The phrase “Shitter’s full!” (or “Shitter was full!”) originates from the 1989 comedy film National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. In a memorable scene, Cousin Eddie, played by Randy Quaid, shows up at his brother’s home in a bathrobe, dumping sewage from his RV, and casually announces: “Merry Christmas! Shitter was full!”
This crude and absurd line captures Eddie’s offbeat, unfiltered personality and instantly became a comedic highlight and quote among fans. Over time, it has been quoted, memed, and repurposed in holiday joking, parody, and internet culture.
Because of that context, “Shitters Full” (or variations like “Shitter was full”) is less about literal meaning and more about invoking a certain comedic shock, irreverence, and holiday nostalgia.
How “Shitters Full” Has Entered Meme & Pop Culture
Once a cult movie quote, “Shitters Full” has become a fixture in internet culture, especially during the holiday season. Key ways it is used include:
- GIFs & Reaction Memes: Scenes of Cousin Eddie holding a hose, in a bathrobe, with snow and a trash pile, often labeled “Shitter was full.”
- Holiday Memes: People use the phrase ironically around Christmas — for example:
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“It’s not Christmas until the shitter’s full”
- Merchandise: T-shirts, mugs, beer glasses emblazoned with “Shitters Full” as humorous holiday swag.
- Cultural References & Quotes: The phrase is quoted in social media posts, movie trivia, and reposts around December.
- Mandela Effect & Memory Debates: Some debate whether Eddie said “Shitter’s full” or “Shitter was full,” illustrating how iconic lines can morph in memory.
The phrase works as a kind of inside joke for fans of Christmas Vacation and those who enjoy irreverent holiday humor.
Why the Phrase Resonates (Comedy, Shock & Contrast)
Part of what makes “Shitters Full” memorable and long lasting comes from the combination of shock, absurdity, and contrast:
- Shock & Crudeness: The blunt reference to sewage is unexpected in a family holiday film. That jolt of gross humor lodges the line in memory.
- Contrast with Holiday Sentiment: It clashes ironically with the season’s themes (joy, warmth, caring). The contrast amplifies the comedic effect.
- Character Fit: It perfectly suits Cousin Eddie’s blue-collar, brash, oblivious character persona. The line isn’t just a punchline; it feels genuine to him.
- Nostalgia & Repetition: Rewatching Christmas Vacation (a holiday tradition for many) reinforces lines like this in memory.
- Shareable & Visual: The scene is visual and absurd — ideal for GIFs, memes, and social media share formats.
These elements combine to make “Shitters Full” more than just a line — it becomes a meme template.
Common Variations, Memory Disputes & Misquotes
Over time, the phrase has evolved in slight ways. Some of the discussion points:
- “Shitter’s Full” vs “Shitter Was Full”: Fans debate which is correct. Some insist Eddie said “Shitter’s full!” while others remember “Shitter was full!”
- Missing apostrophes or misspellings: Many memes drop punctuation or alter spelling (e.g. “shitters full” instead of “shitter’s full”).
- Added captions or holiday phrases: People tack on “Merry Christmas!” or combine it with holiday decorations.
- Use in ironic contexts: The phrase is sometimes used humorously to comment on any kind of overflow or problem — e.g. “My inbox is like, shitter’s full.”
When quoting, fans often forgive variation because the comedic spirit is more important than grammatical precision.
Cultural Impact: Why It Endures
Though it’s a throwaway line in a comedy, “Shitter’s full” has had surprising staying power. Here are reasons for its cultural endurance:
- Cult status of Christmas Vacation: The film is a staple holiday movie, repeatedly watched year after year. Lines from it get repeated and preserved.
- Relatable absurdity: Many people love that humor that mixes the ridiculous with everyday domestic chaos.
- Meme friendliness: Because the line is short, shocking, and visual, it’s ideal for meme formats, GIF collections, and internet sharing.
- Inside-joke appeal: Use of the phrase signals you’re “in on” a holiday movie joke or pop culture fandom.
- Merchandise & novelty: There’s a market for novelty holiday items, and using a recognizable odd quote gives them appeal (e.g. beer glass with “Shitters Full”)
Even people who haven’t seen the movie may recognize the line because it’s been repurposed so often.
How to Use or Refer to “Shitters Full” Properly (etiquette, citation, fun uses)
If you plan to quote, memes, or merchandise this phrase, here are best practices and tips:
- Attribute the source: It’s from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, spoken by Cousin Eddie.
- Respect copyright & fair use: For memes and personal use, quoting a short line is usually acceptable, but for commercial merchandise or media you may need permissions.
- Know your audience: The phrase is crude; in many settings it’s not suitable (work emails, formal conversations).
- Use correct variation when possible: If you want to appear precise to fans, choose your version (Shitter’s full vs Shitter was full) and be consistent.
- Pair with visuals: The iconic shot of Eddie with a hose and snow helps the phrase land harder.
- Use for holiday humor: Best used during or leading into holiday seasons when the film is in public memory.
