I got a card today from a religious relative that shows your typical nativity scene. Except this one appears to take place in the American west. Picture a snowy scene with a barn w/manger in the middle of the woods. Surrounding Josef, Mary and child are the denizens of the forest watching the proceedings intently. Along with the usual “cute” animals, are mountain lions and wolves. Think about that.
What weird, not thought out entirely, cards have your gotten?
Doesn’t Christian tradition say that the predators lie down with the prey on Christmas Eve?
I believe it is a common enough reference to Isaiah, who is read throughout the Advent season for the prophecies which Christians find fitting reference to the coming of Christ. 11:6 “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”
Christian imagery has been transposed to familiar settings ever since its beginnings so the western US is hardly anomalous. Not like first century Bethlehem had any snow, or even, wooden structures.
“The lion may lay down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep.”
-Woody Allen
I like to send out this card on occasion: it’s a pic of Santa looking disgusted because Mrs. Claus has just hollered, “You put down the toilet seat! It’s a true Christmas miracle!”
Modern-day Christmas/Santa imagery will never again be complete without a reminder of these pics:
I thought it was the Scots who were lying down with sheep.
One more (I saw this one 40 years ago): “Money’s tight, times are hard, here’s your f#$&*^% Christmas card.”
Really speaks to the season; puts a lump right there. :: points at throat ::
I’d bet Baby Jesus is delicious!
He’s absolutely heavenly!
Some traditions along the lines of Christianity has the Christ visit other people of others lands (there is some what biblical support of this John 10:16 - I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.)
Holy veal, Batman!
This display drew a lot of attentionwhen a Catholic church included it with other “different” nativity scenes.
No, man, Jesus is a lamb, not a calf.
Rightfully so. Spandex within hours of giving birth? Snort.
And she shouldn’t be drinking coffee if she’s going to breast-feed, and she should be breastfeeding, for health and financial reasons, though it’s really none of my business.