Sunday, November 29, 2009

Land of the Misfit Santas

Somewhere near my sister's home in Minneapolis, Minnesota lies a small thrift store by the name of  Value Village, but for my sister and I this shop has become something very different: The Land of the Misfit Santas. 

Five years ago we discovered this winter wonderland by accident and found ourselves laughing until we cried over versions of Saint Nick like 'small-hands-big-body Santa' and 'wood plank Santa' and I actually took home a small, misshapen Santa who has become our mascot for Christmas. He has no arms, no legs, and a wild, curly white polyester beard that looks like a cloud of octogenarian pubes.

You'll meet him in time :)

This year I went in armed with an iPhone and caught a few different species of Santa to share with you, because who couldn't use more laughter in their lives?

Please pardon the shaky images: you can imagine that we were mighty jolly what with the extravaganza of freakishness around us!!

Here we go:


Christmas love, indeed! Here we have a burlap rat emerging from a clay pot that has the words "God Jul" handwritten in Sharpie on the side. You know it's Christmas Rat because he's wearing a scarf and hat in telltale red and green.

He is flanked by a tiny Yuletide Cheerleader and is the conveyance method for a sinister little Santa clip-on creature. You would never want to see a close-up of its eyes because sleep would elude you: I should know!

What Christmas decoration is complete without Carolers? Especially a minstrel with a strange earthworm-like growth emerging from a donut hat? 
I imagine his voice sounds just like the Swedish Chef....

This time around we found Santa's distant cousin: no arms or legs!!! I think our Santa would be very jealous of this model's ZZ-Top style beard and real fur hat, though, so we left him in the Land.

Oh, dear - Pine Cone Santa, anyone? I wonder if this Franken-Claus haunts its creator's dreams? I also wonder why a store would offer the body-less head of Santa....


Here we have another wood-plank Santa right next to the biggest Santa Regret I have ever had: - why oh why oh why did I not take Disco Boots Santa home?

Look at him!!! He's got on 'his his his his his boogie shoes'!

 He wants to shower the children of the world with gifts like 8-tracks of 'A Fifth of Beethoven' while doing The Hustle in his Funky Sleigh!! 
Instead of mistletoe this Santa kisses Mrs. Claus under the Disco Ball.

Sigh.

Gahhhhhhh!!!!!!! 

One Armed-Peg Leg Santa, a tragic figure....

But no more tragic than what it must feel like to hug a decapitated child!

I wanted to leave you with something heartwarming that captures the spirit of The Land of the Misfit Santas, so without further adieu, I give you....um .... this creature!!!



I missed you all something fierce!!!

11 comments:

Jaime/GirlLovesGloss said...

*snort* I think your misfit Santas may haunt me in my dreams Allison!
"And then she kills you" hahahahahaha

reconstructing sarah said...

YIKES!!!!!

susie said...

The sad Santas at our local thrift store always depressed me a little - I now have a new found appreciation-too funny! Safe travels back home.

Rosy Revolver said...

I think I just became afraid of Santa. WOWZA!!!! : )

Seriously hilarious post, Allison. Thanks for the smile!

xoxo,
jess

Good Girls Studio said...

Oh thank you thank you for sharing! I needed a good chuckle this morning! Love disco Santa!

Michelle said...

Those are some.. uh... interesting Santas.

Hope you have a wonderful week, Allison!

MrsLittleJeans said...

Too funny! I have never seen such a collection of Santas. They must be all related. Thanks for sharing because next time I am in MN, I will visit that shop.

: )

Anonymous said...

Wow, those are some scary Santas. Note to self, keep daughter away from Thrift Shop Santas, Hope your trip was lovely!

Halie said...

HA!

Maybe you could gather the bits and pieces of broken Santas and make a new one to add to the collection.

mesmoro said...

Allison, these Santas had me laughing for days - Disco Santa - I think I may have met a character like this in the 80's when I was 'single'. I collect Santas - but I don't think Bob would let me display this motley crew!

JM said...

I sort of want The creature! ♥