Among the seeming hundreds of catalogs I receive at this time of year is a religious catalog of cards, stationery, gifts, books and, appropriately for the season, Christmas tree ornaments. One group of items caught my attention: the “Kneeling Santa” collection.
Each offering in this collection features Santa kneeling at the manger. In some versions he is holding Baby Jesus as Mary and Joseph look on; in others, he is kneeling alone at the manger. In yet another, he holds the baby, he has doffed his Santa hat and dropped it into the manger, and the manger is sitting under a lovely Christmas tree with a star on top. A lamb appears to be resting on Santa’s foot.
I looked over the “Kneeling Santa” collection. I read the description: “the Kneeling Santa image beautifully blends the religious and secular aspects of Christmas.” While I applaud the attempt to remind families, and especially children, of the true meaning of Christmas, I have a deep concern about placing Santa in the manger.
I fear this risks terrible confusion for children. It creates one of two equally muddled impressions. Either 1) Santa was there at the birth of Christ (but oddly never mentioned in scripture); or 2) the story of Christ’s birth is a fun make-believe story just like Santa. In other words, it either raises Santa to Christ’s level, or lowers Christ to Santa’s.
I know I sound like a humbug, and I truly understand the intended message. But I’m not sure a child would be capable of successfully making the connection. I’m not even sure making a connection is a good idea.
Why do we Christians insist on appropriating the secular Christmas? Personally, I love the jolly old elf, the penguins and polar bears, the candy canes and cookies, Christmas trees and poinsettias — none of which have anything to do with the Messiah sleeping in an animals’ feeding trough. I also deeply treasure the season of Advent, the glorious Magnificat, the image of the shepherds on the hillside receiving the angels’ announcement, the stable where an exhausted young mother and her husband watch over a miraculous, holy baby boy.
While we Christians struggle to conflate the two holidays — the sacred and the secular —the secular world struggles to separate them! Companies put up tall evergreen trees in their lobbies, decorated with tinsel and shiny ornaments, and call them “holiday trees.” I admit, that hits me as goofy — I think most of us know it’s not a Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or Winter Solstice tree. Still, it’s an understandable effort to make the secular holiday, with all its festivity and fun, more inclusive.
I’m sure Santa, especially with his saintly lineage, would consider the birth of Jesus holy and wondrous. In fact, his heritage is built on the Christlike virtues of generosity and charity. I imagine Santa would say his prayers at bedtime, even on Christmas Eve. I checked around on Amazon and found a children’s book called Santa’s Prayer. It offers a reasonable (and child-friendly) idea: Santa prays that the children he delivers gifts to will know Jesus is the greatest gift of all. Another book is titled Santa, Why Do You Come on Jesus’ Birthday? What a great opening for a conversation that allows both Christmases to have their own meaning and importance for a child.
Let Santa pray. Let Santa worship. Just leave him out of the sacred stable, which did not have a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer parked on its roof.
I wish everyone a Christmas that is both sacred and merry!