'Gawdy' Christmas displays raise eyebrows

ARNOLD, Mo., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A Missouri family is raising eyebrows with a Christmas display depicting Santa as a hunter with a bleeding deer hanging by its hooves.

Stacie Kurtz -- whose father created the display as part of the family's traditional "Gawdy Christmas" theme at their Arnold home -- said the image of Santa holding a rope attached to the hanging deer in lights is supposed to depict a "Santa who went hunting," KTVI-TV, St. Louis, Mo., reported Tuesday.

"We live in Jefferson County. We`re a hunting a community. You see the real ones hanging from people`s garage after they've gotten their big kill of the season. So what's so wrong about a fake one?" Kurtz said.

Neighbors who said they found the display in poor taste asked not to be identified so as not to be compared to Dr. Seuss' "Grinch."

Another bleeding deer display across town was set up as a prank on a neighbor, who responded with a display depicting Santa Claus relieving himself, with dripping yellow lights portraying St. Nick's urinal stream.