Of course Santa wasn't a Magi. He was Mary's Lemans coach. 😊
My girlfriend and her mother are quite Christian. My sweetie actually makes me go to church once a year for Easter. Her mom goes nuts decorating for Christmas, and a smaller, indoor version of that very statue (perhaps 18 inches tall) is prominently displayed on the living room entertainment center, next to the TV.
A few weeks ago, my sweetie mentioned that they shouldn't forget the true meaning of Christmas, and her mother, without missing a beat or stopping to realize what she was saying, responded with 'Yeah--Decorating!'
She tried to backpedal, but it's too funny to forget.
Posted by Barghest on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 01:51 AM
Whilst I don't favour stuff like this, if you wanted to be analytical and metaphorical about it, you could say Father Chrismas is paying homage to the religious side of Christmas. He is being quite deferential after all.... I doubt that was the inspiration behind the product though.
Posted by pixie on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 04:03 AM
I think Alex is pulling our legs - the Bible doesn't mention three wise men - it doesn't say how many there were - it could have been two or seventeen. It's a myth that there were three. Yes, I know people will say that they brought three gifts so there must have been three. Well, when I was a lad my parents bought me three Christmas presents - therefore I had three parents - right!
Posted by Lord Lucan on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 05:27 AM
But I wasn't intentionally pulling anyone's leg. Instead, I just got careless about what I wrote.
Posted by The Curator in San Diego on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 10:11 AM
I think this could be real. Christians love pointing out ways that Jesus is better than santa, and I'm sure a few (including my mom) would love a statue of Santa worshipping the King of Kings.
Posted by PlantPerson on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 10:26 AM
The store is a completely legitimate seller of Catholic merch, so I have no doubt that it does in fact exist and has the aforementioned "Jesus > Santa" meaning. But what I find hilarious is . . . Since when was Santa balding? 😊
Posted by Joseph Thompson on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 11:04 AM
My parents' neighbors have been putting a similar statue like this out in their yard every Christmas since 1993-ish. I have ALWAYS made fun of it, because it looks ridiculous. The neighbors say that the purpose is to remind stupid kids who only care about the presents and reindeer and whatnot what Christmas is REALLY about. After all, if Santa remembered, shouldn't you, too?
Posted by Sarah on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 12:04 PM
Ah,christmas is a pagan holiday anyway,many holy men was born on december 25th in ancient religions:) ,but no matter what you believe in,lots of people need a reminder that life has other dimensions than the materialistic one...
Posted by Evey on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 12:32 PM
"Of course Santa wasn't a Magi. He was Mary's Lemans coach."
Uh ... Do you mean "Lamaze coach," or are you trying to say that Mary was a racecar driver?
Posted by Big Gary C on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 03:19 PM
and wrapped herself around a telephone pole?
Posted by Ralph on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 05:55 PM
Mary was a racecar driver
Drove so goddam fast!
Never did win no checkered flags,
but she never did come in last.
Posted by John on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 06:48 PM
Ha! Good one. I'm usually such a good speller too, I should have looked up the word.
Three guesses who Mary the racecar driver has on her dashboard.
Dude, of COURSE it's real. I'm looking at one right now, not three yards from me.
The sentiment, of course, is that even Santa shows respect to the King of Kings, the REAL reason for the season. The sentiment is valid, I guess.
But that doesn't make the statue any less absurd.
I usually see about half of the Santa images balding, and half with a full head of curly white hair. I can't remember which of the Rankin-Bass disturbing puppet christmas specials went which way, though.
(My favorite of those was the REAL story of Santa Claus, which shows him as a baby, being raised by Pagan forest gods, complete with antlered heads. Wow!)
Posted by Barghest on Fri Dec 17, 2004 at 09:25 PM
I did a little research in highschool about 'Christian' holidays...because there were some people in our church totally against some things (such as Halloween), but were fanatical over others (Easter, Christmas). First of all, it's hard to say what 'date' all these things occured on, because some different calendars were being used. The winter solstice was being celebrated by Pagans, and in an 'if you can't beat them, join them' sort of way, the local Christian groups (some documents say Catholic, others say Christian) the Christian Priests turned this celebration into the Christ's Mass. If the people were already celebrating, why not turn it into a Christian celebration in hopes of converting??
Anywho...my mom has a small, white glass figure trimmed in gold (goldleaf maybe?) where Santa is kneeling in deference to the infant Jesus. I think people who buy it are hoping that their guests who look upon it will be suddenly struck with the thought that the season is really more than just gifts & decorating. And...rather than their guests thinking that it was a holiday to kill 2 birds w/ one stone...they'll remember the Christ Child in a manger, after the harvest.
P.S. Any sheep farmers out there? Can you tell me if you would have your sheep outside at night, in the middle of December??
Posted by Maegan on Sun Dec 19, 2004 at 08:36 AM
re: Shepherds watching their flocks by night (lalalala)
Shepherds used to stay out with their flocks during lambing season, which is in the Spring. They didn't stay out (so I am told) at any other time.
Posted by cvirtue on Sun Dec 19, 2004 at 01:00 PM
It's not only dates incorporated into Chritain rites it's places too.
Many Churches in Britain were built on sites already used by the "Pagans".
Off-hand, and I may be wrong, I think St Augustine actually recommended this sort of thing as a short-cut to converting the locals.
Posted by Peter on Sun Dec 19, 2004 at 05:49 PM
re: "Reason for the Season"
Of course Christ is the reason for the season -- if you're a religious Christian. But if you're secular, or of a different religion entirely, there are a great many other reasons for the season of Lights, or of Giving, or of whatever.
Posted by cvirtue on Mon Dec 20, 2004 at 03:34 PM
"Christmas is the one time of year when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ." - The Simpson's
Posted by Charybdis on Tue Dec 21, 2004 at 04:07 PM
"The sentiment, of course, is that even Santa shows respect to the King of Kings, the REAL reason for the season. The sentiment is valid, I guess."
That's it exactly! Wow, and I was thinking y'all were a pretty clueless bunch at first
😉
If people are allowed to put plastic reindeer, colored lights, candy canes, inflatable snowmen and giant toy soldiers in their yards, then what's so wrong with a Christian wanting to put Santa reverantly kneeling to Christ? The first time I saw this it did strike me. It reminded me how Christ is very central to many people's holidays this time of year. Also, there is a move for Christians to try to decrease the selfish "I want" gift lists of Christmas and emphasize the selfless, helping/loving others during this time (and throughout the year). A symbol like the above picture, kind of brings that in to perspective as far as moving the focus from Santa and placing it on Christ.
I believe most scholars have say the actual birth of Christ was sometime between March and May, but centuries ago, they decided to celebrate it on Dec.25 to offset a pagan holiday.
Now...where can I buy one of them Santas? And a big spotlight that will make his bald head reflect back on cars passing by???
:lol:
Posted by Andrea on Wed Dec 22, 2004 at 11:34 AM
It's to remind us that Christmas is more than receiving gifts; it's about remembering that Santa Claus died for our sins.
Posted by brian on Mon Jan 03, 2005 at 07:22 PM
I think it's alright. heck I'll buy one maybe it'll shut up those moron ACLU so called laywers.
Posted by Cool on Mon Jan 17, 2005 at 04:14 PM
It's completely real, my grandmother has had one of those statues in her house as a Christmas decoration as long as I can remember and I've seen them in other places as well.
Posted by Sean on Fri Feb 11, 2005 at 10:37 PM
I have a statue like this done in ceramic. It says "Baby's first Christmas" I always thought it was kinda cool, Jesus and Santa in the same statue. Brings the sides of the holiday together.
Posted by yummy on Fri Apr 01, 2005 at 06:53 AM
Santa was a Turkish priest, a bishop that lived in 300 AD. he is noted to have been giving dowry presents to poor families that had daughters in a time of poverty. He realized that Jesus Christ could give him peace and allow him to bless others. Santa is short for Saint nicholas and is celebrated in the Catholic church as a saint of mercy. Cocacola brought him back on the sceen after WWII to give pep to the sales of their newly bottled drink.
I love the statue and think it is a great representative of the modern day comercialism linked by historical giving of gifts that JC represents to the Christian. God is everywhere. People can benefit from artistic wit like this. It is more a picture of now than then the actual events that are separated by centuries of history....A metaphor of what is.
Posted by Christopher Gordon on Mon Dec 12, 2005 at 02:34 PM
I really love Santa, Waiting for the X'Mass 😊
Posted by Wholesale jewelry on Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 10:40 PM
I just like the idea that the two can be combined and use the one to identify the others importance. Christmas (I hate Xmas) has always been about Christ, but some of us were brought up believing in Santa also. And he does have his roots in history through St. Nicholas who gave Dowries to young women so they could marry well. So, the idea of Santa (Jolly old St Nick) bringing gifts to children is not so far fetched. And his worshiping the savior is certainly well founded. Children also understand that Santa can't bring them everything they want. I know "Santa" was once asked for only one gift for Christmas. The little girl wanted her mommy home for Christmas. When "Santa" asked where her mommy was (thinking she was deployed), the little girl replied, "In prison." How does "Santa" tell her he can't do anything about that? She knew "Santa" couldn't help but she wanted someone to listen to her wish. Her prayer! God never gives us more than we can handle, but that day "Santa" felt very powerless and inadequate. Only God could grant a wish like that and that's what "Santa" told her. She accepted that and thanked "Santa" for listening. "Santa" still prayers for this little girls wish to come true soon.
Posted by Believer on Sun Nov 08, 2009 at 09:21 PM
The Santa at the Manger annoys me because it seems to be saying he existed before Christ. Any made up story or scene involving true events is kind of silly, like all of the endless "legends" going around such as the Legend of the Robin, or the Legend of the Pretzel, or the Legend of the Christmas Peacock (I'm not kidding), the Legend of the Christmas Penguin...sure was a crowded stable--penguins, peacocks, shepherds, wisemen (who actually didn't find jesus until He was around two years old and living in a house), cows, sheep, pigs, pretzels, candy canes, pickles, you name it, it was there! The truth is more fascinating to me than all this made up nonsense--God became flesh in the form of an infant to ultimately become the sacrifice for the sins of the world. I don't need the fantasies the truth is so great!!
Posted by Ray on Mon Nov 22, 2010 at 10:25 PM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
In the same vein as the crucified Santa urban legend, here's an odd statue that would look great in any front yard. It's the Santa Kneeling by Baby Jesus
Comments
My girlfriend and her mother are quite Christian. My sweetie actually makes me go to church once a year for Easter. Her mom goes nuts decorating for Christmas, and a smaller, indoor version of that very statue (perhaps 18 inches tall) is prominently displayed on the living room entertainment center, next to the TV.
A few weeks ago, my sweetie mentioned that they shouldn't forget the true meaning of Christmas, and her mother, without missing a beat or stopping to realize what she was saying, responded with 'Yeah--Decorating!'
She tried to backpedal, but it's too funny to forget.
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/tests/xmasquiz/christmas.html
But I wasn't intentionally pulling anyone's leg. Instead, I just got careless about what I wrote.
Uh ... Do you mean "Lamaze coach," or are you trying to say that Mary was a racecar driver?
Drove so goddam fast!
Never did win no checkered flags,
but she never did come in last.
Three guesses who Mary the racecar driver has on her dashboard.
Dude, of COURSE it's real. I'm looking at one right now, not three yards from me.
The sentiment, of course, is that even Santa shows respect to the King of Kings, the REAL reason for the season. The sentiment is valid, I guess.
But that doesn't make the statue any less absurd.
I usually see about half of the Santa images balding, and half with a full head of curly white hair. I can't remember which of the Rankin-Bass disturbing puppet christmas specials went which way, though.
(My favorite of those was the REAL story of Santa Claus, which shows him as a baby, being raised by Pagan forest gods, complete with antlered heads. Wow!)
Anywho...my mom has a small, white glass figure trimmed in gold (goldleaf maybe?) where Santa is kneeling in deference to the infant Jesus. I think people who buy it are hoping that their guests who look upon it will be suddenly struck with the thought that the season is really more than just gifts & decorating. And...rather than their guests thinking that it was a holiday to kill 2 birds w/ one stone...they'll remember the Christ Child in a manger, after the harvest.
P.S. Any sheep farmers out there? Can you tell me if you would have your sheep outside at night, in the middle of December??
Shepherds used to stay out with their flocks during lambing season, which is in the Spring. They didn't stay out (so I am told) at any other time.
Many Churches in Britain were built on sites already used by the "Pagans".
Off-hand, and I may be wrong, I think St Augustine actually recommended this sort of thing as a short-cut to converting the locals.
Of course Christ is the reason for the season -- if you're a religious Christian. But if you're secular, or of a different religion entirely, there are a great many other reasons for the season of Lights, or of Giving, or of whatever.
That's it exactly! Wow, and I was thinking y'all were a pretty clueless bunch at first
😉
If people are allowed to put plastic reindeer, colored lights, candy canes, inflatable snowmen and giant toy soldiers in their yards, then what's so wrong with a Christian wanting to put Santa reverantly kneeling to Christ? The first time I saw this it did strike me. It reminded me how Christ is very central to many people's holidays this time of year. Also, there is a move for Christians to try to decrease the selfish "I want" gift lists of Christmas and emphasize the selfless, helping/loving others during this time (and throughout the year). A symbol like the above picture, kind of brings that in to perspective as far as moving the focus from Santa and placing it on Christ.
I believe most scholars have say the actual birth of Christ was sometime between March and May, but centuries ago, they decided to celebrate it on Dec.25 to offset a pagan holiday.
Now...where can I buy one of them Santas? And a big spotlight that will make his bald head reflect back on cars passing by???
:lol:
I love the statue and think it is a great representative of the modern day comercialism linked by historical giving of gifts that JC represents to the Christian. God is everywhere. People can benefit from artistic wit like this. It is more a picture of now than then the actual events that are separated by centuries of history....A metaphor of what is.