Baby Jesus theft
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (December 2021) |
Baby Jesus theft is the theft of figurines of the
The prevalence of such thefts has caused some owners of outdoor manger scenes to protect their property with
Incidents
Canada
In 2012 and 2014, a baby Jesus was stolen from displays in Vancouver, the latter one a storied figurine that had been on display for 50 years in Vancouver's St. Vincent's Hospital.[5] Father John Horgan, the pastor of the church which hosted the display, said “It’s a terrible day if we have to microchip the Christ child."[5][6]
In 2019, a baby Jesus figurine was stolen twice in one month from a church in St. John's, Newfoundland.[7]
Sweden
During some Christmases of the
United Kingdom
Nativity scene thefts, generally including the theft of the baby Jesus, have been reported across the United Kingdom.[9] In Wales, a baby Jesus was stolen two years in a row from a city center nativity scene in Cardiff.[10]
United States
Many communities across America have experienced thefts of baby Jesus figurines, and, in some instances, entire nativity scenes.[11][12][13][14] Periodically, it is reported that these are part of a regional or national trend,[15] but as these thefts are inconsistently tracked, this may simply reflect trends in how they are reported.[4]
In 2008, a baby Jesus was stolen from First United Methodist Church in
Some figurines have been defaced with
In 2009, a wave of such thefts across the United States was reported in The Guardian.[19] Two men in Kentucky were sentenced to 45 days in jail for ripping a baby Jesus out of a scene installed at the side of a private house.[20] In December 2015, as many as five baby Jesus statues were stolen from the lawns of churches in northern New Jersey.[1]
In his autobiography, The Long Hard Road Out of Hell, the American singer Marilyn Manson admitted playing a prank in which he and a few friends stole figurines of Jesus then replaced them with hams. They sent a communique to a newspaper posing as a black radical group saying that it was a protest against "the plasticisation of the black man's wisdom with the so-called 'white Christmas'."[citation needed]
Security measures
Some nativity display owners have taken measures to secure their property against would-be thieves. Others are reluctant to exercise such vigilance. One man in the state of
Some communities, churches, and citizens are employing electronic technology to protect their property. A Texas family, for example, positioned
Another method that has been attempted is nailing down baby Jesus statues,[23] but this may be considered sacrilegious by many of the Christian faith.[24]
Some displays simply leave the baby out of their nativity scenes, adding it on request or during specific times.[3]
Perspectives
While baby Jesus thefts are largely regarded as pranks, they are set apart by the involvement of a religious icon. "They think it's a prank, but it isn't a prank to some of these people," Pennsylvania state police corporal Paul Romanic told The Morning Call newspaper, in regards to an incident in which ten nativity scene figures were found in a yard after being stolen from across Bucks County, Pennsylvania. "Plus, it's just wrong to steal the baby Jesus."[21]
Some have wondered if an
Historian Daniel Silliman has argued that, whatever the thieves' intention, the act puts the culture of Christmas in a different light. "Baby Jesus thieves literally take the Christ out of Christmas," Silliman writes. "When they do, it becomes apparent that the sacred object is also a piece of property, protected by the law that protects property and this whole apparatus that defends Christmas: fences and lights, tracking devices and private security companies, patrolling police and the courts. The commercialization of Christmas is visible here in a way it might not be, otherwise. That's the power of the joke."[26]
In media
In "The Big Little Jesus," the 24 December 1953 episode of the television series
In The Leftovers season one episode 'B.J and the A.C', the baby Jesus from Mapleton's nativity display goes missing. The town's mayor Lucy Warburton announces that Kevin will find the baby Jesus, while she secretly tasks Kevin with simply buying a new one and roughing it up to appear lost.
In Better Call Saul, Jesse Pinkman recognizes Kim Wexler as a public defender who helped Combo get off after he was arrested as a juvenile for stealing a baby Jesus from a nativity scene. Jesse is not sure why Combo did it and Kim tells him to tell Combo that she hopes that he keeps his nose clean.
In Angela's Christmas, a young girl sees the baby in a church's nativity scene doesn't have a blanket, so she returns later to steal it and take it home to keep him warm.[28]
In "Stealing Baby Jesus" (a book and a stage production), author Bernadette Nason recounts efforts to make Christmas perfect, including stealing someone else's baby to replace the one missing from her family's nativity scene.[29]
See also
- Garden gnome liberationists
- Gävle goat
References
Citations
- ^ a b "Thefts of Baby Jesus Statues Unnerve New Jersey Churches". The New York Times. 29 December 2015. Archived from the original on 29 December 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
- ^ "Woman charged in baby Jesus theft receives act of mercy". The Morning Call. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Frequent thefts keep baby Jesus figures under lock and key at stores selling nativity scenes". Grand Forks Herald. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ a b Desmond, Declan (23 December 2018). "Minnesota 'Baby Jesus' thefts seem to be part of a national trend". Bring Me The News. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Baby Jesus stolen from North Shore nativity display". bc.ctvnews.ca. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Baby Jesus figurine stolen from a North Vancouver church - BC | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Bird, Lindsay (2 January 2019). "A Christmas without Christ: Baby Jesus stolen — twice — from St. John's nativity scene". CBC.
- ^ Sigrid Nurbo (7 December 2013). "Årets julkrubba är invigd" (in Swedish). Jönköpingsposten. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
- ^ Francis, Alannah (21 December 2021). "Churches see spate of baby Jesus thefts as nativity scenes are targeted by thieves". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Nativity scene theft: Baby Jesus model stolen from Cardiff street again". BBC News. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Surprising number of people stealing baby Jesus from nativity scene". KIRO 7 News Seattle. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ Thomas, Rachael; Riet, Emily Van de (20 December 2022). "Nativity scene stolen from church in broad daylight". www.wgem.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "A Brief History of Stealing Baby Jesus". Vocativ. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ a b Cerabino, Frank. "Cerabino: Highland Beach manger theft just the latest in baby Jesus heists". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "GPS, Hidden Cameras Watch Over Baby Jesus". NBC News. Associated Press. 12 December 2008. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
- ^ "Baby Jesus Stolen From New York Town Hall Display". FoxNews.com. Associated Press. 31 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
- ^ "Arkansas Man Arrested for Stealing Baby Jesus". FoxNews.com. Associated Press. 24 December 2008. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ^ "Thefts of Jesus baby figurines sweep US". the Guardian. 1 January 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ ABC7. "2 Ky. men sent to jail for Nativity theft | 6abc.com | ABC7 San Francisco | abc7news.com". ABC7 San Francisco. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Nasaw 2009.
- ^ Stamm, Dan (15 December 2008). "Baby Jesus Stolen from Center City Nativity Scene". nbcphiladelphia.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2009.
- ^ "Baby Jesus and manger taken from nativity scene in Innisfil". Barrie. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
- ^ "Nativity Scene Thefts Holiday Tradition, Police Say". abcnews.go. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Home2". Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
- ^ Silliman, Daniel (8 December 2014). "Trend watch: Thieves taking Christ out of Christmas. Literally". Religion Dispatches. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
- ^ Snauffer 2006, p. 10.
- ^ Stealing Baby Jesus | Angela's Christmas | Netflix Jr, retrieved 26 December 2022
- ^ "Bernadette Nason's Stealing Baby Jesus in Austin at Austin Playhouse 2021". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
Bibliography
- Nasaw, Daniel (1 January 2009). "Thefts of Baby Jesus Figurines Sweep US". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
- Snauffer, Douglas (2006). Crime Television. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, (Greenwood Publishing Group). ISBN 0-275-98807-4. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
Further reading
- Bryant, John R.; Cloud, Olivia M. (2006). "Have You Seen Jesus?". Joy to the World: Inspirational Christmas Messages from America's Preachers. New York, NY: Atria Books, (Simon and Schuster). pp. 62–66. ISBN 1-4165-4000-8. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- Mucha, Peter (27 December 2008). "Baby Jesus thefts seem to be epidemic". Kansas City Star. p. A9.
- "GPS technology protecting Baby Jesus". Daily Reporter. 3 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
- Dwyer, Devin (13 December 2010). "Nativity Scene Thefts Holiday Tradition, Police Say". ABC News.