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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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5
Whatnext2018 · 08/12/2020 21:35

It was always Father Christmas to us growing up but my toddler says Santa even though I keep referring to him as ‘Father Christmas’ 🤷🏻‍♀️🙄

WinterWhore · 08/12/2020 21:36

Imagine being bothered about it enough to come on here and moan. Confused I've never caller him father Christmas. Hes Santa claus.

toastfiend · 08/12/2020 21:36

I use both interchangeably, as does DH. Never heard of it being a class thing.

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Christmas Events & celebrations
Tenyearsgone · 08/12/2020 21:37

@toastfiend

I use both interchangeably, as does DH. Never heard of it being a class thing.
Everything is a class thing on MN.
onlyconnect · 08/12/2020 21:37

I agree with OP that Santa is much more prevalent than it was a few years ago. Yes, Santa has always been around but most people in the UK called him Father Christmas whereas now most people call him Santa. No idea why though.

tattychicken · 08/12/2020 21:38

He's called lots of different things throughout Europe, neither Santa nor FC are prevalent so take your pick frankly.

Therainisback · 08/12/2020 21:39

Always Father Christmas here & I make a point of saying it in reply to anyone who mentions the S word.

ImWearingReallyJudgyPants · 08/12/2020 21:39

Father Christmas. I've always thought that calling him Santa was a bit like calling your Granny "Nan" or "Nanna".

daisypond · 08/12/2020 21:39

most people in the UK called him Father Christmas whereas now most people call him Santa.

Do you have any evidence for either of these statements?

NoddyMcPintsAlot · 08/12/2020 21:39

Always been Santa Clause in Ireland, all Irish children would have heard of St Nicholas, a European saint from the 3rd century. Sinter Klass became prevalent in the US in the 1700’s through Dutch settlers.

First time I heard Father Christmas was around 10 years ago and I thought who the fuck is this, then?

Apileofballyhoo · 08/12/2020 21:39

Santa in Ireland. But I've heard Daddy Christmas in Irish.

Tenyearsgone · 08/12/2020 21:41

@Therainisback

Always Father Christmas here & I make a point of saying it in reply to anyone who mentions the S word.
I bet they think you are a bit of a twat for doing that though.
firstimemamma · 08/12/2020 21:41

I don't really like it either but it's all my toddler can pronounce right now! 'Santa' it is!

WaxOnFeckOff · 08/12/2020 21:42

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.

LongDistanceClaret · 08/12/2020 21:43

Daddy Christmas Xmas Smile

Cakles2010 · 08/12/2020 21:43

Always Father Christmas to me I'm north east U.K. but now Santa with my DS don't know why it's just stuck...

We follow a lot of American culture now, elf on the shelf was never a thing either when I was a kid and I manage to tell DS every year that we had to sing a long song on Halloween (the sky is blue, grass is green, have you got a penny for Halloween etc etc) for sweets no getting away with saying trick or treat 🤣

DixieLandReject · 08/12/2020 21:43

Yes, it's always been Father Christmas to me. I hate Santa

Shayisgreat · 08/12/2020 21:43

Agree with @Pangur 2. If my friends or family heard me say Father Christmas I would get slagged so badly. It's always been Santa or Santy in Ireland.

MarieIVanArkleStinks · 08/12/2020 21:44

This again?

Do. Not. Care. First it was fir trees versus fake plastic trees, now it's Santa versus Father. And apparently this all has to do with socio-economic background? That's simply ridiculous, and though I hate to piss on anybody's chips Christmas is pretty camp and tacky whichever way you cut it.

This relentless fixation on social class is beyond tedious. Think this year I'll go with the moniker of Old Nick, just for a novel change ...

Galvantula · 08/12/2020 21:45

@onlyconnect RTFT!

Most people in Britain did not call him Father Christmas. Unless you actually meant England. 🙄

Very few people in Scotland and Ireland by the sound of it saying FC. Ever.

mintich · 08/12/2020 21:45

Same as above, I'm Scottish and its always been Santa Claus. Father Christmas is an English thing to me.

Fieldofyellowflowers · 08/12/2020 21:46

Always been Santa to me. Always been Santa to my parents and they are in their sixties.

MyristicaFragrans · 08/12/2020 21:46

@ImWearingReallyJudgyPants

Father Christmas. I've always thought that calling him Santa was a bit like calling your Granny "Nan" or "Nanna".
Grin Judgy Pants, indeed
Peppafrig · 08/12/2020 21:46

Never heard him being called Father Christmas once in my area of Scotland and my parents called him Santa too . So for as long as 60 years .

HedgehogPJs · 08/12/2020 21:47

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