Bah, humbug | The Week

VIENNA A religious group is urging Austrians to return to their Catholic roots this Christmas and eschew “American” symbols of the holiday. In the Austrian tradition, it isn’t Santa Claus

who brings presents on Christmas Eve, it is the infant Jesus. (And he doesn’t come down the chimney, he slips into the house through an open window.) Yet in recent years, Santa decorations

have been popping up in markets and malls all over Austria, and the Pro–Christ Child Society says it is appalled. “We’re not really against Santa Claus,” said Phillipp Tengg, the society’s

founder. “We’re against the fact that Santa Claus has become an advertising symbol of almost boundless consumption.” The society is slapping “No Santa” stickers—a picture of the jolly old

elf with a big red slash across him—all over Vienna. A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEK Escape your

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