‘Tis the season when companies across the globe outdo themselves to create the most festive ads of the year in hopes of convincing consumers to buy their products. But there are always a few brands whose ads don’t quite hit the mark – or frankly, even come close. Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you the five worst Christmas ads of 2025:

5. Erste Group Bank AG: Carry the Light

Did you know Mary’s donkey had a tragic past? Neither did we. And we’re still trying to figure out what it has to do with financial services. 10/10 for originality (and the donkey’s precious acting), but the team at Erste Group definitely doesn’t understand the meaning of Christmas if they think Jesus’ birth is about “Believ[ing] in yourself.”

4. Fairway Energy: Grant-Funded Energy Saving Measures

The team at Fairway Energy was definitely ready to capitalize on the Christmas vibes, undeterred by the fact that they had absolutely no idea for an advertisement. “Just throw Santa in there while someone whispers about our company for fifteen seconds. Perfect.”

3. Gap: Give Your Gift

Ah, yes, nothing says Christmas like a choir clad in drab neutrals singing Miley Cyrus. We’ve been trying to get “The Climb” out of our heads since 2009 – yet here it is again. Thanks, Gap.

2. IRN-BRU: The Snowman

This year, the iconic Scottish soft drink company brought back its popular TV ad from 2006, featuring characters from Raymond Briggs’s Christmas story, The Snowman. While we love the imagery, the way the Snowman callously sends his creator plummeting to the ground so he can steal his drink doesn’t quite feel like Christmas to us.

1. Dunkin’ Donuts: The Little Holiday Munchkin

Everyone loves donuts. But turning donut holes into little characters and then eating them? That’s just creepy.