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.

Are you from Up north @Heathcliff27 ?

(Aap North is how it sounds in my head) 😅 I know a few people from Inverness/Ross-shire way that said Suntee.

Santa Claus is just horrid

I will bet £50 there is a positive correlation between use of the term "horrid" and use of the name "father Christmas".

@TheYearOfSmallThings Aye

Very strong correlation. Possibly also having picnics with lashings of ginger beer?

Only rough/common people call him Santa? I've heard it all now!

@FreekStar

Only rough/common people call him Santa? I've heard it all now!

A lot of people think that, yes.

Pretty sure the Santa Claus is horrid poster was taking the piss.

Oh the Father Christmas brigade have got their knickers in a twist . Of everyone calls him Santa how will they look down on people ?

*if

I'm not British and we were taught at school he was Santa Claus in English lessons. As awesome as the English think Father Christmas might be it didn't make it past your borders.

I'm not going to change what I know because Miss Persephone Proper on MN doesn't like it and might think I'm common .

I’m in Scotland and its always been Santa.
I’m in my late 50s and grew up with all my family referring to Santa.
Never thought of it as an American thing.

AccidentallyOnPurpose

Yes I got that. We all know loads of regions and countries in the U.K. and around the world use Santa Claus.
But they aren’t the reason the use of Father Christmas is being replaced by it though. That would be popular American culture - from songs to films.

You know when Scotland/Ireland/Wales complain about the loss of their language to the English...this is the same.

As an aside when I typed “@“ and your name a whole load came up. Have I just been shown your name changes or is that just what happens?

I've always called him santa.

@WaxOnFeckOff

Yep Father Christmas is very English. Always been Santa in Scotland. I hate when everything is badged as American like its some kind of slur on both the person using it and the USA.

But it's not 'very English', though, there are plenty of us in England who have always said Santa.

@Galvantula

Are you from Up north *@Heathcliff27* ?

(Aap North is how it sounds in my head) 😅 I know a few people from Inverness/Ross-shire way that said Suntee.

Not quite as north as inversnecky but yep north ish

@Leflic those other names are people who have commented on this thread .

Was always Santa/Santy for me. I remember when I discovered that Father Christmas was another way to describe the same man - I think i was 9 or 10.

I'm 50.

Yet another non-Americanism that I've been saying all my life, that people will moan about coming over from the US

Christ on a bike, can you imagine the uproar there would be if we started saying things like 'Why are so many people calling Santa' Father Christmas' these days? Is it the influence of the Southern Counties culture? Each to their own, but I don't like it '

I'm 37 and from the potteries. It's always been Santa too me.y ex my ex is from the midlands, and always moaned about it. Although he always said mom - which too me, was an American thing.

@HedgehogPJs

Father Christmas is English. Santa for me growing up in Scotland and Santa for DH growing up in Ireland.

Another one saying Father Christmas is English. This is getting as ridiculous as the generalisation that Santa is American

NOT ALL ENGLISH PEOPLE CALL HIM FATHER CHRISTMAS!

Interesting that Santa Clause comes from the Dutch Sinter Klaus.

@Meepmeeep

Fan suntee got stuck up i chimney......

My ex stupid broken phone and sticking buttons

[quote Peppafrig]@Leflic those other names are people who have commented on this thread .[/quote]
Thanks! I never use Insta or wherever the @ comes from.

Santa Claus used to be Saint Nicholas in English.

NW England. Father Christmas.

@Leflic

AccidentallyOnPurpose

Yes I got that. We all know loads of regions and countries in the U.K. and around the world use Santa Claus.
But they aren’t the reason the use of Father Christmas is being replaced by it though. That would be popular American culture - from songs to films.

You know when Scotland/Ireland/Wales complain about the loss of their language to the English...this is the same.

As an aside when I typed “@“ and your name a whole load came up. Have I just been shown your name changes or is that just what happens?

Fair point.

Would be interested to know if when the OP says more people are using Santa Claus and she doesn't like it, does she mean people around her who are from the same area she is. Or does she mean she has noticed it online or on TV. Because if it's online or TV it's perfectly plausible that the people using Santa are from areas where that has been the norm for as long as the concept has existed.