Awkward Vintage Family Photos (PICTURES)

If you thought that the Awkward Family Photos phenomenon was a recent invention, think again.

For as our slideshow below proves, the ritual of gathering a family together and uniting it in its awkwardness has been around for an awfully long time.

So sit back in your rocking chair, hold on to your bonnet, and prepare to smile-slash-cringe at some of the loveliest, funniest, WTF-est vintage family photos we could lay our silk-gloved hands on...

All images: Alamy