With finals over, and the holidays coming soon, we can all cue the hoards of family that will begin showing up and invading our personal space. Moms will be cleaning on overdrive, decorations will be going up left and right, and you can forget about that promised relaxation you needed after a stressful week of exams and papers. While there is nothing like spending the holidays with the ones you love, the cast of characters that find their way to the dinner table seems to get more comical with each passing year. Here is the definitive list of seven relatives you can be sure will show up, for your enjoyment, this holiday season.
1. The overly competitive cousin
You only see them once or twice a year, but they are right at that middle school age where everything is a competition. Whether it be a family game of Monopoly, or a simple snowball fight, you can be sure that this kid will be in it to win it in the most annoying way possible. "Johnny, I'm 21 one years old, I do not feel compelled to race you to the dinner table."
2. The snoring grandpa
3. Uncle Egg Nog
This is the Uncle who gets more and more jolly as the night goes on. Constantly with a drink in his hand, by the time you break out the Christmas CDs, he's the first one to pull out a full Mariah Carrey impersonation.
4. Aunty, the red-lipped kisser
Beware. Avoid mistletoes when she is present unless you want to have red face paint for the rest of the night. I get it, red is festive, but how could you possibly have enough layers of lipstick to last through kissing the entire family.
5. The holiday chef
Most likely known as the most beloved of all holiday relatives. This person can be accredited with all of the amazing food that you will be gorged with over the holiday break. While rarely seen outside of the kitchen, they preside over Christmas as a guardian angel, filling our mouths with delicious food instead of tense, political conversation.
6. The serial dater
This person's one job at the holidays is to ensure confusion for everyone there. Every year they have a new escort to the holiday festivities, and most of them share a name with the same first letter, ensuring awkward slip-ups. But no worries, she won't be there next year to hold it against you. "Was it Sarah, Sam, or Serena?"
7. The family friend
This is the only person actually chosen to attend the dinner, not because of blood relation, but to add some much needed normalcy to a room of weirdos. Your bond will also inevitably grow as you judge your family together. You will begin by introducing them to visiting relatives as a friend, but by the end of the night, having survived the festivities, they will be as good as family.
