Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. –Francis Pharcellus Church
Reading your blogs has taught me so much. One thing I’ve learned lately is that decorating for Christmas is a passion. I knew this on a theoretical level before but, now, having read about and seen so many of your decorations around the world, I understand it in a much more fundamental way.
Even those of us who could only be described as cultural Christians—non-religious now but having been brought up in religious homes, with lots of Christmas memories—find joy at this time of year in bringing out the crèches and other Christmas treasures.
And, when we decorate, many of us seem to focus around collections of meaningful objects and feature them in our homes.
For me, I love Santa. So, even when we don’t do the full-blown decorating of a big tree and the whole house, we always bring out our main collection at Christmas—these Santas that line the mantle.
Our Santas have been coming to us for over 20 years and are primarily from the line of Great American Collectibles Old World Santas. These are carved and hand-painted resin figurines, made in the US. A few new ones are released every year and depict, mostly, folk art-style Santas from around the world.
The first one of these Santas that we received Mickey, an Irish Santa given to us by a friend after we went to Ireland on our honeymoon.
We liked Mickey’s look so much, we’ve brought many of his brothers home over the years.
Many of the Santas have sweet animals with them, which adds enormously to their appeal for us.
Some of our Santas come from other places.
We have our Millennial Penn State Santa:
Penn State Santa
And our Santa from the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.
American Folk Art Museum Santa
And we have Santas from garage sales!
3 garage sale Santas
These Santas sleep patiently in storage for most of the year, waiting to come out at Christmas and remind us of all the good that Santa Claus symbolizes—love and generosity and devotion. I believe in Santa! Do you?
Love Those "Hands at Home" 
I do! I have written a Christmas themed piece too, give it a read and let me know your thoughts in the comments! http://lukehastings.wordpress.com/2013/11/25/christmases-commercial-cold/
I, too, believe! What a marvelous collection…I’m sure they are all happy to get out of storage!
Yes, and I’m such a dope, I talk to all of them and apologize for putting them back in the attic. Just like I talk to my flowers . . .
OOOooh! What a fine collection! xxx
Yes, they’re handsome guys, huh?
Of course we believe in Santa and for all you scepticals out there…have a look at this link! http://www.google.com/santatracker/
Your collection is beautiful! Santa will undoubtedly give you an extra present for it! hugs from Ohio!
What a wonderful collection. It must be so much fun to welcome them ‘home’ each year. I would have a hard time packing them away. And, of course, I believe in Santa; who else eats that cookie and drinks that milk/whiskey on Christmas Eve?
I like that you (?) leave whiskey for Santa! If he doesn’t want it, I might just pop in!
Not sure that he will get whiskey this year as the bottle is empty. Might have to make do with a drop of brandy. How does that sound? 🙂
I love the idea of Santas from all over the world! I also like to add a ornament each year to the collection.
The yearly ornaments are almost like a journal, especially if you choose one from somewhere you traveled or to represent a significant life event!
Great santa collection! Your Penn State santa made me chuckle.
I also enjoy setting out creches and other old decorations. They are so rich with memories and each items has a story. One of the things on my “to-do” list for today is to set up the old creche that my family always displayed when I was a child.
Ah, yes–McEwenvsille is not far from State College at all! I love old Christmas ornaments–the older the better, and filled with tradition!
Beautiful collection! And yes, it’s fun to collect meaningful items to surround yourself with. I especially love the idea of building on Traditions which is what the Holidays spring from.
best,
maureen
Yes, the more traditional the decorations at Christmas, the better, as far as I’m concerned! I’m not interested in new and stylish when it comes to Christmas!
Your Santas are fabulous!
Aren’t they cuties? I love every one of them.
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Your Santas are wonderful. I collect the Great American Old World Santas as well and now have close to 60. I just put them away last night . One of these years I may keep them out all year long.
Sixty!! Wow–that must make an amazing display! I put mine away yesterday, too . . . and felt kind of bad. They’re the greatest! Thanks for telling me about yours.
Hi there. Yes, I believe in Santa, because he lives in Finland. 🙂 This post was wonderful!!! I have never seen Santa collections although in Finland man can meet him anytime, regardless of the season. If You do not mind I give link from my post to the:
Arctic Circle in winter.
The place is interesting and worth for a visit anytime.
I would love to see these sights with my own eyes!
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No elf on the shelf here! Just Santas on the mantle!
I think I may have blogged about my Santa collection at some point… This year when we were decorating the tree I decided that we could probably just hang the Santas and the nutcrackers and it would look great. And then there are the bird ornaments…
I also collect snowmen and they are usually in the diningroom. I love them as well.
I am looking forward to Santa delivering my toffee. ;-D
Your toffee should be on your doorstep soon–it’s on its way. I’m taking the last bunch of packages to the PO this morning and looking forward to some chocolate-free time!
I love your Father Christmas figures in coats other than red. I didn’t know he was allowed such liberties …. but I’m so glad he is. Merry Christmas, ho ho ho!
He’s allowed tons of liberties in this crowd–I have one that’s kind of a dark-skinned voodoo dude and another that has an alligator in tow.
Wonderful! Diversity rules OK!
The Santas are great. I love the Penn State one. I’ve never seen that one before. Merry Christmas!
The Penn State Santa came out for the millennium–but I bought it later, after it went on sale! Merry Christmas to you, too, Sheryl!
Yes. And the tooth fairy. And fairies in general.
Fabulous; I feel like starting a collection too..!