My Notre Dame Santa

Once upon a time, my husband used to travel to Moscow quite often for his job, and he would bring home the most amazing hand-carved, brightly hand-painted, ornately decorated Russian Santas.

Inspired by these one-of-a-kind beauties, some years ago I decided to try to create a large Notre Dame-themed Santa of my own, painted in a similar manner.  The Russian Santas in our collection are 3-D, and mine is flat (I cut it out of pine, using my scroll saw, and painted it front and back with acrylics), but this homemade Notre Dame Santa is one of my favorite Christmas decorations nonetheless.  In fact, I keep it out all year long in our "new room/sports room"--the one with the 70" flat-screen TV (meaning the one where we usually hang out when we're watching football games, "Downton Abbey," or Netflix movies).

I was able to incorporate this oversized Notre Dame Santa into the Notre Dame/Florida State football fan décor of the rehearsal dinner we hosted for our middle son and his bride on December 6.  I printed an image I found on the Internet of a football with the FSU Seminole mascot in the center of it, laminated it, and used glue dots to attach it to my Santa, making it look as if he was holding it in his mittened hands.  He was now a Santa that both an Irish fan and a Seminole fan could love!  And he looked right at home in the center of the fireplace mantle, a fitting decoration for a party that was held on the Feast of St. Nicholas.

I'm thinking about making one of these 19"-tall handcrafted Santas for each of my married sons and their wives as Christmas gifts next year--all completely different and made to reflect each couple's unique personality and style.  What say you, kids?  Would this be something you'd like to have?

In the meantime, ho-ho-hope you're all having a blessed and happy Advent season!