# Why are mountain lions and wolves stalking the Holy Child?! or weird and unusal Christmas cards. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 22, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081 "2017-12-22T21:29:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Brodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Brodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brodi)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/1 "2017-12-22T21:29:28Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/2 "2017-12-22T21:38:04Z")
Doesn’t Christian tradition say that the predators lie down with the prey on Christmas Eve? ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/3 "2017-12-22T21:38:39Z")
> [@Brodi](#): > > 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? 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. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2017, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/4 "2017-12-22T23:40:38Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > 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.” “The lion may lay down with the lamb, but the lamb won’t get much sleep.” -Woody Allen ---
**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 23, 2017, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/5 "2017-12-23T00:00:39Z")
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!” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/6 "2017-12-23T00:16:45Z")
Modern-day Christmas/Santa imagery will never again be complete without a reminder of these pics: [Santa flying with sleigh and reindeer in hostile territory](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5c/12/3b/5c123b299d11b614b9f9058039325bec.jpg) [Modern hazards for Santa](https://laughshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Santa-Ouch.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/7 "2017-12-23T01:27:55Z")
I thought it was the Scots who were lying down with sheep. ---
**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 23, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/8 "2017-12-23T03:03:01Z")
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 :: ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/9 "2017-12-23T21:51:55Z")
I’d bet Baby Jesus is delicious! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/10 "2017-12-23T22:29:51Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d bet Baby Jesus is delicious! He’s absolutely heavenly! ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/11 "2017-12-23T22:53:09Z")
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._) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2017, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/12 "2017-12-23T22:58:03Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d bet Baby Jesus is delicious! > [@jayjay](#): > > He’s absolutely heavenly! Holy veal, Batman! ---
**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 23, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/13 "2017-12-23T23:51:38Z")
[This display drew a lot of attention](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2335/4087/products/103A6339_1024x1024_71ba3a4d-5d8d-4375-942b-4cbaddc3c8d3.jpg?v=1510604065)when a Catholic church included it with other “different” nativity scenes. ---
**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 24, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/14 "2017-12-24T00:57:49Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Holy veal, Batman! No, man, Jesus is a lamb, not a calf. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2017, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-mountain-lions-and-wolves-stalking-the-holy-child-or-weird-and-unusal-christmas-cards/805081/15 "2017-12-24T01:49:05Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > [This display drew a lot of attention](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2335/4087/products/103A6339_1024x1024_71ba3a4d-5d8d-4375-942b-4cbaddc3c8d3.jpg?v=1510604065)when a Catholic church included it with other “different” nativity scenes. 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.