When I was a kid being raised Catholic, I always loved those old classical paintings of saints and church fathers, in which a halo like a golden disk was routinely displayed behind the subject’s head.
I had no idea what they represented, but I guessed they symbolized the person’s holiness, an emanation of the Holy Ghost or something.
But I don’t know. Nobody every mentioned the halos, much less explained them.
So, I was actually relieved when someone actually came up with at least some explanation (see cartoon at right), however silly.
Considering I’m no longer a Catholic and am a committed nontheistic nonbeliever, this whimsical “explanation” works for me.
But even if it didn’t, it’s still a hoot.