# Christmas song meaning **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 26, 2018, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723 "2018-12-26T10:48:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/1 "2018-12-26T10:48:32Z")
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus I’ve heard this song for years and it just dawned on me that “Santa Claus” might be the dad. Opinions, Dad or Cheating Mom? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/2 "2018-12-26T11:06:09Z")
Definitely Dad. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/3 "2018-12-26T11:07:38Z")
It’s always been obvious to me that it was the kid’s dad. There seems to be no confusion on the issue regarding [the New Yorker cover that ultimately inspired the song](https://www.swanngalleries.com/news/2014/12/who-kissed-santa-claus-cover-behind-it-all/). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/4 "2018-12-26T12:29:05Z")
If there’s any cheating involved, it’s in letting the child believe it’s really Santa rather than Dad ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/5 "2018-12-26T12:30:37Z")
Even as a kid – albeit one who no longer believed in Santa Claus – I never thought anything but some kid shocked when he saw his parents smooching. I have no recollection of thinking about the song when I was still a Believer. [This](http://www.atticpaper.com/prodimages/covers_nov2013/dannemora_medium.jpg) is one of my favorite Norman Rockwell _Saturday Evening Post_ covers. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/6 "2018-12-26T13:23:41Z")
As far as I can remember I’ve gotten the gist of it but one thing that always struck me as little odd is “what a laugh it would have been if daddy had walked in and seen mommy kissing Santa Claus”. I _know_ it’s just fun and portrays a child’s innocence but when I picture a man walking in and seeing his wife kissing a dude in a santa suit, my mind goes to a much darker place :dubious:😛 Also, if you listen to John Mellancamp’s version of the song it sounds like he’s singing “Then I saw mama tinkle on Santa Claus . . .” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/7 "2018-12-26T16:05:34Z")
The entire song is a Rorschach test for the darkness of your soul. If your mind goes to the “cheating wife” idea, it shows the depravity you carry deep within you. If you assume it was the Dad, it shows that you are a wholesome, loving person. Just kidding. It is clearly the Dad. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/8 "2018-12-26T16:13:53Z")
So, I guess I’m the last to know again. Sigh. If anyone needs me I’ll be over here in the corner with my dark soul. In my defense, I’m most familiar with Mellancamp’s version which makes it sound a little risqué. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/9 "2018-12-26T17:01:58Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > There seems to be no confusion on the issue regarding [the New Yorker cover that ultimately inspired the song](https://www.swanngalleries.com/news/2014/12/who-kissed-santa-claus-cover-behind-it-all/). > [@](#): > > Good thing she is seemingly unaware of mom’s affectionate hand on Santa’s leg Ummm, that aint Santa’s leg! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/10 "2018-12-26T17:08:17Z")
I’ve never heard Mellancamp’s version. I never heard it at all until I knew Santa was my parents. I thought for a short time mom was kissing another guy the very first time I heard it, and then realized it was a joke, and she was kissing dad. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/11 "2018-12-26T17:08:34Z")
Try Kip Addotta’s version, [“I Saw Daddy Kissing Santa Claus.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q4RAORvySw) Poor quality performance, but a clever twist. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/12 "2018-12-26T17:08:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Ummm, that aint Santa’s leg! I know, right!? I guess “I saw mommy giving Santa a handy” doesn’t really have the right meter. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/13 "2018-12-26T17:22:50Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > There seems to be no confusion on the issue regarding [the New Yorker cover that ultimately inspired the song](https://www.swanngalleries.com/news/2014/12/who-kissed-santa-claus-cover-behind-it-all/). Actually, there was. > [@](#): > > The controversial tune was condemned by the Catholic Church which accused the lyrics of implying adulterous and inappropriate behavior, but the ban was ultimately lifted when Boyd [13 year old Jimmy Boyd, who recorded the song] met publicly with the Archdiocese to explain the misunderstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2018, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/14 "2018-12-26T18:16:41Z")
I’ve figured it was the dad all along too. But I wrote a final verse, to be sung by the young Jackson 5, on the assumption that Mommy was actually cheating on daddy: “Then I saw daddy murder Santa Claus Underneath the mistletoe last night Oh that was some ol’ Christmas Day When daddy got taken away For stabbing Santa Claus that night.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2018, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/15 "2018-12-27T05:35:09Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Actually, there was. That bit you quoted is about the song, and not the New Yorker cover… ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2018, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/16 "2018-12-29T23:47:20Z")
Then there was Buck Owens: https://www.youtube.com/embed/y_LSPB6HyHo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLb35e0lfIMHYrFZV5dcK6XVZIF8XbtouO ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/17 "2018-12-30T01:15:14Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I’ve figured it was the dad all along too. But I wrote a final verse, to be sung by the young Jackson 5, on the assumption that Mommy was actually cheating on daddy: > > “Then I saw daddy murder Santa Claus > Underneath the mistletoe last night > Oh that was some ol’ Christmas Day > When daddy got taken away > For stabbing Santa Claus that night.” I don’t care for the Jackson 5’s Christmas music output as a general rule, but sometimes I am overcome by an exquisite languor (I get lazy), and changing the station is just too much trouble. This is why it has been my misfortune to occasionally sit through their version of this song. Knowing the rumors I have heard concerning Jackson _père_’s temperament, something like the above verse is always in my mind when I that one comes on… ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christmas-song-meaning/826723/18 "2018-12-30T01:54:36Z")
So I guess I’m the only one who loves to watch the [Christmas T.V. movie](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0282589/?ref_=nv_sr_1) of the song, in which Connie Sellecca is Mommy, and Corbin Bernsen is Daddy/Santa Claus. It’s mostly a slapstick story, in which the kid spends his time setting all sorts of traps for the local Santa because he thinks Santa is trying to steal his Mom.