I couldn’t have possibly dreamt up a better title than the nickname the good citizens of Rotterdam have given this Paul McCarthy sculpture... “The Buttplug Gnome.”

McCarthy is known for putting a lewd spin on the visual traditions of Christmas. This bronze Santa is no different. Though some weakly argue that the totem in Mr. Claus’ hand is an artistic rendering of a Christmas tree, it is clearly a giant dildo. Guess we know why St. Nick was so jolly.

The piece is meant to critique the consumer culture that surrounds the holiday, suggesting that the act of shopping for presents is a largely masturbatory gesture that fuels capitalism. It could then be inferred that this sort of economic system ultimately does to us the same penetrative action for which Santa’s (not so) little helper is intended.

It’s crass, but hilarious, especially when you imagine the poor Dutch people who have to see this on their daily commute. Originally intended to be stationed in a much more populated square, Santy was sequestered on a less trafficked route due to general public objection.

Unfortunately, the outrage some felt over the provocative piece incited an attack on public arts funding, an issue all too familiar to us in the States.  The infuriation expressed by an owner of a local bookstore became the fodder for a performance piece called Looking for Paul in which the artists imagined her revenge.

In 2007, McCarthy transformed a gallery space in New York into a functioning chocolate factory, churning out tiny tasty versions of the controversial figure for $100 a pop…just in time for Christmas.