‘Tis the season of giving, they say, but sometimes the presents we receive leave us scratching our heads and wondering what on earth the giver was thinking. From the holiday season to birthdays and weddings, gift-giving occasions have the potential to bring joy and laughter—or, in some cases, sheer bewilderment.

As the holiday season approached, anticipation filled the air, and families and friends exchanged gifts with eager anticipation. But for some unlucky recipients, the joy of unwrapping presents quickly turned to disappointment as they were met with gifts that left them utterly perplexed.

Take Sarah, for example, who eagerly tore open a beautifully wrapped package from her aunt, only to discover a collection of mismatched socks and a half-empty bottle of expired hot sauce. Or David, who received a “DIY Taxidermy Kit” from his well-meaning but woefully misguided cousin—a gift that left him questioning both the giver’s sanity and his own taste in relatives.

But it wasn’t just the holiday season that saw its fair share of questionable gifts. Weddings, with their lavish ceremonies and extravagant receptions, also provided ample opportunity for gift-giving gone wrong. Just ask Emily, who received a set of personalized towels emblazoned with her initials and wedding date—a gift that left her wondering if the giver had mistaken her wedding for a monogramming convention.

And then there were the birthday parties, where friends and family gathered to celebrate another trip around the sun. For Tim, his birthday took an unexpected turn when he unwrapped a box of expired canned goods from his well-intentioned but woefully forgetful sister—a gift that left him questioning not only the contents of the cans but also his sister’s grasp on reality.

Yes, whether it’s the holiday season or one of those months filled with weddings and birthdays, the art of gift-giving has the potential to bring smiles to our loved ones’ faces—or, in some cases, leave them with unanswered questions and a lingering sense of bewilderment. But amidst the sea of questionable gifts, there’s one thing we can all agree on: the thought truly does count, even if the gift itself leaves something to be desired.