Surprise! Bloody Santa on a cross with crown of thorns causes controversy

A controversial Christmas decoration hanging on a garage in Corpus Christi, Texas, depicting a bloody Santa Claus on a cross with a crown of thorns is putting the holiday spirit of some area residents to the test.

"It's December, it's Christmastime. It is just a Christmas ornament," said homeowner Aaron Olivares. "It needed some lettering up there so I put the 'slayer' up there. It's nothing Satanic it is just decorations for Christmas.” Slayer is now the Santa’s name.

With all of the blood and the crown of barbwire, the decoration seems like it could be a little bit better suited to Halloween than Christmas, but Olivares doesn’t see it that way.

He said the crown is just “a little more decoration. That is about it.”

Olivares claims the obvious Jesus reference never crossed his mind. “Naw, it really, it didn't come to me like that, I didn't see nothing offensive on it," he said. "I'm Christian, I mean there is a God and there is a devil.”

"It doesn't really bother me. Everyone likes it who brings me home. My friends all joke about it," said Blanca Perelta, who lives across the street.

Even if she doesn’t find the bloody Santa to be offensive, not everyone agrees.

"The cross is the big thing. The cross. Santa Claus is you know well, you can put Santa Claus on a hood, put Santa Claus on your roof, put Santa Claus in your yard, why put him on a cross?" said neighbor Ricky Mesa.

Olivares said that Slayer isn’t going anywhere and gave instructions for people who have a problem with it. "Get out of my yard. If you don't like it...don't drive by here," he said.

[KRIS TV]