Awkward mall Santa photos

For many Americans, meeting Santa at the mall has been a staple of the holiday season for decades. But not every Santa snapshot is full of smiling kids... or even any kids. 

For example: Of course Santa speaks marsupial. He speaks every language!

Mom put on a happy face

This baby's face, quite literally, screams, "Get me outta here!"

Who is this guy?

This little boy is highly skeptical of Santa's aesthetic.

Kids are exhausting

Here's a rare photo of a mall Santa in the wild. He's making his coffee just right, before hopping back in the chair for another round of photos.

Santa, please bring grasshoppers

This reptile is surely on Santa's nice list. 

Santa is 0-2

All they want for Christmas is to do something else.

I saw girlfriend kissing Santa Clause

The big guy DOES appear to have mistletoe on his hat. 

Making it rain-deer

At least Santa's smiling.

What's his problem?

Big brother does not understand what all the fuss is about. 

"Naughty"

He has "nice" tattooed on the other arm. True story. 

Where's Santa?

Is that a beard or a ski mask? 

Good doggy

Santa is being a really good sport. 

20 going on 2

Hey, Christmas spirit is for all ages. 

Say cheese

Maybe if Santa were smiling, she wouldn't be so upset. 

In the dog house

If we're judging by Santa's face, this doggie (named Bela) is smelly. 

If you can't see me, I'm not here

According to mom, the kiddo wouldn't uncover her eyes so Santa decided to do the same. 

Planting one on Santa

"Basketball Wives" star Bonnie-Jill Laflin plants a kiss on an unsuspecting Santa in Los Angeles in December 2017.

Scared of Santa?

What is it about Santa that does this to kids? 

Five out of five snowflakes

This guy actually reviews mall Santas. 

Holding on for dear life

Santa would smile, but ...

Who dat?

Mom, who is this man? And why is big brother making that face? 

Double trouble

Their mom's Instagram handle is "the moody girls." Wonder how she came up with that. 

One happy Santa

Santa, tone it down. Seriously. 

Nap time

If she gets to sleep, Santa gets to sleep. 

I'll never let him go

See, some kids do like Santa. 

Some things never change

And big brother is even HAPPIER this year. 

Maybe his bowtie's too tight

But hopefully it'll go better next year. 

I forgot

Kid, you shoulda brought your list. 

Roar

Mall Santa's used to scaring babies, but he's probably not used to being scared. 

Not her idea of fun

Santa's trying to keep it together. 

Matchy, matchy

For all the effort these moms put into it, you'd think Santa would at least crack a smile. 

Nice try

Maybe 2018 will go better. 

He looks thrilled

Forget cookies. This Santa needs some coffee. 

The Bucky Waters Bluegrass band

These guys are two members of the Bucky Waters Bluegrass band. They seem to be making Santa a little nervous. 

Circa 1989

She wants off of that stranger's lap. 

Santa could probably use a break

You can practically hear this kid. 

Go big ...

If you're not going to do Christmas right, why do it at all? 

Or go home

Seriously, don't even show up if you're not going to dress up. 

Give him the keys

Yeah, that clearly calmed him down. 

Christmas card material

Mom swooped in to rescue her distraught child. 

At least someone is smiling

Good thing that beard is covering Santa's mouth, because he's likely not smiling. 

Deju vu

Apparently not much changes in a year. 

Santa out

Santa's been doing this all week. What do you expect for him to look like on Saturday? 

Verge of tears

Santa knows it's coming.

Mom, his hand is bigger than my stomach

You'd be scared too. 

The best of the bunch

At least she's not still crying in this one. 

Mommy, help!

That is the look of absolute terror. 

Not one smile

Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy. Apparently not today.

About to bail

We can't see Santa's face, but we can imagine it. 

Can we leave her home next year?

Big sis is trying hard to keep it together here. 

Another crier

Santa looks calmer than he should. 

See ya

Santa seems miffed. But at least the Mrs. looks chipper. 

In or out?

Is this mother taking her daughter away from Santa, or putting her into his lap? Either way, this interaction with Mr. Claus at the Westchester Mall caused these kids to cry.

Trying to get away

This tiny child at a Jakarta, Indonesia mall appears to be trying to escape the clutches of Santa Claus.

Santa's celebrity moment

Comedian Kathy Griffin sat on Santa's lap at the Westfield Culver City mall in 2011.

Santa paws

These dogs have no idea what is going on. Meanwhile this particular Montclair Plaza shopping mall Santa in Montclair, California is smiling so wide he must be a dog person. 

Thumbs up for Christmas

This little boy looks pretty apprehensive to be meeting Santa, who offers him a thumbs up, at the Alexa mall in Berlin, Germany. 

On the naughty list

It probably takes a lot of fussing to get Santa to make this kind of face, but this little girl was able to do it.

Too many kids, not enough Santa's lap

Triplets proved to be a crowd for this nattily-dressed Golf Mill mall Santa Clause in Niles, Illinois. 

Not feeling it

Neither of these children look like they are in the spirit things with this Fair Oaks mall Santa in Fairfax, Virginia. 

Say "ah" for Santa Claus

Is this little girl visiting Santa or the dentist? Maybe she's asking him for a loose tooth.