Funny and Awkward Vintage Photos That Show the Past in a Different Light

In the mid-20th century, a bizarre trend swept through Europe: posing with a man in a polar bear costume. This 1958 snapshot from Siestriere, Italy, captures two smiling women on a sled while a very unconvincing “bear” looms behind them. The result is equal parts funny and unsettling.

Though the costume looks more like a taxidermy experiment gone wrong, it was a popular attraction from the 1920s through the 60s, especially in Germany. Tourists loved the novelty, and photographers loved the business. Today, these photos are both hilarious and slightly creepy souvenirs of a quirky tradition.