11 Most Common Christmas Present Fails

The Christmas season is almost upon us, with all the usual bell jingling, hall decking and gift giving. This means it's also time to start practicing our "Oh thanks... I love it" face for all the not-quite-right gifts we're about to receive, for which we must appear truly thankful. After all, it's lovely that someone took the time to get us anything at all... but sometimes they really do completely and hilariously miss the mark.

So to celebrate the great lottery that is the giving and receiving of Christmas gifts, here is a list of the 11 most common types Christmas present fails:

1. The Accidental Insult

You know the ones. The face cream that upon closer inspection is actually "For Mature Skin - aged 50+", when you're only 29. The jumper that's 3 sizes too big. The gift voucher for Lite 'n' Easy - "Well, I know you're busy, so I thought you might find this useful". The Anti Hair Loss lotion - "It's just looking a little thin up there". These gifts, although well intentioned, do leave us feeling worse about ourselves than before we opened them!

2. The Useful But Boring

These are the staple of gifts especially from kids to parents, and parents to kids. There really is nothing like the delicious disappointment you feel when you open a present with all the usual anticipation and excitement, only to find socks, a flannel, a packet of pegs or a mop! Sure, it's going to come in handy, but...

3. The Fashion Police

This is the clothing gift that is so hideous or tacky that you know you will never, ever wear it. Think gaudy 80s cardigans, frumpy pajamas, plastic bling jewellery. This gift is often compounded by the need to wear said item when visiting the aunt or grandmother who inflicted this crime against fashion upon you in the first place. The silver lining is, of course, selling the ugly cardigan to a local hipster at your next garage sale.

4. The "What Is It?"

This is the present you open and say "Ummm... What is it?". It turns out to be some kind of gadget that does something intended to make your life easier, but is so random and confusing that it ends up in the back of a cupboard somewhere gathering dust. These usually include overly fancy bottle openers, electric salt and pepper shakers, and weird kitchen devices for ridiculously specific purposes (like coring a pineapple, or peeling an orange) when a knife, spoon or your fingers would suffice.

5. The Re-Gift

This gift is usually so unsuited to you that you can almost taste the familiar flavour of the re-gift. The packaging looks a little worn, and there is just no way on earth anyone went into a shop and bought this with you in mind. Perfume or cologne for someone 20 years younger than you (mmm, eau de Britney Spears), or a wallet or purse for someone 20 years older (snakeskin, really?) are classic examples. Too expensive to throw away, this gift is passed from giver to receiver until you find it in your lap, amidst the torn paper. And at the next possible opportunity you will re-gift it once more, thus continuing the beautiful cycle of re-giving.

6. The Time Machine

The gift that makes you think you've gone back in time. The CD rack (even though you haven't bought a CD in at least five years), the Street Directory (making you realise you can't even read a map anymore without a spot telling your where you are), the letter opener (you wonder when was the last time someone wrote you a letter), the roller blades (enough said) are all likely to make you think there has been a rift in the space time continuum. Of course gifts that are so old they're cool again - vinyl records, retro decor and vintage accessories - are not only acceptable, but actively encouraged. And no, slap bands, old school yellow stack hats and bumbags do not count as vintage accessories!

7. The Childhood Obsession

When you were a kid you were totally obsessed with dinosaurs. You had dinosaur sheets, and pajamas. You loved Jurassic Park and watched it over and over. But it's 15 years later and your aunts and uncles continue to give you dinosaur books and posters! Sure, dinosaurs are still cool and interesting, and like T Rex totally rocks, but you have been interested in one or two other things since you were 12. Besides, a bookshelf that consists purely of dinosaur books can look a little weird to dates you bring home, no matter how many times you say, "It was a gift!".

8. The Inappropriate

This gift usually comes from the mother of your partner. It is particularly uncomfortable as it is usually gifted at your first Christmas with his or her family, in front of everyone. There you are, trying to make a good impression and you tear open the paper and there is a bottle of massage oil, or a jar of chocolate body paint, a copy of 50 Shades of Grey, or some bikini trimmers. Awkward!

9. The Straight to the Pool Room

These are the gifts that have no discernible purpose or use. Ceramic beer steins that you never drink from, conch shells with google eyes, slightly creepy china figurines, carved tribal wooden animals - all ornaments and nik naks you aren't really sure what to do with, that get moved from shelf to shelf until one day they end up in that great shelf in the sky.

10. The "Do You Even Know Me?"

This most infuriating of gifts come from a mother, a partner, or most likely a brother - someone who is actually supposed to know you. It's the gold coloured jewellery when you only wear silver. The gift pack full of bubble bath and bath bombs when you don't even have a bath tub. The leather belt when you're a vegan animal rights activist. The Nickelback CD when you're a person with ears.

11. The Shoot & Miss

This is related to the "Do You Even Know Me?" but more specifically related to when a gift giver actually attempts to get you something you'll like, but they don't get it right. Like when they know you're into bands so they get you a Maroon 5 CD. Or that you like comedy so they get you a DVD of the latest Adam Sandler movie. Or that you love reading and they get you a Dan Brown book. The thought is there, but it's oh so wrong. Bless them though. They did try.

The lame gifts of Christmas past may still haunt our present, and the lame gifts of Christmas future may be yet to come, but at least the spirit of Christmas is alive and well. And you know, there's always eBay.

Want to get your loved one a gift they'll really love this Christmas? Why not get them a beautiful Photo Book, Calendar, Canvas Print or other photo keepsake made from you own photos. Very personal, truly special and and almost impossible to re-gift!