I recently went to a large chain mostly known for it's pharmacy here in California, and they had a bunch of knee high Santa statues for sale. They had what I have noticed as most standard depictions of "White Santa". Full red suit with the gift sack and reindeer crop. "Hawaiian Vacation Santa" with his standard hat but with the Hawaiian palm trees shirt, red suspenders, and red shorts. Sleepy Santa in his red long johns and nightcap with a plate of cookies and one arm clutching a teddy bear. And that's when I noticed several Black Santas. One in the typical outfit but a much longer coat that wasn't buttoned and draped to his ankles, and another in an all white version of the traditional suit with gold trim. Both versions of Black Santa had one thing in common. They were both holding a lamp.

I was wondering about if there was some significance to the lamp that I wasn't aware of. I tried to look it up, but the best I got was google AI telling me something about "a light of goodness in rough times" which just sounded like AI nonsense. So I really want to know, is this just some random thing they just gave as a prop for Black Santa for no reason, or did someone invent this and intend something special by it? And if so, what?

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Picture of Santa and the Lamp

More Santa and the Lamp

Another Santa and the Lamp