to loathe 'Santa'?

[Kitchentiles]

'Santa Claus' is an Americanism isn't it? He was always 'Father Christmas' to me and this seems to be dying out.

Yeah, I know, I need bigger things to worry about.

I'm in NZ, the big guy is always Santa here.

Mind you, he wears red shorts and jandals, so NZ is probably just a bit more informal.

typical mumsnet

It's just regional variation isn't it? I grew up with, and usually use, Father Christmas. Until we moved to NW England a couple of years ago, most people around us also used Father Christmas. I am almost resigned to the fact that DS2 only uses 'Santa'.

Might be time to plan another move...

I was brought up with Father Christmas, but moved to Scotland before the children were born and have been totally converted to Santa now.

Although my ma still puts "From FC" on any stocking gifts.

Ok, I'll say it: Santa is common

Funnily enough DH and I were wondering why some people call him Santa and others, Father Christmas, and our main theories were: 1) Santa is common and 2) it's a Northern Irish thing (since one of the people we know who says Santa is from N Ireland.

Nope I'm 40 and Scottish and he was always Santa. Think FC is more English.

I'm not Scottish or Irish and always say Santa ,so I must be common

Irish MNer - we said Santie when we were tiny, Santa and Santa Claus when we were older.
I say Santa to my English neices and nephews and they look at me totally blankly...

I'm as common as much and say father Christmas

I am from NI and always say Santa as does everyone else I know including my 99 year old granny who is quite unlikely to be swayed by "americanisms"

As I said on a thread last week I seriously do not know one person who uses Father Christmas apart from some of dds books, and MN of course.

I'd feel weird saying Father Christmas ,but I don't care what other people call him

I think its a bit odd to loathe 'santa'

I'm dead posh. Its Father Christmas. FC for short. Sometimes that can relate to fucking cunt too, which can be a tad confusing.

He's Sion Corn in Wales isn't he? Is that equally unacceptable I wonder?

i say Father Christmas and am common as shite.

don't hate me

You need to change your name then santa

in his film he states categorically that he prefers Father Christmas. Must blooming call him that then, sorry scots.

Father Christmas is such a mouthful

I think it's almost certainly an Americanism, there wouldn't've been many Dutch knocking about the UK celebrating Sinterklass, but there would've been lots in North America doing it. First written certainly appears to be from New York in the early 18th century, I'm sure it came to the UK a long long time ago, so it's not a modern americanism you can moan about though.

I think we can be most glad that he got reindeer help rather than Piet, and he moved to the North Pole instead of spain...

another scot, i've always felt that the english changed it to father christmas from santa as in saint because of their deep-seated fear of all things european. so to me father christmas speaks of all that ghastly little englander-ness.

Originally Dutch (Sinterklaas) but made popular in America.

YANBU. I hate 'santa' it is Father Christmas all the way. DH keeps saying Santa to DS as well

irish here and always santy or santa

I'm Scottish and it's Santa here. Father Christmas is the posh English version and it feels weird to say.

God yes; drive me fucking bananas. I'm so fed up with DD saying 'Santa blah blah blah' and me repeating back 'yes FATHER CHRISTMAS blah blah blah' without it having any discernible effect. Why 'santa' FFS??