"Kneeling Santa" by Fontannini
I'm not a big fan of the ceramic "Kneeling Santa" figure (above). It strikes me as faulty to use a fairy tale character to lead children to the Christ Child. And yes, I know that there's a connection between Santa Claus and Bishop Nicholas of Myra - but I'd say that connection was pretty much severed a long time ago when the image of the episcopal character traded his his miter and crosier for a sleigh and a ruby-nosed reindeer.
But I'm given pause by a story in the Arlington Catholic Herald and the picture below of the man who poses each year as the "Real Santa." This story just might change my mind...
Photo by Gretchen R. Crowe of the Arlington Catholic Herald; used with permission; "Real Santa" John Buckreis prays with children at the Garden Center creche
Here's a Santa (John Buckreis) who doubles as a catechist! This certainly takes the edge off for me and renders me more open to the imagery at play here. Certainly, a catechizing Claus gives parents something to work with when trying to share the Christmas message with their children. (Bay Staters: can you imagine this happening at a commercial garden center in Massachusetts?)
So, what do my readers think about this? Is Santa an asset or a liability in communicating the Christmas story? In a child's eyes, who's the greater: Jesus or Santa? If the answer is Santa, are we content with that situation? Would you like to have a "Real Santa" like Mr. Buckreis in your parish?
This popular seasonal song tells of Santa "making a list and checking it twice; gonna find out who's naughty and nice..." Is that our image of Jesus, too? How does that image square with the Jesus of the gospels?
-ConcordPastor
I'm not sure if it was our image of God knowing who is naughty or nice that was projected onto Santa, or the other way around. In any case, playing Christmas monopoly with my daughter last night, I was sent to Naughty jail 5 times! Ouch! Stella was quite amused.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, thank you for not choosing Bruce Springsteen for the song Santa Clause Is Coming To Town.
As someone who has been steeped in catechetics since I was 16, I have always felt that the legends of the candy cane, the "Christian" 12 days of Christmas,the poinsettia, and images like the kneeling Santa can be valuable teaching tools IF it is made clear that they are just that....LEGENDS... stories/images designed to teach us.(Kind of like a parable???)
ReplyDeleteChildren relate well to such stories and they can, in fact, help them retain the valuable information of the true meaning of Christmas and that Christmas is but the first step in our journey to Easter. I am also a fan of the jelly bean prayer at Easter!!
I loved your story yesterday about Bobby Decker...For me Santa really can play a helpful role in guiding our children to what is central in Christmas, the birth of Jesus.
In the eyes of children I'd say Santa is greater. Not sure how to fix that one . . .
ReplyDeleteSteve: The Boss' rendition was under consideration - but anything a capella always wins with me!
ReplyDeleteRob: In the eyes of most children who believe in Santa: Santa IS greater. Just because they don't know Jesus yet. But in someways ... for me ... Santa; was Jesus. Santa was someone I knew I could count on. Someone I couldn't see, but who I always looked for evidence that he had been there. Santa was mysterious and didn't alway bring what I asked for, but for what he did bring, I was eternally grateful. When I was old enough to know Santa wasn't real; it was Jesus that I turned to for all my hopes and joys. Again ... they are most never answered ... but somehow I know that Jesus weeps with me when I'm sad and hopes that someday I make the right choices to bring the love I so desire in my life. Santa is Ok. :-) Especially if you can see what he's all about. And that is love.
ReplyDeleteI'm still in the camp that doesn't like Santa kneeling before Jesus' manger. The fantasy images of Santa have their place for kids at Christmas, but not in the stable.
ReplyDeleteI've never liked that image, nor do I like seeing lawns with blow up santas and snowmen alongside inflatable creches. If we as parents need Santa to lead our kids to Christ, we've got to change how we're teaching our kids!
When my children were growing up, we were members of a parish in Georgia. Every Christmas Eve afternoon at the 5:00 Mass, Santa was a member of the congregation, singing, responding, praying, worshiping. Nothing was made of him, he was simply there like the rest of us as a congregant. I think this made the priorities clear to my children: Santa came to worhip God, not the other way around.
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