what I never knew about Nativity scenes

[donsu]

http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/


Xmas - And, lo, a small teddy bear will lead them:
In the days before Christmas, the Rude Pundit roamed his neighborhood, looking at the displays in the charming stores and corner markets. There he saw the agony of so many dichotomous feelings about this holiday. One window had a kneeling, praying Santa next to a baby Jesus in the manger. Santa's hat was off. He was balding. Another display had the jolly old fat man landing his sleigh and reindeer on the roof of the manger. Surprisingly, neither Mary nor Joseph seemed rattled by the noise, although a camel was looking upward, as if asking, "What the fuck?" The Rude Pundit loved that camel.

Ah, sweet camel, what the fuck, indeed. Christ and commerce, Alleluia. The Savior has been born and he thanks you for your presents. Santa showing that he'll even honor the king of the Jews in the land of Islam. There's no telling what it means (and don't get all up in the Rude Pundit's face about St. Nicholas). Except this: we want to embrace both things, good deconstructionists that we are: Santa, who soothes our greed,and Jesus, who promises us peace. Either way, we want them both to tell us we're good people, nice people. And, of course, guilt-ridden Christians want to make sure that Santa toes the party line, you know.

For the holiday, here's a few of the Rude Pundit's favorite Nativity sets:
The Polar Bear Nativity (the manger reads, "Alaska")
The Teddy Bear Nativity (because baby Jesus isn't cute enough as a human)
The Mice Nativity
The Native American Nativity (complete with teepee instead of manger and a Mohawk king, 'cause, you know, the Indians benefited so much from the birth of Christ)
This is not to mention the Cativity, the Dogtivity, the Chickentivity, the Safaritivity, and the Forestivity, all available unironically for your Christmas consumption.
-snip-
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(all of the Nativity sets have a link. don't know if the links will come through and get posted)

no, the links didn't survive posting - you will have to go to the site.

[uppityperson]

1. Our set has the holy robot, seal and handicapped wiseman

For many years, my parents set has had a mammoth attending.

[signmike]

11. A woolly mammoth?

what is a mammoth attending? Like a elephant-in-waiting?

:shrug:

heh heh

[uppityperson]

15. yup. the Holy Mammoth got added by a grandchild

Why not a mammoth?

[NYC]

2. Links to nativity scenes:

Polar Bear: http://www.santaclaushouse.com/polNativ.html

Teddy Bear: http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-46766.jsp

Mice: http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-1600986001.jsp

Native American: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6500395956&category=10938#ebayphotohosting

Note: The mice are cute, and a real bargain compared to the teddy bears.

[donsu]

3. thanks NYC

come to think of it - there are probably people who collect Nativity scenes. maybe even shops devoted to Nativity scenes.

hhmmm

as a young teen I was in a live Nativity scene. I felt foolish but at that time I couldn't fight the norm.

[Mika]

4. In Miami there are shops dedicated to nativity scenes

they also sell Mary & baby Jesus statues and angel stuff, but the windows are filled w/nativities. Busy stores too. Jesus is big biz.

[donsu]

6. I should have known - if they sell Mary cheese sandwiches on e-bay

they would have Nativity shops.

wonder if religions are the biggest businesses in the world. bigger then oil. is the Pope a CEO?

[0007]

9. Wish they had a scene of little John Gotti laying in manger

instead of Sammy.

[Kurovski]

5. And to think I've been offing mice in my home.

Christ killer!

[troubleinwinter]

7. basketball Jesus

http://www.catholicshopper.com/products/inspirational_sport_statues.html

And ballerina and hockey Jesus:

http://www.catholicshopper.com/products/inspirational_sport_statues2.html

[uppityperson]

12. How come he's grabbing the ball away from all the kids?

Participation is one thing, but seems like he's trying to monopolize every game he plays in. Golf one is a bit creepy.

[Mika]

13. Looks like he's grabbing the kid's balls

[KareBear]

8. Then of course the slightly less popular...

"What if they didn't buy that whole 'Virgin Birth' thing?" Nativity scene where we see a pregnant Mary being stoned to death by the men of the village. :D

[donsu]

10. thanks for bringing us back to the land of reality

nt

[TalkingDog]

14. What I don't get....

Is how Christians don't see any of this as blasphemous and sacrilegious.

I mean this is a Godhead we are talking about here, not your next door neighbor. (Buddy Jesus!) He is supposed to be awful (in the original sense of the word) and you are supposed to tremble and fall on your face prostate before his magnificence. I mean, WTF? Jeebus as a chicken or the product of some ungodly union between an elephant and hippo?

I'm not a Christian, but I do understand the concept of sanctity and the sacred. This is base and mundane and as far from sacred as you can get.

WWJD? Kick the moneychangers off the Internets and sue them for defamation of character.

[MIS_UNDER_ESTIMATED]

16. Cluck cluck!

I'm partial to the chicken nativity set: