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.

Always Santa Claus for me - Yorkshire.

It's Sion Corn in Welsh which pretty much translates as 'John the Chimney'. Always makes me laugh!

Both work but it’s always been Santa Claus to me! Irish ancestry but brought up in SE England.

Wouldn’t care what others called “him” we all know what is meant by any of the names used...

Its Santa in Ireland & always has been. Not everything has to be either English or American

As a child it was Father Christmas and our children also say FC, I do prefer that but it's ok if people say Santa, too. If you really want to be correct you should call him Saint Nicholas. Legends evolve!

And the world's most pointless thread award goes to . . .

@Therainisback

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

😂😂😂

You mean you correct them.

Santa! I'm Irish though.

My mother hated Santy and we weren't allowed to say it. But she's SoCoDu through and through (which will only make sense to any other Dubliners on this thread)

Never Father Christmas

You can bleat on that Santa is used commonly in Scotland or Ireland or anywhere else. But you know really Santa is becoming more poplar because of America. ( because all those films and songs people quoted are American).

I love all the never heard of Father Christmas shit too. Yeah the popular books and cartoon on every year by the same name escaped you? Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe?

I swear this thread comes up every year

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

And what’s that like?

Having married into an English family and lived in England for more than half my life I surprise myself by saying “duvet” and “sofa” and even, God forbid, “splinter”. But when MIL tried to suggest that our son learn to say “Fathah Christmas” she found herself on the receiving end of a full Paddington Hard Stare.

You can take my downie but you will never take my Santaaaa!

We use both here.

@reginafelangee

I'm Scottish.

The big man has always been called Santa Claus here.

To me Father Christmas is English.

Yup. HRTFT so sorry if I’m repeating, the American Santa Claus came from the Dutch Sinter Klaas.

It's Sion Corn in Welsh which pretty much translates as 'John the Chimney'. Always makes me laugh!

Now that I do like!

Daidí na Nollag

@FrameyMcFrame

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

I wish I could find some notes I made on Father Christmas for a Christmas Housegroup a few years ago. Father Christmas was mentioned, I think, 700+ years ago. Way older than Victorian.

I used to think the same as you @WinWinnieTheWay. From London (and not a posh bit) and it’s FC here but Mumsnet taught me a few years back that it’s a Scottish thing.

@leflic Well yeah we'd heard of FC, as due to the fairly England-centric TV we heard folk Farther Christmas-ing all over the place. We didn't use it or hear others actually use it up here though. Fuck all to do with America.

Apparently no one very far South had any idea it was always Santa for us....

You can take my downie but you will never take my Santaaaa!

You are really making me laugh.😂😂

But she's SoCoDu through and through (which will only make sense to any other Dubliners on this thread)

@Grellbunt

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?

He’s the Christmas Man in Denmark too. (And a gnome / elf thing in Sweden!)

I usually say Father Christmas in English (not something I’ve really about though). I didn’t realise that made me sound like such a snobby wanker - this thread has taught me a lot

I use both! Not consciously or deliberately at any time or another.

I just do 🤷‍♀️

He’s Suntee Claaas

Always been Santa to me. Never heard anyone in real life call him Father Christmas.