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Original poster

Why is everyone referring to "Santa"

795 replies

WinWinnieTheWay · 08/12/2020 20:30

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.

OP posts:
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Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 11:49

How have I been personally offensive to you. You strongly implied that those that use Father Christmas are mostly using that name for appearances sake and it is the same people that refer to Supper and Nurseries- your reference to your upper class friend using the name Santa was supposed to serve to highlight how misguided they are. I would say that is pretty insulting and unpleasant.

CorianderQueen · 09/12/2020 11:49

Santa Klaus is actually Dutch though.. just means St Nic

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 11:55

Tiered restrictions, bans on visiting your nearest and dearest, a tartan face mask and an Alex Salmond cover-up?

And a 'frank get the door' mug and clicky pen for your jaggy stocking

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Christmas Events & celebrations
Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 11:55

VanityWitch, what names did I call you? I didn't so please don't make things up. Jeez, who knew referring to Father Christmas would be so controversial. Nonsense!

merrygoround51 · 09/12/2020 11:55

Father Christmas is one of those words that wannabee posh English types use to point to the fact that they are in, in fact posh themselves, when they are clearly not. It’s like buying a Barbour or a Land Rover 🤣🤣

VanityWitch · 09/12/2020 11:59

How have I been personally offensive to you

You called me vain for being proud of my heritage. I mean, I am quite vain, (hence the name), but saying it is vain to be proud of my Irish heritage is extremely off.

You strongly implied that those that use Father Christmas are mostly using that name for appearances sake

No, another poster, who I quoted said this. I said there can be an element of that. There is an element of that. Otherwise, why would the op mention class in her op? And some people do like to appear to be from a more upper class background than they really are, so there is an element of this. I stand by it. I also said many times that it doesn't apply to everyone who says FC as many people are just brought up that way and that is that.

it is the same people that refer to Supper and Nurseries

No, you have misunderstood. I was referencing another poster who made the suppah and nursery comment and saying how my upper class friend who has suppah and a nursery and all that jazz, actually says Santa. Which does make it quite funny that those people who do aspire to appear to be like her in terms of background, are so desperate to say FC, even if it doesn't come naturally to them. I think it's funny anyway. You are free to disagree Xmas Smile.

Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 12:00

It really isn't!

Merryground51, how ignorant of you and insulting to my heritage!

PatriciaPerch · 09/12/2020 12:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SlantyBaws · 09/12/2020 12:01

@naptimeismyhappytime

My friends family all call him 'Slanty Baws' ..... Londoners living in Scotland so I can't quite get my head round that one!
It's rhyming slang for Santy Claus.

I changed my user name for Christmas years ago and I never got round to changing it back Grin

jerometheturnipking · 09/12/2020 12:03

@CorianderQueen

Yes I was also raised with Father Christmas - American TV and culture I think has introduced Santa.
I think this post wins a prize for "Late entry having failed to read the thread".
VanityWitch · 09/12/2020 12:04

Again though, and frankly, I cannot believe I have to repeat this again; this^^, my previous post, doesn't apply to those people who have just been brought up to say FC.

VanityWitch, what names did I call you? I didn't so please don't make things up. Jeez, who knew referring to Father Christmas would be so controversial. Nonsense!

I am not making things up. I have quoted you directly a few posts before this. Posting about "referring to Father Christmas" is not controversial. Saying that santa is lower class, said in a pejorative sense, is controversial. Saying that someone is vain for being proud of their Irish heritage is controversial. Saying that people with RP english accents have "no accents" is....not controversial, just incredibly ignorant.

Hope that helps @Goldenbear Xmas Smile.

And FWIW, you haven't offended or annoyed me Xmas Smile. I like having these debates.

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 12:04

How have I been personally offensive to you. You strongly implied that those that use Father Christmas are mostly using that name for appearances sake and it is the same people that refer to Supper and Nurseries- your reference to your upper class friend using the name Santa was supposed to serve to highlight how misguided they are. I would say that is pretty insulting and unpleasant.

Of course it happens though- even if you are not one of them (your reaction makes one wonder though) @VanityWitch was simply gently poking a bit of fun at those who do, and pointing our it's often the keeping up with the Jones' types that like to stick with these things whereas the true upper classes frequently couldn't care less. I've encountered this lots too being in the horsey world and it's quite amusing.

Just relax a little. So much comedy is poking fun at our own ways - hyacinth bucket isn't without some truth and the now unpopular little Britain. Billy Connolly made a career poking fun and using examples of his childhood frowning up and presently Janey Goldley who uses her own knowledge of extreme deprivation growing up in Glasgow to make people laugh. Why is it not then ok to have a little giggle at the social climbers - maybe be they are the ones unable to laugh at themselves I suppose

midnightstar66 · 09/12/2020 12:07

It's rhyming slang for Santy Claus.

@SlantyBaws

Ah yes, when I gave my explanation I forgot to mention that Santa us actually santy so mine maybe didn't make full sense

Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 12:10

But don't you see it is incredibly offensive to suggest everyone wants to be like your friend who as you keep pointing out,is 'upperclass'. No they don't, believe me many people do not want to be 'upper class' and can still speak with an RP accent. My husband's Jewish family are all pretty 'posh' but they would never want to be associated with the upper classes due to historical anti-semitism. So it isn't really 'funny'.

You have twisted the heritage thing as it was a play on your name and not anything to do with being Irish as well you know! It is the 'excessive' aspect of pride in your posts over your upper class connections, even referring to your RP Husband and children.

merrygoround51 · 09/12/2020 12:10

@Goldenbear I didn’t think that what we called Santa/Santy/Saint Nick/Father Christmas was so indicative of ourselves and out heritage. Maybe this is being taken a tad too seriously

teateateateateamoretea · 09/12/2020 12:11

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

It's not even slightly the same and the comparison is extreme;y offensive.

The absolute roaring cheek of a certain kind of English person on here, throwing out insult left, right and centre and then acting bemused when called on it.

Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 12:13

Like I said my married surname is Irish, my children have Irish heritage so I am not likely to be derisive of Irish heritage.

VanityWitch · 09/12/2020 12:14

But don't you see it is incredibly offensive to suggest everyone wants to be like your friend who as you keep pointing out,is 'upperclass'.

@Goldenbear

Yes, it would be very offensive if I did this. I did not. I said many, many times that it certainly ISN'T everyone Xmas Smile. Not really sure how to make it any clearer...

many people do not want to be 'upper class' and can still speak with an RP accent

Yes, that's right, they can. I agree entirely! Never so much as hinted at anything else Xmas Confused.

You have twisted the heritage thing as it was a play on your name and not anything to do with being Irish as well you know

No, I don't know... I quoted you directly. Look up thread at the words YOU used. I didn't twist a thing.

UseOfWeapons · 09/12/2020 12:18

Has always been Father Christmas to me, but we all use what we’re comfortable with, I suppose. Our parents called him FC, so I’d blame early influence!

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 09/12/2020 12:21

Thought some of these posts were wind-ups but nope, second blink and people really are becoming gratuitously offended over the moniker of a fictional Christmas delivery driver ...

Mumsnet at its finest!

Skyr2 · 09/12/2020 12:23

It was always Santa Claus to me as a child growing up in Northumberland, (Santie) as nickname. It was only later in life and. Iiving elsewhere in country away did I hear Father Christmas was actually used by people rather than just in books and shops !
I use both terms but if speaking to children would use Santa Claus.
Definitely not an Americanism, My grandparents used the same terms and that was before Americanism was a ‘thing’.
Oh, we also had Halloween lanterns made from turnips (southerners know them as swedes) so nothing to do with America ! Pumpkins are Americanism though as I have never seen or heard of them growing up 😂

Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 12:25

Midnightstar66 it always amuses me on Mumsnet that so many people know what the true 'upperclasses' think and do. To highlight another poster's behaviour as being aspirational, ironically missing the point that their reference to knowing the upper classes makes them appear to be the very people they are deriding!

VanityWitch · 09/12/2020 12:26

No @Goldenbear, because the difference is, I didn't bring up class. The op did and I contradicted.. hope that clarifies for you Xmas Smile.

teateateateateamoretea · 09/12/2020 12:26

Thought some of these posts were wind-ups but nope, second blink and people really are becoming gratuitously offended over the moniker of a fictional Christmas delivery driver

No, they aren't.

Goldenbear · 09/12/2020 12:27

Merryground51 - I was playing on the words of others

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