I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

The song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” was written by Englishman Tommie Connor and based on a 1950s Neiman Marcus Ad (some accounts say the song was commissioned by the store). The Ad, was meant to bring adult humor into what was a child’s holiday. It was a wholesome 1950’s image of a father dressed as Santa being kissed by his wife under the mistletoe on Christmas Eve. The song was sung by thirteen year old Jimmy Boyd.

“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” was condemned by the Archdiocese of Boston within a week of its release, as being immoral. Catholic and Protestant churches followed suit. “How could Santa be portrayed as someone who played around on the side?” they asked.

The churches had missed the point that the Santa of the image was the husband dressed as Santa. Fearing the song would be banned, Jimmy Boyd was sent to Boston to meet with the head of the Catholic church in an effort to explain the song from a child’s perspective. The Church accepted the explanation and removed its objections. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Charts for two weeks.