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.

I think Father Christmas is dying out and Santa Claus is replacing it. I don’t really know why, I would guess American Christmas films/songs but prepared to be told differently.
I grew up with Father Christmas but more people in my area seem to call him Santa now. I’m in the North West of England if that matters.

It's always been Father Christmas for us, but I haven't got a problem with people saying Santa.

Not this again. It’s regional. I’m in my mid-50s and grew up with Santa, or Santy even - north-east.

Always been Santa where I come from.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It's "slip a sable under the tree"

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz isn't it a sable rather than sleigh bell??

I grew up in NI. I never heard anyone call the portly bringer of gifts "Father Christmas". Always Santa. I live in england now and my dd sometimes says Father Christmas, so I say the same when she does. But she and her friends at school seem to say Santa more. Think it comes from the saint name. Don't think the yanks invented the saints as it goes....they didn't invent halloween either . Another old irish and Scottish tradition which some people seem to think is a modern american invention .

@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.

Santa Claus comes from Sinterklaas. Perhaps you should learn a bit more about European culture?

Most people i know say Santa.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

🎶I saw Mommy kissing Father Christmas, underneath the Christmas tree last niiiiiiggghhhht🎶

🎶Father Christmas, baby, slip a sleigh bell under the tree, for me🎶

Lol it's a sable, as I'm the fur 🤣

Santa = female Saint, no?

Nothing to do with class. People have always talked about Father Christmas and Santa Claus but I do think 'Santa' is more commonly used in the States. Does it matter? He's a fictional character anyway.

Santa Claus is the correct historical name coming from St Nicholas. Father Christmas is nonsense!

I use both but if I had to choose one it would be Father Christmas.

Also always been Santa for me, also from Scotland...

Interestingly, FWIW, Home Counties bred DH also says Santa....

I’m Irish and it’s always been Santa or Santy. Mostly Santy. I’d get laughed at back home if I called him Father Christmas. Notions.

[quote Pronounciata]@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz isn't it a sable rather than sleigh bell??[/quote]
No idea. Probably. I used to think Madonna was singing "Poppadom Beach, I'm in trouble deep"

I prefer daddy funbags tbh

Because: Saint Nicholas (patron St of Children) - Sinterklaas- Santa Claus - Santa.

Father Christmas here too - in my 50s, Yorkshire. I don't hate 'Santa', but grew up calling him 'Father Christmas'

I've always said Santa Claus, but if you don't like it, I'm willing to stop.

@SupaTrooper

Where does the name Father Christmas come from?

Santa Claus is from Sinter Klaas and the story of St Nicholas.

I’m English but spent my peak understanding/believing in Santa Claus/Father Christmas years in the Netherlands, and have called the big man in red “Santa” ever since.

@Moonmelodies

Santa = female Saint, no?

In Latin-root languages - but St Nicholas was from Northern Europe.

@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.

We had a cat called Santa in the 1970s - not new

Because Americans just looooooove to mess up your culture! We do it on purpose, you know. America is just determined to drag England down to our Walmart-level class. Apparently it's working!

So there.

But Santa is actually derived from German. So we can't even infect you with our own ways. We have nothing that's actually ours, we killed it off or cordoned it onto reservations.