The holidays are a time for giving, but let’s face it—they’re also a time for tough choices. Will you embrace the warm glow of holiday cheer, or lean into your mischievous side? In this Threadless design showdown, we’re pitting the season’s sweetest holiday designs against their more chaotic counterparts, leaving the decision squarely in your hands: nice or naughty? Let’s dive into the ultimate holiday matchup and see where your festive loyalties lie.
Matchup 1: Spread Cheer or Stir Chaos
“Two Cute Budgies…” by BwiseWizzie
This design captures the charm of holiday cheer with its adorable watercolor birds perched on a candy cane. It’s the holiday card your grandma would hang on the fridge.
“Fuck Holiday Cheer” by effinbirds
This one flips the script. This cardinal isn’t here to sing carols—it’s here to roast your yuletide vibe. Perfect for when you’re over the holiday hoopla but still appreciate a solid laugh.
Matchup 2: Dance or Destroy
“Christmas Nutcracker” by milkmoney
This design is a charming ode to the classic Nutcracker tale, with ballerinas and sugarplum dreams galore. It’s a festive favorite for anyone who hums along to Tchaikovsky.
“Nutcrackin’” by kbilltv
This one delivers, well, a literal nutcracker moment. Let’s just say it’s not the kind of move you’ll find in a ballet performance. This design is holiday mischief at its finest.
Matchup 3: Sweet or Sinister
“Mint To Be T-Shirt” by Babsadee
This side gives you candy canes in their natural habitat: cheerful, cozy, and dressed for winter. It’s the kind of scene you’d expect on a holiday card from your favorite aunt.
“Deck the Skulls…” by vonKowen
On the flip side, we’ve got a candy cane that’s seen some things—embedded in a skull, no less. This isn’t your typical peppermint stick; it’s candy with a dark side.
Matchup 4: Ho Ho Ho or Oh No No
“Rockin Santa” by safdesignx
Here’s a Santa who’s rocking around the Christmas tree, spreading cheer and busting out moves that’d make Rudolph blush. This is the jolly old elf you remember from childhood.
“Santa Claus Pooping on a Chimney” by gilarric
But over on the dark side of the chimney, Santa has some…business to take care of. Maybe leave an extra roll of TP with the milk and cookies this year.
Matchup 5: Play Nice or Wreak Havoc
“Have Fun with Krampus” by queenmob
What happens when Krampus swaps out his usual menace for a little merriment? You get a demon who’s surprisingly kid-friendly, giving piggyback rides like it’s no big deal.
“Not Today Santa” by DinoMike
Then there’s Krampus in full-on chaos mode, wielding a folding chair and making sure Santa won’t be delivering anything this year. It’s a holiday showdown for the ages.
Matchup 6: Shine Bright or Moon the Room
“Christmas Night Tree” by episodicDrawing
One tree stands tall and proud, glistening with snow under a serene winter sky. It’s the picture of holiday peace and tradition.
“Xmas Tree” by Brian Cook
The other tree has a…unique feature: buttcheeks. Yes, this tree is mooning your entire holiday party, and the presents underneath aren’t exactly innocent either.
Matchup 7: Celebrate or Commiserate
“Meowy Christmas Ugly Sweater” by NemiMakeit
Ugly sweaters like this bring joy and chaos to your wardrobe with their festive feline antics. Great for anyone who prefers cute over cringe.
“It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Seasonal Depression” by yipptee
Ugly sweaters like this take a hilariously honest approach to the season. Because sometimes, even the holidays can’t cure the winter blues.
Whether you’ve been inspired to embrace your inner angel or let your mischievous side take the reins, one thing’s for sure: there’s no wrong choice when it comes to these incredible holiday designs. This year, let your gifts do the talking—nice, naughty, or somewhere in between.
Ready to settle your festive dilemma? Explore more nice and naughty designs at Threadless and make your choice. The holidays are calling…which side will you choose?
The design featured at the top of this post is “Hail Santa” by Thiago Correa.
