In 1952, Jimmy Boyd recorded the Christmas-time song ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’ when he was just 13 years old.
An instant musical hit, it topped the Billboard charts in both the US and UK, and was commissioned by many retailers to promote their wares.
The song describes a scene where a child walks downstairs from his bedroom on Christmas Eve to see his mom kissing “Santa Claus” under the mistletoe. The child wonders how his father will react, unaware that Santa Claus is actually his father in costume.
Given the song came out in a rather reserved 1950s, it’s release was quite controversial.
In fact, the Archdiocese of Boston condemned the song when it was first released, on the grounds it implied a link between kissing and Christmas, and radio stations followed suit banning it in several markets as well.
It wasn’t until 13 year old Boyd went to Boston to me with Church leaders at the Archdiocese and explain the meaning of the it’s lyrics, being photographed with them in the process. (No photo of the meeting survives to this day, however.)
His explanation must have been good, because they lifted the ban the following year!
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