The Iconoclast Next Door.

[raybear]

Tonight after getting home from work, I decided I needed to walk six blocks over to the other side of our bit of neighborhood and document something we've passed twice in the car. It is a bit alarming when you turn onto Wellington and there appears to be a person lit up in the window of a front porch. Then you realize its not a person, but a statue. Then you realize that statue is.....Christ on crutches?











Now....I have questions.

First, who is the strange victorian child on the side? And after getting close and taking pictures, I'm not entirely certain this IS Christ on crutches, because when was Christ ever on crutches? Perhaps it is in an apocryphal text? Also, you may notice the flesh wound is on his pec, not his side. He has grey hair and a gold crown. Any help would be appreciate by those more versed in people like saints. I was raised protestant and know little.

But I wish it was Christ on crutches, partly because behind him is a statute of the Virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus, and I like the idea of both being present simultaneously.

I'm not entirely sure this display was created solely for christmastime, as there are no other typical decorations up and about, like lights and wreaths. I will report back in 6 months if its still there.

Comments

[eloquentwthrage.livejournal.com]

Just creepy.

[vfc.livejournal.com]

There's no way that's Christ (because why would he be wearing a gold crown and a fancy cloth?). I'm doubting it's even a saint. Regardless, it is awesome and freaky!

[raybear.livejournal.com]

it is Lazarus. this site that freakysparks gave me also explains everyone else in the window too!

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/

[vfc.livejournal.com]

Weird. I was just talking about Santeria the other day. Obviously, I was unaware of the specifics.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

I realize that's actually what I was thinking of too, when we were talking about your calendar on Friday night, and I said it seemed like a religious picture, just not catholicism. I couldn't think of the word though.

Maybe its a sign for us, Liza.

[vfc.livejournal.com]

As it turns out, that image from the calendar is of an Aztec ruler and not necessarily religious at all.

[wearemany.livejournal.com]

this makes me want a nativity scene representing "christ on a cracker."

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Rhoda Morgenstern moved to your neighborhood! Nice to see she's still got it.

[riverafire.livejournal.com]

for some reason this reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode where the department store mannequins come to life at night.
I agree with the above commenter, though, in that I don't think this is christ. The grey would make him to old to be christ, plus this figure is more fancily attired than Christ ever would have been. Still, it is a most intriguing image.
Thanks for posting something to ponder over. Please post any other information that emerges regarding this strange scene.
Also, I think "christ on crutches" is going to become my new swear.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

it is Lazarus. this site that freakysparks gave me also explains everyone else in the window too!

http://www.santeriareligion101.com/

[bias-cut.livejournal.com]

I thought it was Christ on Crutches, too.

Check out the comments for some full explanations!

[raybear.livejournal.com]

omg that's right! i totally forgot about your own experience with Lazarus!!

i guess we both have neighbors who shop from the same christian statue catalog!

[raybear.livejournal.com]

pardon me, the same Santeria catalog.
http://www.santeriareligion101.com/

[bias-cut.livejournal.com]

I wonder if assembly is required, or if Lazarus comes whole?

[crafting-change.livejournal.com]

ok...really this should not have been the last image i saw before going to bed!!

[freakysparks.livejournal.com]

The Victorian child may be Saint Anthony or Ellegua.

The woman with red sash, St Barbara or Chango.

I learned this from the web site http://www.santeriareligion101.com/ which has some illustrations which look familiar - just my guesses...

[raybear.livejournal.com]

thank you!!! very useful.

I think it is El Nino de Atocha

[thedemonnemo.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Ni%C3%B1o_de_Atocha
He helped drive the Muslims from Spain, he is oh so popular in here in nuevo mejico

[louche.livejournal.com]

OMG!
at first glance, i thought it was some voyeuristic shot of a exhibitionist (probably gay) man showing off in a window. hahaha.
but, christ on crutches! that's where the saying comes from!! oh man.

[myloveisrobotic.livejournal.com]

I might need you to give me the address of that thing... I'm working press on a sort of comedy show-slash-satirical church mass...

[totallysofast.livejournal.com]

wow. how strange.

Not christ..

[(Anonymous)]

It's definitely not Christ on Crutches....

It's Saint Lazarus - the Saint that's depicted in the Christian Bible - the person that Jesus brought back to life from the tomb....

This is a santeria display of the Orisha's syncretized with Catholic Saints - Saint Lazarus is used to represent an Orisha named Babalu Aye, Saint Barbara which is the statute to the right with the Red sash across is used to represent an Orisha by the name of Chango and the Niño de Atocha which is the child sitting in the chair is used to represent Elegua the Orisha of the Cross roads...

This website definitely explains it all in detail : http://www.santeriareligion101.com

Re: Not christ..

[raybear.livejournal.com]

uh, thanks, but if you had read any of the comments, you would see we figured that out months ago!