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The holidays are a time for joy, love, and, apparently, completely baffling gift choices. From awkward gag gifts to the genuinely head-scratching, people have unwrapped it all. Ready to dive into the wonderfully weird world of holiday gifting gone wrong?
“My Manager Gave me a Nicolas Cage Sequin Pillow.”
“Last year, my manager gave me a Nicolas Cage sequin pillow, inspired by a joke among colleagues about a jumper plastered with his face.
I never bought the jumper but found the idea hilarious. Nicolas Cage as a meme, appearing on quirky products, always makes me laugh endlessly.
Now, the pillow sits proudly in my bedroom. It’s a funny icebreaker and a warm, quirky welcome for guests who visit my space.”
“My Girlfriend’s Aunt Got Me Every Reese’s Product Imaginable After I Told Her I Love Them.”
“When my girlfriend’s aunt asked what I wanted for Christmas, I casually mentioned loving Reese’s, expecting a few candy bars. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
She went all out, enlisting her friends to gather every Reese’s product imaginable. They found candy, cereal, socks, shirts, mugs, and even calendars.
The gift box was a Reese’s overload with around 50 items. I still have leftover candy I couldn’t finish or give away to family.”
“Last Christmas, My Aunt Gave Me a Prayer Candle Featuring Taylor Swift.”
“My aunt knows I’m a big Taylor Swift fan. Last Christmas, she gave me a prayer candle featuring Taylor in an astronaut suit. I was baffled.
Not being religious, I didn’t even know what a prayer candle was. Eventually, I just found it hilariously random and embraced the quirkiness.
It likely came from a dollar store, but I love weird gifts. My aunt knew I’d appreciate the strange charm of Taylor Swift in space.”
“I Got a Horse Head Mask. I Still Don’t Know Who Send It.”
“A few days ago, a box arrived at my door. Since I never get packages, I was immediately curious and opened it to investigate.
Inside the cardboard box was another, wrapped in festive Christmas paper. Opening that revealed a horse head mask, leaving me laughing in surprise.
I tried calling people I thought might be responsible, but no one confessed. Eventually, I gave up, embracing the mystery of the anonymous gift.”
“My Friend Gifted Me Something I Originally Bought Myself.”
“I got a moose plush during a rugby tour in Canada. Back home, my friend and I turned it into a hilarious hide-and-seek challenge.
We stashed the moose everywhere, sneaking it into homes, bags, and even cars. He once hid it in my shoe box, knowing I’d check there constantly.
After six months, he won by gifting the moose back to me for Christmas. My challenge? Ice skating, which I was terrible at. He played me perfectly!”
“My Mom Gave Me a Glue Stick for Christmas.”
“Every year, my mom gives small gifts like socks or books. Last Christmas, she handed me a glue stick and casually wandered off, leaving me perplexed.
I opened it, confused, and looked at my dad. He just shrugged and said, “It’s really good glue.” The randomness had me laughing.
I never asked my mom why she chose it, though. Knowing her, it wasn’t her first time gifting something hilariously weird, and it probably won’t be the last.”
“When I Was About Eight Years Old, my Grandmother Gave me a Baked Potato Wrapped in Tinfoil. I Cried for Two Hours.”
“When I was eight, my grandmother gave me a baked potato wrapped in tinfoil as a gift. I didn’t understand and was completely heartbroken.
At that age, I’d expected toys or candy, not something I thought belonged on a dinner plate. The disappointment hit hard, and I cried.
Looking back, it’s a funny story we laugh about now. My grandmother’s quirky gift-giving became a family joke, but at the time, it was tragic.”
“When I was 10 my Brother Gave Me a Dead Hummingbird.”
“When I was ten, my little brother proudly announced he had a special Christmas present for me. On Christmas morning, he handed me a carefully taped box.
As I unwrapped it, I noticed a strange smell but assumed it was just from an old box stored in the basement. I was wrong.
Inside was a dead hummingbird, an earthworm, and some saltines. Apparently, the crackers were for the worm and bird to snack on. It was bizarrely thoughtful.”
“My Mom Gave Me a Book Called This Is Why You’re Single.”
“One Christmas, my mom handed me a book titled This Is Why You’re Single. I sat there, stunned, wondering if this was a joke or an intervention.
The room went awkwardly silent as I tried to force a laugh, but internally, I was screaming, “Really, Mom?!” Not exactly the holiday cheer I was expecting.
It wasn’t just a gift; it felt like a roast. To this day, I still cringe at the memory, even though I’ve been married for many years now.”
“When I Was 11, my Grandma Gave me One-Half of a Pool Cue.”
“Christmas, 1993. I was 11 when my grandma gave me half of a pool cue. The other half? She gifted that to my 8-year-old brother.
Her grand plan? “See? You can only use it if you cooperate and share!” The kicker? We didn’t even own a pool table. Absolute chaos.
We just stared at each other, holding our useless sticks, while Grandma beamed with pride. To this day, it’s the most baffling “teamwork lesson” we’ve ever received.”
“I Got a Bunch of Tupperware for Christmas When I Was 12.”
“When I was 12, my parents gifted me a bunch of Tupperware for Christmas. Yep, nothing says “holiday magic” like a stack of plastic containers.
Their logic? Since I did the dishes, I’d obviously love organizing leftovers. My friends got toys; I got kitchenware. I wasn’t exactly thrilled.
Looking back, it’s funny, but at the time, I felt completely cheated. Who gives a kid Tupperware? Apparently, my parents thought it was genius.”
“When I Was in College, my Sister Gifted me a 40-pound Donald Duck Cement Lawn Ornament.”
“When I was in college, my sister gifted me a 40-pound Donald Duck cement lawn ornament for Christmas. Problem? I didn’t have a lawn—or a love for Donald Duck.
She, however, has an army of lawn ornaments in her yard. My guess? She realized last minute she had nothing for me and grabbed whatever was nearby on her way out the door.
I sat there, staring at this heavy, useless duck, wondering what on earth to do with it. It was the most absurd “thoughtful” gift I’d ever received.”
“My Mom Got Me a Framed Painting of Two Penguins.”
“Last year, my mom ditched my Christmas list, deciding surprises were better. One of her “surprises”? A framed painting of two penguins. I was utterly baffled.
I unwrapped it, trying to smile, but all I could think was, “Why penguins? Why me?” It wasn’t exactly a dream gift.
Now, the painting sits in my closet, untouched for a year. It’s a mystery if she thought I’d love it or just found it on sale.”
“Some Family Members Once Got Me a Woven Basket as a Gift. They Ask for It Back That Same Evening.”
“One year, I went to an extended family Christmas gathering and was handed a lovely woven basket as a gift. I thought, “Well, this is nice.”
Not even ten minutes later, they asked for it back. Apparently, the basket “meant something” to them, though they never explained what exactly.
So there I was, empty-handed and confused, wondering why they even gave it to me in the first place. It was the best “gift” I never got to keep!”
“I Got a Pet Rat.”
“At 26, I received a pet rat as a gift. Why? I once mentioned to someone that I liked the school’s pet rat in elementary school decades earlier.
Initially, I was baffled. A rat? Really? But soon enough, the little guy won me over with his charm and became a surprisingly delightful companion.
He turned out to be the best rat boy ever. We were heartbroken when he passed two years later, but his unexpected arrival remains one of the most memorable gifts.”
“Back in High School, My Grandma Got Me a Space Heater For Christmas. I Hated It at First, But I Use It Even Today, 20 Years Later.”
“Back in high school, I casually mentioned during a visit that my bedroom was cold at night. Come Christmas, Nana gifted me… a space heater.
As a teenager dreaming of video games, I mustered a forced smile and thanked her while secretly lamenting all the cool loot I could’ve had instead.
That night, I begrudgingly plugged it in. Game-changer. My room was cozy, and I gave Nana a heartfelt thank-you on my next visit. Two decades later, I’m still using that space heater.”
“I Got a Can of Shaving Cream. I Was 11 and Couldn’t Grow a Mustache to Save My Life.”
“One Christmas, I unwrapped a can of shaving cream. The problem? I was 11 years old and couldn’t grow a mustache if my life depended on it.
Thirteen years later, not much has changed—I still can’t grow one. The can? I’m pretty sure it’s still collecting dust under my bathroom sink.
It’s probably expired by now, but hey, it’s a hilarious reminder of one of the most useless gifts I’ve ever received. Thanks for the optimism, though!”
“One Christmas, my Parents Gave me a Juggling Kit. I’ve Never Shown Any Interest in Circus-Related Activities.”
“One Christmas, my parents gave me a juggling kit. A few months later, for my birthday, they upped the ante with a unicycle.
The catch? I had never once shown any interest in circus-related activities. No clowns, no acrobatics—just a random leap into the world of juggling and unicycling.
To this day, I’m still wondering what inspired this circus career they imagined for me. Spoiler: I never mastered either, but the mystery of their intentions remains entertaining.”
“As a Kid, a Family Member Gifted a Used, Women’s Size 8 skirt. Naturally, it Didn’t Fit.”
“One Christmas, a family member gifted me (10) and my sister (11) a single, used, women’s size 8 skirt. Naturally, it didn’t fit either of us.
To make it even more bizarre, our mom didn’t wear that size either; we were all pretty skinny. It left everyone scratching their heads.
Thankfully, we haven’t seen that person in years. But that random skirt? It still stands as the most confusing and hilariously inappropriate gift we ever received.”
“My Uncle Got Me PopCorn For Christmas.”
“One Christmas, my family held a gift exchange where adults drew names months in advance, and my uncle, also my godfather, had me.
Due to ongoing family drama, he skipped the party but dropped off my gift beforehand. When I opened it, it was a single bag of popcorn with nuts and chocolate drizzle.
People kept asking what I got, and my answer, “I’m eating it,” left everyone horrified. One outraged uncle even slipped me $50 out of pity. It was an awkwardly memorable Christmas moment.”
“My Grandma Gave Me A Broken Statue of the Virgin Mary.”
“The weirdest holiday gift I ever received came from my devout Catholic grandmother, who went to mass daily. Her presents were usually holy cards, rosaries, or prayer books.
When I was thirteen, she gave me a statue of the Virgin Mary wrapped in newspaper. As I unwrapped it, the painted face smiled at me—until the head rolled out separately.
She casually explained, “I dropped it in the St. Scholastica parking lot.” I wasn’t sure whether to laugh, glue it, or put the headless statue on the mantle. It remains one of the most bizarre gifts I’ve ever unwrapped.”
“When My Brother Hit Puberty, my Parents Gave Him a Basket Full of Personal Hygiene Goods. He Was Not Happy.”
“When my brother hit puberty, my parents gave him a gift basket filled with breath mints, tongue scrapers, mouthwash, soaps, loofahs, and multiple deodorants. It wasn’t subtle.
He immediately got the message and was far from thrilled. His face, a mix of shock and embarrassment, made it clear he wasn’t pleased.
Though practical, it was hardly the Christmas gift he’d hoped for. To this day, it’s the most awkwardly honest present in our family’s history.”
“When I Was Just Nine Years Old, My Parents Got Me A Survival Kit For Christmas.”
“When I was nine, my parents gave me a survival kit for Christmas. It included a gear fit for someone heading straight into the wilderness alone.
There were matches, a compass, a whistle, and a flashlight—everything a kid might need if they were being left in the woods.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d missed some sort of message. It was both practical and oddly unsettling for a holiday gift.”
“My Husband Gave Me a Shirtless Army Ken Doll With His Face Taped Onto It.”
“One Christmas morning in 2005, I opened a gift from my husband: a shirtless army Ken doll. His smiling face was taped onto its head.
I still can’t figure out what message he was trying to send with this odd, homemade masterpiece. Was it a joke? Some kind of weird symbolism?
Maybe he thought it was clever or wanted to channel his inner action hero. Whatever his intentions were, I’m still scratching my head!”
“I Got a Massive Basket of Candy, the Kind Meant for Diabetics. I’m not Diabetic.”
“One year, I got a massive basket of candy, the kind meant for diabetics—totally sugar-free. Funny thing? I’m not diabetic, but the gifter was.
This wasn’t some small token either; it was a $100-size basket packed with goodies I didn’t really need. Talk about a confusing present!
I’ve racked my brain, but I still can’t figure out why they thought that was a good idea. Maybe they secretly wanted it back?”
“One Year My Grandma Got Me a Plastic Bag Full of 40 Combs.”
“My grandma, a retired hairdresser, gave me a unique Christmas gift when I became a teenager and started styling my hair, a giant bag of combs.
The bag contained over 30 plastic combs, all mismatched and clearly collected over the years. It was the most unexpected present ever.
Though thoughtful in her own way, it was undeniably bizarre. To this day, I’ve never needed that many combs and I still laugh at the memory.”
“One Time a Student Gave Me a Dictionary For Christmas.”
“As a biology teacher, the weirdest gift I’ve ever received came from a student I taught in middle school and now again in high school.
For Christmas, she gave me a dictionary. Why? Because I misspelled the word “class” on the board once, just once!
I couldn’t decide if it was a thoughtful joke or a subtle roast. Either way, it’s a gift I’ll never forget, and I’ll definitely double-check my spelling from now on.”
“When I was 12, My Aunt Gave Me Underwear Size 40.”
“When I was 12, my eccentric aunt gifted me a half-pack of whitey-tighties, size 40. Yep, giant underwear for a scrawny preteen me.
The other half of the pack? She gave that to my dad, who was twice my size. Clearly, this was a one-size-fits-nobody situation.
Safe to say, they didn’t fit my 120-pound frame. I’m still wondering what logic led her to think I needed parachute-sized undies for Christmas!”
“I Got A Cheese-and-Champagne Gift Set That Had the Champagne and Most of the Other Goodies Taken Out of It.”
“One Christmas, I unwrapped a cheese-and-champagne gift set. The catch? The champagne and most of the other goodies were already gone. Talk about a festive letdown.
All I was left with was some lonely cheese in a mostly empty box. Nothing says holiday cheer like “Here’s your leftovers.”
I couldn’t help but wonder, was this regifting gone wrong or just an odd prank? Either way, it was the cheesiest gift I’ve ever received.”
“Not For Christmas, but For My Birthday One Year My Youth Pastor Got Me a Dead Squirrel He Shot Earlier That Day.”
“On my birthday, my youth pastor showed up all excited, hyping up the gift he’d brought. He made it sound like it was something amazing.
I opened it, expecting something cool, only to find… a dead squirrel. Apparently, he’d shot it earlier that day and thought, “Perfect gift!”
Still not sure what part of that seemed birthday-appropriate, but hey, nothing says “happy birthday” like unexpected roadkill vibes. Truly a gift to remember—or forget.”
“One Time Someone Gave a Guinea Pig. No cage, no Supplies. Just a Guinea Pig.”
“One time, someone gifted me a guinea pig. Yep, just the guinea pig: no cage, no supplies, nothing. Just a furry little friend in need of a plan.
I stood there, holding it, wondering where exactly it was supposed to live. My hands? The floor? The great outdoors? Thanks for the heads-up, pal.
Safe to say, the surprise was more stressful than cute. Who gives a pet without the essentials? Someone with zero follow-through, apparently.”
“It Was Me Who Gave the Gift. One Year I Got My Brother a Can of Febreze. No Idea Why.”
“I was the gift-giver in this story. As kids, our mom took us one by one to the dollar store to buy gifts for each other.
One year, I proudly chose a can of Febreze for my brother. Why? I have no clue, but I was convinced it was perfect.
Looking back, it’s hilariously random. Did I think his room smelled bad? Did I just panic? Either way, he got the gift of freshness!”
“My Girlfriend’s Grandam Got Me a Beaten-Up, Handheld Slot Machine Game From a Yard Sale.”
“In college, I spent my first Christmas with my girlfriend’s family. We’d been together almost a year, so things felt pretty comfortable—until her grandmother’s delightfully awkward gift turned things memorable.
Grandma, whom I’d only met once, handed me a gift, cheerfully saying, “Merry Christmas, Ken! I know you like video games—batteries not included.” Problem is, my name isn’t Ken.
The gift? A beaten-up, handheld slot machine game from a yard sale, still sporting a $1 sticker. We laughed about it later, and it’s the weirdest gift I’ve ever received.”
“I Found a Cassette Tape of Someone Playing the Oboe and Gave it to my Brother.”
“I didn’t receive this gift, I gave it. I stumbled across a cassette at Goodwill featuring oboe music mixed with nature sounds and whale calls. It was… unique.
Without hesitation, I decided it was perfect for my brother. Why? Who knows. It screamed “you need this,” and I couldn’t resist the odd combo.
I wrapped it up and gave it to him, fully embracing the weirdness. It might be the quirkiest and most random gift I’ve ever given.”
“The Worst Christmas Gift I Ever Received Was Clothing.”
“The worst Christmas gift I ever received was clothing. As a hyperactive kid, my mind was set on sports, music, and, most importantly, a bicycle.
I was convinced I’d finally get one since I desperately needed it. But when I opened my gift, it was just a pair of pants and a few shirts.
Practical, sure—but as a kid, it was the ultimate letdown. I sat there trying to hide my disappointment, but inside, I was crushed.”
“For my Bridal Shower, my Mother-in-law Gave me an Old Bikini.”
“It wasn’t a Christmas gift, but for my bridal shower, my mother-in-law gifted me an old bikini. How did I know it was old? The elastic was crusty.
I unwrapped it, trying to mask my horror, but seriously, a crusty bikini? Of all the thoughtful gifts in the world, this was her choice.
To this day, I’m still baffled. Was it a joke? A mistake? Either way, it remains one of the weirdest, most unsettling gifts I’ve ever received.”
“My Mom Once Sent me Paperclips Wrapped in Cardboard.”
One time, I got a package in the mail from my mom. Inside? A few paper clips wrapped in cardboard. Practical, but definitely not a typical surprise.
The note read, “Thought you could use these.” Sweet, thoughtful, but… I live in a place with stores, and yes, we also have paperclips here.
It was such a “mom move”—always thinking of us, even if hilariously unnecessary. I still laugh at the idea of paper clips as a care package centerpiece.
“My Roommate’s ex, While Trying to Win Her Back, Once Gave Her a Bag Full of Gifts That Included His Lat father’s Ashes.”
“My roommate’s ex once tried to win her back with a bag of gifts. Inside? Ankle weights and some of his late father’s ashes.
We just stared at it, totally baffled. I mean, what kind of mix is that? Sentimental and… fitness gear?
Neither of us had any idea how to react. Do you thank someone for that? Cry? Laugh? It was a weird, awkward mess.”
“Back in November, my Ex totaled my Car in an Accident. Next Christmas, She Proceeded to Give me a GPS for the Car I No Longer Have.”
“So, back in November, my ex borrowed my car—an “emergency” trip to her friend’s place. She totaled it, leaving me carless and without my important stuff inside.
Fast forward to Christmas. She’s super hyped about the gift she got me. I’m thinking maybe something meaningful. Nope, it’s a GPS system. For the car I no longer have. Thanks, I guess?
I tried to keep my cool, but wow, the lack of self-awareness was mind-blowing. Her excitement over this useless gift just made it even harder not to lose it.”
“My Ex Had Kept a Portrait of Me a Friend Gave Me for Three Years. We Got Back Together. He Gave It to Me as a Christmas Present.”
“Back in my 20s, I broke up with a guy and kept asking for a portrait a friend had done of me. It was obviously mine, just on loan.
For three years, he refused to give it back. Then, for reasons I still can’t explain, we started dating again. I asked for the portrait again. A few months later, guess what I got for Christmas?
Yep, the portrait. As a gift. Like it wasn’t mine all along, let’s just say that was the last straw, and we broke up again, this time for good.”
“One Christmas My Mom Got me Sponge Bob Everything. All Because I Mentioned I Thought it Was a Funny Show.”
“One Christmas, my mom decided I needed everything SpongeBob. Pillow, pajamas, stuffed animal, slippers, t-shirt, you name it! My life became a walking Bikini Bottom tribute.
Why? Because I once mentioned I thought the show was funny. Apparently, that meant I was SpongeBob’s biggest fan, worthy of a full merch explosion.
I smiled through it, but wow, it was a lot. One passing comment, and suddenly, my room looked like SpongeBob had thrown up in it. Thanks, Mom.”
“My Grandpa Gave my Uncle a Swiss Army Knife With His Own Name Engraved on It. My Uncle Gave it to me, Since My Grandpa and I Share the Same Name.”
“My grandfather is so frugal, he once gave my uncle a Swiss Army knife he got as a freebie from some gift shop. Classic grandpa move.
The best part? It was engraved with my grandfather’s name. Not exactly a thoughtful touch, but hey, it was functional, I guess.
My uncle eventually re-gifted it to me because I share my grandfather’s name. So now I have a hand-me-down knife with my name on it that’s basically been passed around like a hot potato.”
“One Time I Got Half an Egg Box. It Was From a 4-year-old; I Had to Act Excited.”
“One Christmas, I got half an egg box with a random pizza box thing glued inside. I had no clue what to even do with it.
A four-year-old made it, looking way too proud of this weird creation. I had to fake a big, excited reaction, which wasn’t easy.
I went along with it, but wow, it was rough. That awkward little gift? Definitely not a highlight of the holidays, but what can you do?”
