So here's something that showed up in my neighborhood.

[InternalDialogue]

I actually thought it brought up a number of good discussions.

My first: Santa showed up before the Wise Men or after? Because I thought most of the gift-giving was done before, but that's just me.

[MrMickeysMom]

1. Awww... Santa's a mid-wife!

You have to have cross training these days...

[elshiva]

2. After. Reminds me of the old sacred conversation paintings.

Sacred conversation usually showed Jesus and saints around Him.
Saint Nicholas went to heaven to worship Jesus.

[tigereye]

3. always kind of liked those...

[Bertha Venation]

4. When I was a fundy I was deeply offended by this.

It implied that Santa existed before Jesus. And that, because Jesus is God, that Santa existed before God.

Deeply, deeply offensive. I heard more than one sermon about this.

[meow2u3]

5. This scene looks anachronistic to me, something from out of a cartoon

Saint Nicholas died in the year 343 (12/6)--and he was from Myra, in modern-day Turkey. Santa Claus, in truth, is a largely modern Christmas legend, based on the life of St. Nicholas, who actually sent dowry money down the chimnies of familes too poor to afford to marry off their daughters.

No, he could not have been able to worship Jesus at the manger in Bethlehem at the time of his birth--he had yet to exist!

More info on Saint Nick/Santa Claus

[Bucky]

6. If look at the shadows, you'll notice Santa's facing toward Mecca.

[foxfeet]

7. Looks like Santa's saying grace

before he eats the baby.

[last_texas_dem]

8. Haha! I saw one of those a few years ago for the first time...

Just seems... odd to me. A mix of the "secular" and "religious" aspects of Xmas in a way that just doesn't quite work.

Kinda like the song "Here Comes Santa Claus." Let's give thanks to the Lord above/ 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight. Really? You sure you wanna go there? haha

[GoCubsGo]

9. This is a common scene around my town...

At least some version of it. They don't always have the purple drape or the crown of thorns. But, lots of them plant that cross right at the head of the manger. They all feel compelled to remind the poor baby Jesus of his fate on his birthday. Poor Baby Jesus. Your fan club is really warped.

[geardaddy]

10. That's creepy.

[mikeytherat]

11. That's the lame version. The real man version has Santa in full Army combat camos.

Boots, weapon, the whole works. I must now search high and low for this photo - it is sooooooooo over the top.

mikey_the_rat

[Brother Buzz]

12. Here's my neighborhood Nativity scene. All that's missing is baby Jesus

I understand he's penciled in to appear on the 25th of the month, weather permitting.

[Radical Activist]

13. "Dear Lord baby Jesus, lyin' there in your ghost manger..."

It makes the praying to baby Jesus argument in Talladega Nights seem relevant.

[Fire Walk With Me]

14. Santa is BALD? WOT?Q?Q?Q?Q?

:scared:

[ScreamingMeemie]

15. My mother has that in knick knack form.