Guides
What Is The 'Black Santa Napkin' Meme? The 'Dougherty Dozen' Mom's Viral TikTok Video Explained

There's a viral TikTok video getting referenced right now in which a woman joyfully says, "And a Black Santa Napkin!"
The original video was shared by the mom of the Dougherty Dozen family, Alicia Dougherty, who packs school lunches for her 11 kids (one of them is now in college) almost every day. In this Christmas-themed classic, Mrs. Dougherty had some Black Santa napkins in stock, and people think it's funny.
Where did this video come from? Why do people think it's funny and how is it spreading? Let's explain.

Where Did The 'Black Santa Napkin' Meme Come From?
The original video was posted in December, ahead of the holiday break. Likely on one of their last days of school, TikToker Alicia Dougherty shared a video called "What My 11 Kids Got For Lunch Today."
The meal she packed was jolly-themed. The exclamation point at the end was a Black Santa napkin.
A few weeks later, a TikToker named @ljc11212 decided to post the clip on its own. They sped it up and slowed it down, devolving her excited announcement.
@doughertydozen What did you have for lunch? #Christmas #ChristmasLunch #PackingLunches #LunchIdeasForKids #BreakfastForLunch #HolidayVibes ♬ Cooking – Oleg Kirilkov
@ljc11212 #black #santa #napkin #blacksantanapkin #dougherty #dozen #doughertydozen #lunch #christmas #december #holidays #💜 #meme #box #kids #school #fyp #viral ♬
Who Are The 'Dougherty Dozen?'
The Dougherty Dozen is a famous family on TikTok that gained traction because they have 12 kids. The mom, Alicia Dougherty, is the main admin.
The content is wholesome and family-friendly. Many of the videos show the kids in a line, organized by age, all answering a question from the mom and then walking off.
The family has over 7 million followers on TikTok, and while many of them are fans, there's also a big portion of haters. A lot of people think they're cringe, evident in memes about one of the daughters named Zoey.
@doughertydozen Reply to @entertainmentfacts10 What do YOU want to be when you grow up? #BigFamily #RollCall #WhenIGrowUp #OOTD ♬ Pennies From Heaven – Remastered – Louis Prima
Why Is The 'Black Santa Napkin' Meme Viral On TikTok?
Like other memes about the Dougherty Dozen family, the "Black Santa Napkin" meme seems to be going viral because Mrs. Dougherty's enthusiasm is a bit over-enthusiastic.
The cadence and tone of her voice seem to be resonating with people, as the clip is generating a lot of "Accuracy Reenactments" as people want to say the line themselves.
@maddog0.2 black santa naypkin #doughertydozen #doilooklikehim ♬ original sound – maddog
@user02843130854789 @Lola I'm dying #fyp #foryou #blacksantanapkin ♬ original sound – 😇😇😇
For the full history of Black Santa Napkin, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's entry for even more information.