Santa Claus: friendly old geezer or Public Enemy No. 1? By the looks of the folks in this LIFE.com slide show, the answer seems to be the latter. The following photos, which span over 70 years, are proof positive that Santa's message of jolly goodness doesn't always translate to his constituents.
Get Your Hands Off My Bear: Dec. 27, 1939
Parker/Getty Images.
Plugging My Ears To Tune Out Your Horrible Voice: Nov. 1, 1961
Alfred Eisenstaedt.
Shouldn't You Be Back at the North Pole?: Jan. 1, 1975
CREDIT: Evening Standard/Getty Images.
I Don't Want You for Christmas: Dec. 23, 1969
Keystone/Getty Images
Put Me Down, Old Man: Nov. 28, 2006
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.
Get That Creepy Sculpture Away From Me: Dec. 14, 2007