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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.

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TheRubyRedshoes · 08/12/2020 20:57

Father Christmas op, but I find santa creeping into my vocabulary more and more...

weebarra · 08/12/2020 20:57

I'm Scottish, it's Santa for me.

Bagelsandbrie · 08/12/2020 20:57

Father Christmas for us!

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Plussizejumpsuit · 08/12/2020 20:57

@fairynick

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 definitely not an American thing. My family from the North have always called him santa. I find it an annoying erasure of regional words to just assume its an Americanism.
ShowOfHands · 08/12/2020 20:58

Every fucking year.

Eugh Americans.

Eugh people who aren't like me.

And I call him Father Christmas. He doesn't care what you call him, the sherry-soaked old duffer just wants you to leave out treats and give the harping on a rest.

Grellbunt · 08/12/2020 20:58

In northern Germany it is the Christmas Man and in the south the Christchild - just to add to the European name origin interesting info! Off to look up „Father Christmas „. I’m expecting Scandinavia?

RizzleDrizzle · 08/12/2020 20:58

is it just the impact of American culture? Each to their own, but I don't like it

No it’s the Irish welsh Scottish British midland legacy on American culture - basically it’s a really really British thing and it’s always been Santa

So much contradiction in that last bit, it’s not up to you or does it matter weather you like it or not.

While we’re at it, Halloween has always been a thing in Ireland and Scotland

Mom with an o has always been used in the midlands and areas of Dublin

Nothing American about it

SlantyBaws · 08/12/2020 20:59

Hahahahaha he'll always be ol' Slanty Baws to me...

Wafflehouse · 08/12/2020 20:59

I grew up in SE England and it was always Father Christmas, I live in NI now and no one here calls him that and dp laughed at me the first time he heard me say it. It’s Santa here and I prefer it, as someone else said Father Christmas isn’t used in many places and personally I think it now sounds a bit creepy.

MrsSchadenfreude · 08/12/2020 20:59

Use both with a tendency for Father Christmas.

Mrsjayy · 08/12/2020 21:00

it is never been Father Christmas to me always Santa but I'm not American but possibly a lower class to you and your husband.

pictish · 08/12/2020 21:00

It has always been Santa in my family...we’re all Scottish.
Absolutely no one says Father Christmas here.

SparklingDinosaurs · 08/12/2020 21:00

Always been Santa Claus to me and everyone I know. I’ve never ever heard anyone use the term Father Christmas in real life although obviously know it’s same think.

Interestingly I’ve just realised I mainly use Santa and my children use Santa - can’t think when or why the Claus was dropped Xmas Confused

june2007 · 08/12/2020 21:01

I don,t like Santa as that jusat means saint. I prefer st nick. Or sAnta Claus.

DontBeShelfish · 08/12/2020 21:02

@Smallsteps88

I prefer daddy funbags tbh
Oh my God, this is amazing.
RizzleDrizzle · 08/12/2020 21:03

i find it an annoying erasure of regional words to just assume its an Americanism

Absolutely and it tends to be words used in perhaps more working class/Celtic areas that get dismissed and derided as “Americanisms”

Bourbonbiccy · 08/12/2020 21:03

I was raised with Father Christmas but annoyingly find myself using Santa more often, then adding "clause" quickly on the end as if that justifies it myself a little better.

MyristicaFragrans · 08/12/2020 21:03

Always said Santa at school in Scotland (a very long time ago) but probably more FC at home... everyone knows they’re the same.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 08/12/2020 21:03

It’s not just American - he’s usually (if not always) Santa in Scotland and Ireland.
I read somewhere that in England, the name Santa Claus was shunned after WW1 because it sounded too German. So Father Christmas became more common. Maybe it was the same in France, where he’s also FC (Pere Noel).
He’s always been FC in our family.

laudemio · 08/12/2020 21:05

Ugh I know. FATHER CHRISTMAS. Santa Claus is German not American though.

AnneShirleysNewDress · 08/12/2020 21:06

Santa Claus here too. I'm also Scottish.

VetOnCall · 08/12/2020 21:09

I grew up in NI and it has always been Santa. The only person I remember saying 'Father Christmas' when I was growing up was my best friend's Grandmother who had moved over from Kent in her early 20s. My NI born and bred Gran and her siblings all said/say Santa and I don't think they were exposed to much American culture growing up there in the 1930s/1940s.

CockleburIck · 08/12/2020 21:09

Every flippin' Christmas and every sodding Halloween on MN: "It's so American!"

No it blooming isn't.

I'm Scottish and ancient. He's always been Santa Claus to me. It was those posh kids on Blue Peter that said "Father Christmas" when I was young.

speakout · 08/12/2020 21:12

Always been Santa here- my gran called him Santa and she was born in 1892.

Pronounciata · 08/12/2020 21:13

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I'm going to keep hearing that now!