1. The religious zealot

This is the family member that reminds you every two seconds how Christmas is not about presents or Santa, but solely about the birth of Jesus Christ. God forbid you are a few minutes late to Christmas Mass or can’t recall which three gifts the Magi brought (what the heck are Frankincense and Myrrh anyway?) And then you bring home the Jewish boyfriend and everything goes downhill. My advice: just remember not to start your Christmas dinner until after Grace is said or else all Hell will break loose.

2. The overly sentimental mother with the video camera

You just woke up, you’re in embarrassing matching Pajamas, you haven’t done your hair, and a camera is shoved right in your face. “Can you tell the camera how old you are this year? What did you just open? Now look into the camera and say how much you love that new pair of socks.” She just wants to remember every single thing that happened and then share it with her friends on Facebook after, but hey what else are mothers good for besides embarrassing their children? My advice: Smile through, it’ll be over before you know it and you can always block her on Social Media.

3. The father who wants everything to be perfect

He gets everyone up on time and makes sure we take turns opening gifts so that everyone enjoys themselves… In other words he stays near the fridge and margarita mixer all day to make sure everyone enjoys themselves. He’s just looking to have a good time but sometimes he gets mixed up in making everything too perfect and then he gets frustrated over the little things like not throwing away the wrapping paper scraps or not sitting in your assigned seat at the dinner table. My advice: For every drink he hands you, get him two. He will enjoy himself and stop worrying about every little thing.

4. The ridiculously republican relative

This individual brought up Trump and probably started the biggest Christmas dinner debate anyone has ever seen. Mashed potatoes were probably thrown and the ham was knocked off the table as opposing sides fought about when the construction of the Wall would begin. My advice: Keep your mouth shut and don’t throw food and you might make it out alive.

5. The drunk uncle

If you were thinking Drunk Uncle from SNL, then you’re pretty spot on. This individual probably doesn’t know where he is and he only knows that it’s Christmas because there is a tree, everyone is fighting, and no one is heckling him about having one too many drinks. He’s just along for the ride. He may crack a few jokes that no one understands or offend your great aunt and her wig but he’s not really harming anyone and at least he’s funny. My advice: Just let him go but check his pulse every hour just to make sure he’s okay.

6. The sibling that moved to the Big City and already wants to go home

She left for a reason but the holidays are a time for family and forgiveness right… She told herself her $200 plane ticket home would be worth it but as she’s being asked about her new job and making it in the city and paying rent and if she’s ever going to get married, she longs to be back under the bright lights rather than on the couch between a Trump supporter and the passed out Drunk Uncle. My advice: You didn’t get to pick your family but you're stuck with them and have to learn to love them deep down.

7. The new boyfriend

It’s his first Christmas meeting her family and he’s super excited. He stalked all of them on Facebook before so that he could buy the perfect gifts and come up with the best conversation starters. Then he walks in the house and Dad already has the shotgun ready and then grandmother asks him if he’s ready to be committed and if he’s going to have a stable job and whether he wants kids or not. One bad answer and he’s out the door. My advice: Next Christmas you should bring her home to your family instead.

There is one clear solution to dealing with each type of personality during the Holiday season: Alcohol. It is perhaps the only true remedy to all your family’s problems. So this season, call up your friends Jack Daniels or José Cuervo to help you out a little bit. Load grandma up and hope she doesn’t get hit by a reindeer, get the kids a Playstation to keep them fighting with one another, and don’t forget to enjoy yourself. You will make it to 2017, I promise.