Picture Connecticut: An Atheist, Jesus and Santa, Just Hanging Out

VERNON, CT — So an atheist, Jesus and Santa walked into Vernon's Central Park ...

OK, it's not a bad holiday joke, but a right of passage in front of Vernon Town Hall and the subject of this week's Picture Connecticut series.

Monuments to different beliefs and practices have been showing up in Central Park around the holidays for the past few years now. Local Christian groups traditionally place a manger scene with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus displayed prominently.

To the right, looking at Town Hall, the Connecticut Valley Atheists have a sign referring to displays on public land that reads, "Keep America Secular."

The Santa House is nearby. The Santa House was established by a local group to give young people a chance to visit with Santa Claus in a cozy, warm setting.

All sit in the shadow of a large wreath hanging from town hall and the town holiday tree.

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Picture Connecticut is a weekly Patch series featuring unique images of the state, past and present.

Previous featured images:

• Riverside Igloos, Milford
• The TPC Pro Shop, Cromwell
• The Santa House, North Pole, er, Northern Connecticut
• Mile 4 Funnel, Manchester Road Race, Manchester
• UConn Lacrosse Giving Back, Connecticut River Valley
• The Capitol Grounds Tour, Part 3, Hartford
• The Capitol Grounds Tour, Part 2, Hartford
• The Capitol Grounds Tour, Part 1, Hartford
• The Doughboy, East Hartford
• The Walt Whitman Stone, West Hartford
• The indoor bush plane, Hartford County
• The Big Pink Chair, Ellington
• The Notch, Granby
• The CT 9/11 Monument, Westport
• Vintage Gas Pump, Somers
• Tobacco Harvest, East Windsor
• Late Afternoon, Lakeside, Coventry
• Fogarea, New Haven County
• Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens, Washington Depot
• Connecticut River Police Boat, Rocky Hill
• The first dentist, Windsor
• The Frog Bridge, Willimantic
• The World War Bridge Rapids, Putnam
• The Peeking Cow, Tolland County
• The Ivy Lacrosse Tournament, New Canaan
• The Bradley International Airport runway, Windsor Locks
• The Underground Railroad, Unionville
• The cow carousel, Ellington
• Charles Island, Milford
• State Veterans Cemetery, Middletown
• Glastonbury-Rocky Hill Ferry, Glastonbury/Rocky Hill
• The Old County Jailhouse, Tolland
• Agent Orange Monument, Andover
• The Sunken Garden, Farmington
• Lafayette Tour Monument, Vernon
• The Pinchot Sycamore, Simsbury
• Bob's Discount Furniture Studios, Manchester