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Original poster

When did Santa over take Father Christmas?

137 replies

ChesterGreySideboard · 18/12/2018 23:21

No judgement on using either but when I was little (70s) Father Christmas was the most common name and Santa was not often heard.
Now it seems to be the other way round.
I’ve heard this at the school I work in and most people on MN seem to use Santa.
Even Santa Claus seems to have gone out of fashion.

OP posts:
Littlelambpeep · 18/12/2018 23:22

Santa was used when I was little and I'm in my early 40s

userofthiswebsite · 18/12/2018 23:26

I think it's an American term.

KaraokeKink · 18/12/2018 23:28

I grew up in the 70s in Ireland and it was always Santa Claus or Santy, never Father Christmas, which I still find quite alien.

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ButFirstTea · 18/12/2018 23:28

I've always heard/used Santa and I'm in my 30s.

Confuzzlediddled · 18/12/2018 23:29

In my 40s and it was always santa in Scotland where I grew up - it's not an American term its scots and Irish...

JaiNotJay · 18/12/2018 23:30

He's been Santa in Scotland for at least the last 40 years.

BobbyBanana · 18/12/2018 23:31

Born in the sixties in the Midlands. Never heard anyone except americans use santa until about 15 years ago. It crept in and now it's everywhere.

Andallwaswell · 18/12/2018 23:31

Me and my DP argue over this. He is from Northern Ireland and calls him Santa but to me ( from North England) he will always be Father Christmas!

implantsandaDyson · 18/12/2018 23:31

Always Santa when I was growing up. I'm in my mid 40s and in NI. Father Christmas was the preserve of Blue Peter.

PipGoesPop · 18/12/2018 23:32

Late 40s. Always Father Christmas when I was growing up. Mine say Santa though mostly. Sometimes Father Christmas but mostly Santa.

TheNativityDonkey · 18/12/2018 23:32

I'm late 40s. Grew up southern England in 70s and it was ALWAYS Father Christmas.
When I had my son in 1997 and living in Scotland hardly anyone used FC and used Santa instead.
Back down south now and it seems Santa has definately over taken Father Christmas in.our area anyway.

MutedUser · 18/12/2018 23:32

Always been santa here . No one uses Father Christmas here .

Raggedyaine · 18/12/2018 23:35

Yup, I'm ancient and it was as a pp said: Santa Claus or Santy in Ireland. Father Christmas is what my English friends would call him.

Although in Irish he's Dadaí na Nollaig (daddy christmas) so closer to the English version than Santa Claus which should probably be Naomh Nicholas!

Cattenberg · 18/12/2018 23:35

Late thirties. He was Father Christmas, (or if you were DSIS, Farmer Christus). Santa does feel like an Americanism.

YerAuntFanny · 18/12/2018 23:41

My Mum is 49 and says she's never really heard anyone using Father Christmas and obviously neither have i.

We're in Scotland.

MutedUser · 18/12/2018 23:42

Agree it’s not an Americanism always been santa in Scotland and Ireland my mum said she has never know anyone to call him Father Christmas and she is 60

olivertwistwantsmore · 18/12/2018 23:42

I’m in my 40s from Scotland. He was always Santa.

F.c is more English.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 18/12/2018 23:43

He's still Father Christmas in this house. He'd better be, if he wants his tot of brandy and mince pie.
Santa seems to get 'milk and cookies', poor old bugger. As if he'd want miserable cold milk on a bleak Midwinter night!

MutedUser · 18/12/2018 23:45

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER Don’t fear for poor Santa he gets beer and mince pies here .

Original poster
ChesterGreySideboard · 18/12/2018 23:45

Interesting about Santa being common in Scotland and Ireland.
I grew up in the south and it was always Father Christmas. I wonder if Father Christmas is more secular or pre Christian with Santa Claus being more religious.

OP posts:
YerAuntFanny · 18/12/2018 23:47

Santa likes a dream of whiskey and a mince pie here :o

Original poster
ChesterGreySideboard · 18/12/2018 23:50

I often dream of whisky.

OP posts:
BumDisease · 18/12/2018 23:50

Scotland, never ever ever been Father Christmas around my way. Always Santa.

This thread seems to be the Christmas equivalent of the Hallowe'en threads where someone will be frothing at the mouth about DISGRACEFUL AMERICAN IMPORTS...

PodgeBod · 18/12/2018 23:52

I'm a Londoner and always thought Santa was American until I joined MN (despite having an Irish mother). We do a mixture of both now. FC is just a mouthful.

123rd · 19/12/2018 00:04

My dad is American and we always called him Father Christmas.
I still do call him FC...don't know why I don't like SC