I Don’t See That

I_dont_remember_it Report

#19

12-Year-Old Set His Lawn On Fire After Getting Magnifying Glass For Christmas

12-Year-Old Set His Lawn On Fire After Getting Magnifying Glass For Christmas

Christmas Day was memorable to say the least! My twelve-year-old son Cayden, who is an avid reader, an honor student, and interested in science, asked for a magnifying glass for Christmas. (It’s like a basketball player asking for basketball shoes.) We thought it was for reading, but instead, he tried to see if he could light a fire with it! We discovered that he and his two brothers went out on the driveway to see if they could burn a couple holes in some newspaper. Everything was under control until the boys came running into the house telling us that a corner of the lawn was on fire and the Christmas lights were melting! Justin and I rushed outside to see the entire front lawn turning black! We grabbed buckets, turned on the hose and sprinklers, and I grabbed blankets to smother and trap it - before it could spread any more into the neighbors' yard! What a sight to see - a bunch of people running around crazy trying to put a front lawn fire out while wearing matching Christmas jammies!
I want to reiterate this was an accident. It could have been worse but it wasn’t. So instead of a tragedy, it will now be a Christmas to remember! 2019 - The Christmas lawn lit on fire. Oh and never buy a magnifying glass for your son!

nissalynn.parson Report

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#20

The Letters On My Holiday Bathroom Towel Wore Off

The Letters On My Holiday Bathroom Towel Wore Off

Aliciab12 Report

#21

Every Year My In-Laws Have A Gingerbread House Competition And Every Year I’m Still A Disappointment

Every Year My In-Laws Have A Gingerbread House Competition And Every Year I’m Still A Disappointment

smugman246 Report

#22

I’m A 23-Year-Old Man That Can Rebuild An Engine, Fabricate My Own Parts, And Drive Anything With A Steering Wheel. But For The Life Of Me Cannot Wrap An X-Mas Gift

I’m A 23-Year-Old Man That Can Rebuild An Engine, Fabricate My Own Parts, And Drive Anything With A Steering Wheel. But For The Life Of Me Cannot Wrap An X-Mas Gift

ratrodder49 Report

#23

What I Ordered vs. What I Got

What I Ordered vs. What I Got

dylanciaga Report

#24

My Wife Started Painting Ornaments For Christmas, And Only Realized After She Finished This Bird That She Did It Upside Down

My Wife Started Painting Ornaments For Christmas, And Only Realized After She Finished This Bird That She Did It Upside Down

even-hungrier Report

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Capelli rosa e patate
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still beautiful! Paint another on the other side facing the right direction and it looks intentional 😁

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#26

Wasn't On, Nobody Standing Near It, And My Oven Just Shattered. Just In Time For The Holidays

Wasn't On, Nobody Standing Near It, And My Oven Just Shattered. Just In Time For The Holidays

boozebonfire Report

#27

My Brother Got A Shirt For Christmas

My Brother Got A Shirt For Christmas

knochback Report

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Vic
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your brother looks a little pixelated, right around the face. He should see a good graphic designer for that..

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#28

Got This For Christmas Because I Always Lose My Keys, But Now I Can’t Find My Keys To Put It On The Keychain

Got This For Christmas Because I Always Lose My Keys, But Now I Can’t Find My Keys To Put It On The Keychain

roadtrip-ne Report

#29

Walked Outside To Leave For Work Today, And Some Kind Individual Stole All My Wheels. Happy Holidays

Walked Outside To Leave For Work Today, And Some Kind Individual Stole All My Wheels. Happy Holidays

Numbdeezy Report

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#30

Bought My Wife's Christmas Gift On 12/10 And Was So Proud Of Myself When I Paid Extra For Two-Day FedEx Shipping

Bought My Wife's Christmas Gift On 12/10 And Was So Proud Of Myself When I Paid Extra For Two-Day FedEx Shipping

It's been from WI to IL to NE to CO to NV to UT and is now in CA. I live on the East Coast.

ohmy00 Report

#31

After Buying Christmas Decorations For My House, I Was Biking Home And Was Hit By A Car (Hit And Run) Causing Me To Black Out From Massive Head Trauma. This Is How Much I Owe For My Ambulance Bill

After Buying Christmas Decorations For My House, I Was Biking Home And Was Hit By A Car (Hit And Run) Causing Me To Black Out From Massive Head Trauma. This Is How Much I Owe For My Ambulance Bill

ltran2645 Report

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Remi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah but you don't need universal healthcare in America... Omg...

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#32

When The Perfume You Bought Your Wife For Christmas Ends Up In The Toilet As 'Air Freshener'

When The Perfume You Bought Your Wife For Christmas Ends Up In The Toilet As 'Air Freshener'

baxterrocky Report

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Clever Dog
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

thats harsh if she didnt like it she could either A tell you and return it or B pretend and never wear it but this is just mean.

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Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

....She may actually want to smell it often and not have to figure out which scent to put on her if she has a lot already so she decided to put it there to get more use from it.

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Cathy Price
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I sometimes use perfume as air freshener cause I like it so much.

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Toast Of Saint Louis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My ex bought me some Hallie Berry perfume and I've never used. The bottle is beautiful but it fragrance stinks. He asked why I never wear and I don't have the heart to tell him it stinks and I don't like it. So I keep it got sentimental value.

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Isabel Care
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It might smell fine in the bottle, but it could react badly to her skin. I quite often smell as if I have been sprayed by a fox when trying out perfume.

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Khrystja
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's some potent stuff! The more you pay $$ the less fragrance it has, as well as, how soon the scent will fade on your body. Pay for a Costco gallon size cheap stuff, and your family will be able to smell you a week into the future!! "What's that smell?!" "Mom's coming to visit next week."

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Rosanna Jackson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe she has a scent she wears and he has never bothered to notice. Maybe she has even said she doesn't like this scent before. We don't know.

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Mae Mosse
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t wear perfume so if someone gave me one I’d probably use it as air freshener too, but maybe in another room not the loo.

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Brandi Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have the same perfume. I think it smells great. I haven’t found any Marc Jacobs I don’t like.

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Linda Robinett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Perfumes smell different on different people so maybe it did not smell good on her.

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Roy Phillips
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Simple: Find the scent she is using, then switch the two container's contents.

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elfin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spray various perfumes on my bathroom towels to scent the whole room.

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Carlota
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yeah I used to sell that marc jacobs perfume, not very popular

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Honey
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's Daisy! Such a beautiful fragrance. This is just rude.

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Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it means she likes it if she sprays it after herself! Constant smells. My husband, whom I have been with for 14 years, got me a giant Hersheys and I hate Hersheys! he thought I said I wanted a chocolate Santa, which he couldn't find. Never. I have said many times over the years I want a 5 lb gummy bear someday, and recently I told him they have a giant ring pop our daughter would like but I wasn't gonna get it. He got me long sloth socks when I have said I didnt like the long socks after all and actually took the socks he put on the Amazon list off months ago (he has no idea how to keep gifts under wraps and figured a shared Amazon account and putting gifts under a list bearing my name was the way to go. Also, I saw it was a package on its way...) He was also SO close-Got me bath bombs. I have talked for years how much I like bubble baths (big baths are my thing and he KNOWS), and a few weeks back I said I am excited our new house has a big tub so I can enjoy bath salts. Saw it on the bank statement.

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Colin Mochrie At Its Finest
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Adding-I know he doesn't remember the one time I used a bath bomb a few years back and was unimpressed. So, he tried. I want to say he confused salt and bomb.

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Adam C
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3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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James F. Wilson Jr.
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3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Attention a real perfume costs a lot more than $ 3.00 a bottle.

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#33

Dad's Christmas Hasn’t Been Very Merry

Dad's Christmas Hasn’t Been Very Merry

altjxx Report

#34

This 'Bottle Of Scotch' At My Office's White Elephant Gift Exchange Was Stolen Twice Before Anyone Opened It

This 'Bottle Of Scotch' At My Office's White Elephant Gift Exchange Was Stolen Twice Before Anyone Opened It

strooticus Report

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Dave In MD
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stolen means someone claimed it. The first person picks a gift, the next person and pick one or "steal: the one the first person got and then that person gets to pick another gift. The last person to pick has the best deal since they can "steal" gift from anyone or take the last remaining gift.

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#35

Apparently One Of Our Present From Family Was A Box Of Fudge. Dogs Figured It Out And Now There Is Puke All Over My House

Apparently One Of Our Present From Family Was A Box Of Fudge. Dogs Figured It Out And Now There Is Puke All Over My House

snarkicon Report

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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of my cats sat in a Christmas bag under the tree that contained a blanket for my mom. And peed. I washed it good, kept it, and bought my mom a new one and moved all the presents to my son's room where the kitties don't go. Its funny because out if the 4 blankets I bought for gifts, the cat peed on the exact one that I wanted for myself but was giving it to mom instead. So it worked out.

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#36

Ordered An Ortament That Was Described As Ceramic In The Description (Top Pic), What I Got Was The Other 2 Pics

Ordered An Ortament That Was Described As Ceramic In The Description (Top Pic), What I Got Was The Other 2 Pics

thestonernextdoor88 Report

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MrsPossum
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aah, the official ornament of 2020. Expectation versus crushing DISAPPOINTMENT!!! 🙃

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#37

My Friends In The Sky Decided To Leave Me A Christmas Present While I Was Away. Thanks, Guys

My Friends In The Sky Decided To Leave Me A Christmas Present While I Was Away. Thanks, Guys

jmel3312 Report

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Simon Clarke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a guy a dozen posts up with a black biohazard suit he might lend you.

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#38

When Your Puppy Chews Your Son’s Big Gift On Christmas Eve

When Your Puppy Chews Your Son’s Big Gift On Christmas Eve

istheresugarinsyrup Report

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#39

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas

mccalli Report

#40

Sibling Gift Exchange

Sibling Gift Exchange

rrrroasted Report

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Coco
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No need to buy presents if you are broken. But at least you could try to do something youself, intead of a sad empty box. What a wanker...

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Note: this post originally had 88 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.