Santa Claus is Coming To Town
You might think it's too early to start blogging about Christmas but I'm just going to have to remind you that tomorrow is the first Sunday in Advent.
I'm not sure why -- I think it was Derek's idea -- but we all watched "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" on Thanksgiving night, really late.
I think it's a bad idea to watch these things with seminarians and ministers who feel the necessity of exegeting the theological meaning behind the whole thing.
However, it should be said that this particular special really packs an emotional and spiritual wallop for PeaceBang, who always weeps when the little children of Sombertown gather suspiciously but hopefully around Santa as he sings the intro to "If You Sit On My Lap Today (A Kiss a Toy Is the Price You'll Pay)."
I know we're a bit over the top but there really is a beautiful message in this one about grace and universalism (Santa checks the list for who's naughty and who's nice and decides, "Well, I guess they're all pretty nice."). We have to notice that Winter Warlock ("Call me Winter... please") loses his powers when he is given the gift for which his heart has always yearned.
And I dare you not to shed a tear when the audacious writers of this screenplay just come right out and say that the whole tradition of giving gifts on Christmas Eve comes from Kris Kringle and his beloved Jessica getting married that night and placing their gifts to one another under the evergreen trees. You thought that was from the Bible, didn't you? And you thought the Little Drummer Boy was from the Bible, too, didn't you?
Me too. That's what happens when you're a little Unitarian kid getting your theological education from Rankin Bass claymation holiday specials.
I'm not sure why -- I think it was Derek's idea -- but we all watched "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" on Thanksgiving night, really late.
I think it's a bad idea to watch these things with seminarians and ministers who feel the necessity of exegeting the theological meaning behind the whole thing.
However, it should be said that this particular special really packs an emotional and spiritual wallop for PeaceBang, who always weeps when the little children of Sombertown gather suspiciously but hopefully around Santa as he sings the intro to "If You Sit On My Lap Today (A Kiss a Toy Is the Price You'll Pay)."
I know we're a bit over the top but there really is a beautiful message in this one about grace and universalism (Santa checks the list for who's naughty and who's nice and decides, "Well, I guess they're all pretty nice."). We have to notice that Winter Warlock ("Call me Winter... please") loses his powers when he is given the gift for which his heart has always yearned.
And I dare you not to shed a tear when the audacious writers of this screenplay just come right out and say that the whole tradition of giving gifts on Christmas Eve comes from Kris Kringle and his beloved Jessica getting married that night and placing their gifts to one another under the evergreen trees. You thought that was from the Bible, didn't you? And you thought the Little Drummer Boy was from the Bible, too, didn't you?
Me too. That's what happens when you're a little Unitarian kid getting your theological education from Rankin Bass claymation holiday specials.
posted by PeaceBang at 4:42 PM
4 Comments:
As one of the conveners and founders of the Claus Collegium (along with PeaceBang and Mister Melanchthon) I think we all did some damn fine exegesis. (Derek is free to object, of course)
What gets me every year is the Snoopy Christmas Carol.
When the Red Baron goes "Merry Christmas, my friend" I sniffle every time.
CC
Is this what Peregrinato was referring to when he said that he and assorted friends including PeaceBang exegeted "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"?
Without further ado here is the Emerson Avenger version. . .
"Santa Claus Is Comin' To BeanTown"
UUs better watch out
UUs better not cry
UUs better not pout
I'm telling you why
UU Santa Claus is coming to Beantown
UUs Santa Claus is coming to Beantown
UUA Santa Claus is coming to Beantown
He's making a list,
Checking it twice;
Gonna find out UUs naughty or nice.
UU Santa Claus is coming to Beantown
UUs Santa Claus is coming to Beantown
UUA Santa Claus is coming to Beantown
God sees you when you're sleeping
God knows when you're awake
God knows if UUs have been bad or good
So be good UUs for goodness sake
Google is just w-a-a-y too much fun!
If God's not on my side, Google sure seems to be. . . ;-)
I just tweaked the lyrics a bit to read -
God sees UUs when you're sleeping
God knows when UUs are awake
Post a Comment
<< Home