Some of you might remember that last year I caused a bit of a kerfuffle when I disparaged the idea of merging the tradition of Santa with the Doctrine of Jesus. I wrote two posts about it, and the response was very polarized.
First, you may want to read “Luke 2: The Apparently Missing Scriptures.“
and then, “Santa and Jesus Revisited.”
Let me be perfectly clear – I have nothing against Santa. My family embraces the tradition. My problem is when the Santa tradition is brought into our theology, and used as a comparison point to the Savior. I believe in both – one is real.
But, apparently, many people like merging the Santa tradition with theology. There are books and poems about it, and paintings and figurines, etc. A quick search shows lots of pictures like the one posted above.
After a year of processing this, I have decided that maybe I am on the wrong side of this argument. Maybe fictional characters CAN be a part of our religious celebration. And maybe, just maybe, we shouldn’t just limit this participation to Santa. I’m sure there are other fictional characters besides him that could be used to further our Christmas tradition.
For example – if Santa kneeling at the manger accentuates the Christmas message, than these will too.
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| Buddy the Elf is one of the truest representations of being “childlike” I have ever seen. |
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| The Bumble teaches us that we can change, and his white fur represents purity. |
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| The Burgermeister Meisterburger had a change of heart. |
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| The Grinch os obviously the best example of someone having a Change of Heart. 3 sizes! |
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| Probably should have included Linus. Linus taught me Luke 2. |
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| Too much? |
I had to come back to this post to comment because yesterday, I had a friend console me, (after telling her that I didn’t plan on telling my kids that Santa was real), that even if I decided not to do ‘Santa’ I could still surely find some way to bring Christ into Christmas. I really can’t believe the amount of stupid in this world.
Personally, when I think of Santa, I think of St. Nicholas, who was very generous and suffered for his Christian faith. While the modern American tradition is far removed from Nicholas, that connection is worth remembering and honoring, IMO. I don’t understand the pictures of Santa kneeling at the manger, though, because they suggest that an aged Santa in the modern tradition pre-dated Christmas itself. I’m sure I’m reading too much into it, though.
As far as Charlie Brown and The Grinch, etc, it’s one thing to use them to point to the Savior and another to suggest them at the manger. On my blog this past month, I spent time unpacking the Gospel messages in some classic Christmas movies/shows, but my point is that the characters represent us and people we know who are in need of God’s transformative power!
I LOVED this post… fantastic job! It was hilarious!
My eight year old daughter just informed me this morning that Christmas presents are just Goodie Bags for Jesus’s Birthday Party…I like that!
Thanks for the comparison. It helps me look at the Christmas movie classics in a whole new light.
I’m with you on the Santa argument and these pictures are hilarious!
The Buddy the Elf pic is my favorite. I can hear him saying “Jesus, I know him!”. You are too funny MMM.
This is absolutely the best comment on here. I will be laughing all night hearing Buddy’s voice say this. Thank you.
Even if it wasn’t intentional I’m glad there was a reference to Anne of Green Gables with “kerfuffle”. There are only two places I’ve ever heard that word, Anne(it was actually Marilla) and you. Maybe I just haven’t lived long enough to hear it elsewhere. 🙂
For the last several years, my family has put the Bumble placing the star on top of our tree. It’s a figure about a foot tall and it looks pretty good up there. I am glad to see that others finally recognise the Bumble’s significance in the nativity.
As you can guess, I doesn’t significantly bother me one way or another, especially as, to me, it represents the secular Christmas traditions recognising the true “reason for the season.”
I would’ve loved to see you include the Elf on a Shelf!
Seems like I’m the only one that found the images disturbing rather than funny! (And I usually don’t suffer from a prudish sense of humor) It was a great visual reminder though to try to hold the world at bay and keep the focus on the true symbols of Christmas!
That didn’t seem at all sarcastic…
Yay!!!!!!! Thanks Colin!
testing
The leg lamp was over the top but, IT WAS A MAJOR AWARD. LOL
I read all three posts on Santa, plus the comments, ‘cuz I really enjoy your blog and the humor/gospel teaching crossover.
If we teach our families about Christmas customs around the world, there are other gift givers and other dates for giving gifts in addition to Santa on Christmas Eve. An easy way to learn that our Christmas traditions (whatever they are) celebrate the great gift of Christ coming to earth to be our Savior.
–Pruniemae
This is my all time favorite post. Every time someone posts that Santa picture at the manger, it makes me want to pull the eyeballs out of my head. This made me laugh hard.
FWIW, as the mother of adopted children and grandchildren, I hate, loathe and despise Buddy.
Ha ha! These were great! You’ve got you some mad skillz, yo.
The Bumble one is the best. His white fur! Hahahaha! So awesome.
ps. Mr. Krueger’s Chirstmas IS stupid. And a little creepy.
I don’t have a problem with a Santa figure kneeling to the Christ child since he (Santa) to me represents the real Nicholas, a fourth century bishop who certainly DID worship the Christ.
However, Nicholas also voted for the Nicean creed, so my admiration of him is strictly limited to his good works.
Back to your post. I HATE BUDDY THE ELF AND THE LEG LAMP.
Whoooooo… feel better now that’s off my chest.
Long live the Bumble!
I had to stop reading your blog for a while and this is what i come back too? Jesus and a leg lamp. Hmmm…
Oh, so curious…
Please note: There is no Jesus in the Leg Lamp picture. I have my limits.
I didn’t notice no Jesus. I’ll send u a message.
Oh.My.Gosh! Love this post and the pic of Buddy the Elf peering into the manger is hands down my favorite! I think I’m gonna find a rendition, blow it up and frame it for each of my kids as a gift. Seriously good stuff.
I don’t understand how anyone CAN’T understand how “A Christmas Sotry” isn’t a classic. Serio? And for the record, I have that EXACT leg lamp on my nightstand.
Yes. Yes I do……fish net stocking and all. ‘Cause I’m cool like that.
Bottom line, people should stop taking themselves so seriously. So Santa kneels, showing respect. Okay, if you like that and it touches you then have at it. If you find it offensive then don’t get one of those ceramic thingies. Everyone feels the Spirit differently and express it differently.
(I love you mCat…you are awesome and don’t take things too seriously!)
I agree that Santa and theology have nothing to do with each other, but I dont really understand the way we celebrate Christmas in general. Why do we give each other gifts in celebration of another persons birth? I dont get presents on my husbands birthday.
I am a bit of a Grinch, I know. I would rather spend the day thinking about the gospel, my testimony, and spending time with my eternal family.
Buddy the elf popping up at the manger just made my day.
I now have to clean the spit off my computer from laughing so hard with food in my mouth.
This gave me a huge happy. Maybe that’s because I just like to be contrary.
I thoroughly enjoyed the different fictional characters at the manger. And I learned Luke 2 from Linus as well. As I viewed each picture, a smile came to my face. I thought it was pretty cool how you justified the attributes of some of the characters.
Then…
I saw the leg lamp. I almost fell out of my chair from laughing so hard. Thankfully, I did NOT fallout of my chair, but my laughing caused a twenty minute coughing fest (I have a cold) that made it sound like I was trying to dislodge my lungs from my chest via my esophagus. Well, played, sir. Well Played.
Oh, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Glad you recovered, and Merry Christmas to you, too!
What is the red dot?
Rudolph’s nose
I am so slow sometimes!
I didn’t catch on to it either until I read this. Don’t feel bad.
Thank goodness someone asked that question. I was thinking the planet Mars. And thank you anonymous.
Doh! Not a cell phone tower. Much funnier now. Thanks!
at first I thought it was NORAD tracking Santa…..lol
The leg lamp is my favorite! Hee hee.
I’m just not into the Santa thing though I really don’t care if others are. But, like you I just don’t get why we’d want to merge the two. Somehow my kids haven’t lost their sense of wonder and their love of make-believe just because we don’t do Santa, the Easter Bunny, the tooth fairy, etc. You should see what we do for the “tooth fairy”- with your strange sense of humor you would probably get a chuckle. ( :
Here’s what I do like about “Santa kneeling at the manger”. Santa as a symbol of our secular Christmas traditions is kneeling, as in taking a lower station, to our Savior, the true reason for the season. It reminds me that we should keep our celebration in perspective, and subordinate our secular traditions to the worship of our Savior.
Exactly what I was thinking about it.
Looks like we have a new entry for the “Posts That Make My EC the Most Uncomfortable”. Congrats! 😉
Very true. She just read it and cringed, but the Bumble fur made her laugh out loud. I imagine it is tough to be married to me.
What about Mr. Kreuger’s Christmas? touche.
Touche? I thought it was dumb. And I love Jimmy Stewart.
I disagree. Mr. Krueger’s Christmas is very spiritual. That part when he tells Baby Jesus that He is his one true friend and stood by him when his wife died gets me every time. Beautiful. And it’s got the Church’s logo and approval on it. Now that part with the male dancer in the baby blue polyester pants is hard to watch, though.
Colin did you like “The Mail Box” too? Both movies make me want to drive off a cliff when I turn 80
Hahahaha! That’s all I have to say. Love your photoshopping skills.
Let me share with you an experience I had a few years ago. It was Christmas time, and I was a primary president, and I was trying to be all crafty and do this 12 days of Christmas nights with my kids, and have a spiritual story every night, I determined to put the Christ back into Christmas. I was also pregnant. So I cried alot. My children all have varying forms of Autism -so this was NOT working. About day four, I felt like a complete failure, crying, and fixing something on the Christmas tree, and I had a gentle feeling of peace come over me. I was assured my offering was accepted, but that I could let go. My job would be to teach them tradition and family, and that the Lord would take care of the testimony part. We could do what the kids wanted the cookies, and singing, and sledding and being together as a family -they would come to know Christ. I learned thatday, that I make it way to hard on myself.
ALSO- I completely get why the leg lamp is a classic…
Shantel – you are so cool. Love what you shared here and I agree! Great comment!
Shantel: Thanks for this. (You know you’ve said something good when Jocelyn appreciates it.)
Definitely the best Santa-Jesus-theology post I’ve ever seen!!! DON’T STOP.
jww
Buddy the Elf just cracked me up. Thanks for the laugh!
Don’t! Don’t join the “dark side” and say that Santa worshipped the Christ Child!
The photos in your post are just plain funny! But not everyone gets a fluttery feeling when they see pictures of Santa kneeling at the manger. For some of us, it is more of a stomach churn. We need you as our spokesman! We need you to continue to point out that some things just don’t work well together!
Ha, ha, ha! Thank you for the good laugh, even if it was bordering on sacrilegious (but I suppose that was the whole point…) I almost barfed when I saw Buddy in the stable. Yikes.
My daughter walked in very seriously a few days ago (before your first post on this) and announced that she had learned at school that Santa knelt down by the baby Jesus. We were both surprised by how vehemently I shouted “No! That’s not true!” I had to calm myself down to explain to her that sometimes “bad” people sometimes make things up, and that Santa most definitely did not bow down to Jesus. I felt bad for having such a strong reaction to it, but after reading your posts I understand my feelings on it a little better.
Yes, I am one of those crazies that really enjoys reading your blog. 🙂 Thank you for having opinions and for sharing them.
Outstanding. Some things just don’t mix. Like fruits and vegetables. Carrot/raisin salad = abomination. Smiles.
Your inner-child called. He wants his innocent sense of wonder back.
He also says, adults are so lame…
Bah! I exude the innocent sense of wonder. Who else has ever thought of having a Bumble hold the Christmas star? Or to have Buddy the Elf share with the shepherds?
Bahaha. Well played, Jocelyn. Sense of humor, yes. Sense of wonder, not so much. 🙂
And I think you agree, so I’m not arguing a point, but I sure love the Charlie Brown Christmas show. It chokes me up every time. It’s a fabulous blend of fiction and true Christmas.
I love Charlie Brown Christmas -especially how Linus cuts through the distractions and separates them from the real meaning.
Linus doesn’t stand up and give a speech about how Charlie Brown is like Jesus. Unless I missed that part. He quotes Luke 2, in it’s perfect simplicity.
I am laughing at this whole discussion!! (Seriously, wow!)
Only adults would sit around online and argue about this sort of thing instead of taking what is good from it.
(By the way…that’s exactly what your inner-child told me you’d say.)
Tonight at the stroke of midnight…expect to have three visitors!!! 🙂
Personally, I don’t get upset when I see wise men in a manger scene…or when plays say there was no “room in the Inn”…but I do draw the line when my kids’ teachers tell them to leave Santa carrots instead of cookies. Quit messing with a good thing.
Adults…ruin everything!
PS – I’m going to go listen to “The Joseph Song” now…and I’m going to enjoy it…a lot!
That’s fine, as long as you don’t go listen to that stupid cherry tree song.
yeah thats the one! 🙂
Wonder is out of business, something to do with Twinkies, I think.
Linda~LOL
This was completely and totally a great idea. Nice post!
http://www.bensopinion.com
Can somebody tell me where I send me letter to Santa?
USPS. And they don’t charge.
Maybe, next year, the little children could gather to find their gifts under the manger. Oh wait. That would be silly.
Yes, yes it would.
At least you didn’t include the Griswold’s or the McAllister’s-that would have been too sacrilegious. I do think that you should have included Clarence in a picture of the angles announcing the birth of the Savior to the shepherds though….
Tom
I actually looked for a way to do Clarence, but couldn’t find one.
Feeling a little passive agressive? I think it’s a good post. Your pictures bring humor to the situation while showing the irony of combining sacred with fiction. But maybe the humor attributable to your Photoshop skills. In any case, well done.
Dude. That sounded down-right analytical.
Again, square peg – round hole. We are used to the idea of Santa and Christmas together as one, but I guarantee that if someone tried to write a book about Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet and how their pagan traditions remind us of Jesus… well, it just breaks down at a certain point.
Becky, that is cool. Our family did something like that long ago and revisit it semi-regularly. We listed all the Christmas symbols that we could think of and how they relate to Christ. We didn’t want any decorations that were not Christ-centered. Now I prefer to have almost all Nativities now, but wherever I see Christmas decorations of any kind, I remember their message of Christ.
MMM, I am amused that you find Halloween a good Christian holiday but have trouble with Santa kneeling at the manger. Santa embodies many Christ-like qualities, including reverence and humilty.Showing him kneeling before Christ reminds us who is the important one.
I always told my children that Santa was magic pretend. When they figured it out, they signed on as elves.
If we want to teach Christlike qualities, hows about we talk about Christ?
Halloween is kindness, I don’t go around telling people that the blood Dracula drinks is to remind us of the atonement.
i’m totally using that
Yes, the lamp leg is too much. I’ve never understood why that movie is considered a classic.
For seminary last week we read Moses 6:63 and then made a list of Christmas symbols. For our devotionals this month, each of the students is taking one and explaining how it relates to the Savior, and how it can help us remember the true meaning of Christmas. Tuesday’s symbol is the Grinch; I’m looking forward to seeing what insights will be shared then.
You never…understood…? Really??
*sigh*
I’m with you. I hate that stupid movie. A lot.
I loved it. It’s a Christmas movie tradition.
It is easy to connect Jesus to Odin and Odin to Father Christmas. Santa is a memory of Jesus, 3 Nephi 16:1-3.