The Santa Naughty List meme draws from the classic Western folklore of Santa Claus, who keeps a record of children's behavior throughout the year to determine their gift eligibility. Online, the concept evolved into a versatile template often featuring a judgmental Santa holding a massive scroll or pointing to a specific name. It is widely used during the holiday season to jokingly call out friends for 'crimes' like leaving the milk carton empty or for more serious cultural commentary. The meme gained significant traction on platforms like Instagram and X (Twitter), where users edit the list to include celebrities, political figures, or even themselves, turning a childhood threat into a staple of festive internet humor.