The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, unaware that Shaquille O’Neal soon would be there.

The Los Angeles Lakers legend made a surprise appearance at a JCPenney photo studio in New York on Wednesday as families posed in front of a mantle, fireplace and Christmas tree backdrop for holiday portraits.

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The picture on the Christmas cards they’ll soon mail to loved ones will include a holly jolly, 7-foot-1 photobomber.

“He was like, ‘Can I take a picture with y’all?’” Empress Polite said of Shaq crashing her family’s photo shoot. “Yeah!”

And O’Neal wasn’t quite finished spreading the early holiday cheer.

“He gave us a $1,000 gift card to go shopping,” Polite added.

Each of the three families that were arran

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