Just NO

First of all, thank you for the comments about my office decorations.  One funny thing is that technically, we are not supposed to have decorations that could in any way offend anyone.  But my office at work is so out of the way, that you only arrive there if you mean to get there.  And over the years, I've noticed that other very behind-the-scenes work spaces are the same with how they celebrate various holidays.  If I go down, I'm taking them with me! 😊

So, you know how I am always talking about holidays having "rules," especially Christmas.  Well, even if you refuse to admit it, I'm sure you have your own set of rules.  According to The Tim, mine are "vast" but I notice that he goes along with all of them so who's the problem there, bud, HUH???

I have one friend who, every year during Christmastime sends me some version of this, because she knows it infuriates me, which amuses the heck out of her:

NO. NO. NO. NO. to infinity and beyond.

Now.  I know that there are a bazillion versions of nativity images, sets, live action shows, etc.  And even more interpretations of said scene. That's fine with me, for the most part.  I like some, and ignore others.  But this one is something that I simply cannot and will not tolerate - for the people in the back:

SANTA HAS NO PLACE AT THE NATIVITY/BIRTH OF JESUS

Keep in mind that the aforementioned friend does not care about this one way or another, she just asked me once why I marked a Christmas card from her "Return to Sender" when it had a sticker seal on it of this variety.  When I told her that Santa at the Nativity scene is something that I find so annoying and appalling that I refuse to acknowledge it, I inadvertently started this tradition.  Sigh.

Yes, Santa is also known as St. Nicholas.  Yes, Santa shows up at Christmastime, and in a lot of ways for a lot of people, he is the best part of it.

Then there is Jesus.  Whether or not you are a believer, Christmas is the celebration of His birth. Which once again, if you believe, happened many many many many years before anyone even thought of Santa.  They are two separate aspects of Christmas, and though I'm sure that some of you have no issue with this, or even think it's lovely, in my world with my rules this is just a big NO.  

One time, The Tim pointed out to me that there is a well-known family story of how, when I was a little kid, I used to take all the people out of the manger scene, and put them on the sidelines while all of the animals went inside.  I then pointed out to him that according to all stories of this event, animals were present, and it was actually *their* living space to start.  He's never brought it up since ...

So, to review, according to my rules:

Animals at the Nativity = Yes.

Santa at the Nativity = DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

Thank you for coming to my Christmastime TED talk.**

**P.S.  And even though I'm writing this for the humorous aspect, it's still true.  😉