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.

@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🎶

Sleigh bell?

I think you meant Sable (i.e. a fur coat)

@PattyPan

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

You know what they say about assuming don’t you @PattyPan? It makes and ASS of U and ME. But that’s probably a bit American for you!

Adding my voice to the chorus of “He’s always been Santa in Scotland”. To me “Fathah Christmas” only visits children who have nurseries and eat “suppah”.

He's always been Santa in Scotland. My kids would be wtf if we started talking about Father Christmas.

(Yes, we also go guising in Halloween, that's not the Americans either 😂. Except the pumpkins, but they're easier to carve than a neep.)

Santa Claus is much better than Father Christmas. Always has been.

34 and always santa I'd never heard anyone calling him Father Christmas until I left school.

@dinglethedragon

Northern working class here - born in the 50's, we always said Father Christmas - I always think of "Santa" as more American - remember watching the old US programmes as a child and they talked about Santa, and elevators and sidewalks......

Whereas if you had ever thought to venture North of the Border you would have realised you were wrong.

I know its just so American, we used to leave Father Christmas milk and cookies on Christmas eve, now its all so American we leave him root beer and sloppy joes. Bloomin Americans coming over here with their damned Halloween and Christmas.

in reality its always been santa at my house, and you sound a bit ridiculous

@CheetasOnFajitas yes I hear Father Christmas in a fairly posh sounding (to my ears) English accent too. I'm guessing this is due to TV and films I've watched.

Oh go away with your high and mightiness OP. He's always been Santa to me in Ireland (or even worse, Santy! The shock and horror that must give you!).

There have already about fifteen million threads on this, usually filled with English people claiming that Santa is American Why not read some of them?

I'm laughing at Fathah Christmas and suppah.

Father Christmas here, mainly. We use Santa too though. South east England if that’s relevant? 😂

Fuckin love this thread every year though.

@icanboogieboogiewoogie

Always Santa in this house. I'd never heard of this 'Father Christmas' snobbery until I saw it on here. Mumsnet has all the best snobbery.

We’ve always used both.

Father Christmas here.

@SetPhasersTaeMalkie

I'm laughing at Fathah Christmas and suppah.

And 'pudding' and 'Mummy'. 🤭

My DD6 keeps saying Santa. I've given up correcting it to Father Christmas. It does annoy me though!!

Santa is not American. In Scotland he's always been called that, never Father Christmas

I was brought up with Father Christmas, but Santa is easier to say and I'm lazy

He was always Father Christmas for me. So it's what we called him for our own DC. I always though Santa was the American version.

Father Christmas is who my grandchildren saw in Lapland, and it's who they send their letters to. It seems to work.

In my forties, West Midlands - always said Santa!

Only twats care about this stuff.

Saint Nicholas of Myra... who bright the pickled boys back to life
Father Christmas is a Victorian creation

I'm from the south east and had father Christmas. Now in the north east and tried desperately to keep father Christmas for DC but at nursery it is Santa all the way