ParentingParentschristmas photossiblings

Brothers Sitting On Santa's Lap For 34 Years Straight Is The Funniest Family Tradition Yet

These Men Have Sat On Santa's Lap Every Year Since 1980
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Editor at A+

Posing with Santa is a holiday ritual most kids outgrow well before their high school graduation.

But brothers Martin and Mike Gray, now in their 30s, have been keeping the Yuletide dream alive for decades, getting their pictures taken with Saint Nick each year since 1980 -- and counting.

In the years since Mike's fateful first photo, styles have (quite obviously) changed, presidents have come and gone, and both men have started their own families. (Look out for some bright-eyed new additions in the final photos below.) But their commitment to the series -- and its inspiration -- has been gloriously consistent.

While they may have gotten some funny looks, waiting in line for Santa as grown men, their reasons for keeping up the tradition goes beyond humor.

"We have an amazing mother and we [do] it for her truly without hesitation... to show [her] how much she means to us," Martin told HuffPost. "If you have a chance to do something sweet for your mom, it shouldn't matter if there is a bit of embarrassment involved."

That's the kind of holiday spirit you can take with you anywhere.

1980
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1981
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1982
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1983
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1984
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1985
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1986
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1987
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1988
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1989
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1990
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1991
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1992
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1993
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1994
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1995
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1996
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1997
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1998
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
1999
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2000
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2001
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2002
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2003
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2004
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2005
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2006
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2007
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2008
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2009
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2010
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2011
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2012
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)
2013
Courtesy of Martin Gray
Brothers Take Photo With Santa For 34 Years (Courtesy of Martin Gray)

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