Why is everyone referring to "Santa"

[WinWinnieTheWay]

DH and I (from different UK countries and different social class) were both brought up with Father Christmas. Why are so many people calling FC "Santa" these days? Is it just the impact of American culture? Each to their own, but I don't like it.

Father Christmas to me and my family, but DH who's from the English/Scottish borders, was brought up with SC.

I have no strong feelings either way. French do refer to him as Père Noel I think? But obv there are strong links also to St Nicholas. 🤷🏼‍♀️

And also a Scot.

Father Christmas for me too

I'm grew up in the midlands to Scouse/Irish parents. Always been Father Christmas to me. I always presumed Santa came from the American films.

@ViciousJackdaw

I have a question for the Dutch amongst us - do you still have Zwarte Piet/Black Peter or is that a no-go these days?

Is that the Belsnickel too?

I'm Scottish and he's Suntee

FC here and the entire family use FC.

Just read Chistmasaurus to my dd. It’s Santa in that book.

@AccidentallyOnPurpose

It really makes me laugh when people so ignorant and limited geographically and culturally moan about "Americanisms"(with an air if superiority too).Because you know.. they've only it seen/heard it on American telly so it must American.

Always useful to do at least a bit of Googling before starting these type of threads.

That wasn’t the question though.

It was why is the use of Santa taking over from Father Christmas ( origins from Norman conquest.)

Obviously if you have “never heard” of Father Christmas because you use Santa anyway you wouldn’t get it.

We said Father Christmas when I was a child - my sister as a toddler used to call him 'Car Cissmass'.

Pretty much use Father Christmas and Santa Claus interchangeably now though. I like both.

We never says "kids" in our family. It's always "children." Unless we are referring to baby goats of course.

We just say little shits

‘’ I'm grew up in the midlands to Scouse/Irish parents. Always been Father Christmas to me. I always presumed Santa came from the American films.’’

Nah, I’m 48 always been Santa Claus, brought up in Ireland and sure TVs only started arriving in Ireland 20 years ago, so we can’t blame Hollywood

Personally I think it's terrible that no-one refers to "Sir Christemas" any more.

It’s Father Christmas or St Nicholas (or European spellings of St Nicholas).
Santa Claus is just horrid.

@FestiveFannyGallops

I'm loving the Grandfather Frost from the map above. Father Christmas here. I suspect that there was some snobbery about it when I was growing up. Ds is saying Santa a lot but I always say Father Christmas. North West England. School use Father Christmas too as do our church.

I've never read this debate on here before (fairly new to mumsnet I guess) but it's entertaining.

We never says "kids" in our family. It's always "children." Unless we are referring to baby goats of course. Again it's the same at school and church. I find language use and regional variations fascinating.

That’s the thing though- in many parts of England there is indeed snobbery around the use of Father Christmas vs Santa. However in Scotland and Ireland and I suspect the NE of England one can be very posh, never dream of referring to “the kids” and yet still use “Santa” without fear of being labelled rough or common. My MIL took a while to get her head around this when I put my foot down about Santa. (I essentially had to say “look MIL I promise you I am still as much of a snob as you are even though I use Santa!” )

@Heathcliff27

I'm Scottish and he's Suntee

Claaaas 🤣

@ViciousJackdaw

I have a question for the Dutch amongst us - do you still have Zwarte Piet/Black Peter or is that a no-go these days?

Yes, we still have Zwarte Piet. There is a lot of controversy around it, but it’s still continuing.

@Leflic

Why are so many people calling FC "Santa" these days? Is it just the impact of American culture? Each to their own, but I don't like it.

OP is just having a whinge because she doesn't like it and "Americans" while completely ignoring that entire regions/counties/even countries in the UK have always used it.She fits the bill perfectly.

The Father Christmas/Santa Clause debate comes up every year!

How about Krampus instead? Kicks the arse of Father Christmas/Santa any day of December. Beware naughty children!

We just say little shits

Yay, I love the annual 'its Father Christmas not Santa' bunfight!

I was born in the NE in the 60s and growing up, everyone called him Santa - well, Santy, actually - including my grandparents born in the 20s.

@CherryPavlova

It’s Father Christmas or St Nicholas (or European spellings of St Nicholas). Santa Claus is just horrid.

It can't be Saint Nicholas for me as he comes and delivers his own presents(or stick if you've been naughty )on the 6th of December.

@PattyPan

Father Christmas for me. Santa is American to me - I assumed it became used here because of American Christmas music.

Well, you assume wrongly then.

The Americans stole Santa Claus from the Europeans and reinvented him. It's ridiculous to suggest that nobody had heard of Santa Claus until Hollywood educated us. Culture doesn't exist in isolation- it's all passed around and shared and adapted. If Santa had only came to England when the Americans brought us film, then why isn't your 'Father Christmas' still wearing green? How did you let him be contaminated by other cultures?

@reginafelangee

I'm Scottish.

The big man has always been called Santa Claus here.

To me Father Christmas is English.

Also Scottish and I agree with this!