He Sees You When You’re Sleeping: Why Santa Scares Kids

“He sees you when you’re sleeping.  He knows when you’re awake.  He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.  You better not shout.  You better not cry.  You better not pout, I’m telling you why.  Santa Claus is coming to town.”  Yikes, that would scare the crap out of me too!

Santa is used by parents to keep kids calmer during the hectic and anxiety filled Christmas season.  We basically tell then that they’re being stalked by an old, creepy white dude who will eventually break in to their house.  Oh, and this guy has an unnatural affection for children.  I wonder why so many kids are scared of Santa!

By Flickr User vortistic

This has to be the scariest Santa Claus I’ve ever seen.  It’s like Santa and a gnome mated and this was the result!  Look at his creepy eyes gleaming while he’s hands beckon you to come closer…

By Flickr User Sister72

Okay, I was wrong.  This is the creepiest Santa image I’ve ever seen.  Is this Santa or a clown — I guess it’s also some weird genetic mutation of the two.  I’m not sure that they could find two scarier images to merge for Children at Christmas.  Trying moving your head back and forth in front of the computer screen.  His eyes follow you…  He’s watching you…

By Flickr User m-louis

This farmer knows just how scary Santa can be!  Even the birds are scared of him.  This shot just makes me laugh.

By Flickr User Blind Grasshopper

There are all kinds of weird, wonderful and down right creepy ornaments and decorations featured the jolly St. Nick.  This one makes Santa seem even more inappropriate for children though.  He’s cute, creepy and perverted all at the same time.  I’ll have to see if I can make one of these.

By Flickr User PhylB

These Santa picture is priceless.  Look at Santa’s face — he sure is trying!  I can’t imagine being Santa all day.  It would take a lot of love and patience.  Or in the town where I grew up, a lot of booze.  Our Santa always smelled like he’d had a really rough night and maybe rough morning too!  Maybe that’s why this Santa has only half a mustache on.

By Flickr User tandemracer

Why exactly is it that us grown ups think it’s so funny to terrify kids?  I’ve got to admit that this makes me laugh every time.  Santa’s looks like he’s really busting a gut in this photo behind all that fluffy white hair.  I guess it’s laugh or go crazy.  This kid is going to need counseling!

By Flickr User Valocity Studios

This Santa looks almost as traumatized as the crying kid.  If those aren’t “help me” eyes, I don’t know what are!  The older child does seem to be getting a kick out of Santa and probably his little brother crying too.

By Flickr User Jason DeRusha

This kid is terrified of his Dad dressed up as Santa.  That awful suit can transform anyone, every dear old Dad, into someone scary!  At least the parents seem to be getting a kick out of it.  I think this would make a great Christmas card photo as long as the little boy doesn’t see it when he’s older.

By Flickr User Meredithwz

Here’s the same boy, years later.  Payback can be tough Santa!  Poor guy is lost in a sea of black leather, eyeliner and hair spray!  Hysterical.

By Me!

And here’s my little one.  She knows where the presents come from!  I guess after all the hours of hard, lap breaking labor even scary Santa needs some affirmation.  Whenever she sees a Santa, she runs up and gives him a hug and reminds him what she wants for Christmas.  Pretty smart for 2!

By Flickr User Daniel Hughes

And what does Santa do after a long day of getting his picture taken, holding squiggly kids who might pee themselves, listening to screaming, crying, whining and begging?  Nap.  What else would he do?

Happy Holidays everyone and remember, he’s watching!