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AIBU?

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Original poster

to loathe 'Santa'?

188 replies

Kitchentiles · 14/12/2011 20:25

'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.

OP posts:
wigglybeezer · 14/12/2011 23:28

Oh god it does mean something really rude doesn't it.

redpanda13 · 14/12/2011 23:41

Another Scottish Santa user. I also went to high school. DP went to a high school which dates back to the 12th century though I think the term high school only started being used in the name in the 18th century. Perhaps due to American influences? Wink

SixFeetUnder · 14/12/2011 23:42

Do you not have Santa's grottos in England? What do you call them? Surely not Father Christmas' Grotto?

Am genuinely interested in what they're called now! Xmas Smile

thementalist · 14/12/2011 23:49

I have never met a real live person that has ever said Father Christmas!

I don't really believe people do! Grin

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 15/12/2011 01:19

Fucking Dutch cultural imperialists, will they leave us nothing?

Petisa · 15/12/2011 01:53

Yep, Santie here in Northern Ireland. Father Christmas sounds weird because I don't think of him as being a symbol of fatherhood in any way.

BlissfulMistletoe · 15/12/2011 02:34

who cares what the big man in the blue or coca cola red suit is called, by the time they hit a ceratin age...they know 'the secret'

Flimflammery · 15/12/2011 03:42

Father Christmas first attested in a carol attributed to Richard Smart, Rector of Plymtree (Devon) from 1435-77.

Santa Claus 1773 (as St. A Claus, in "New York Gazette"), Amer.Eng., from dialectal Du. Sante Klaas, from M.Du. Sinter Niklaas "Saint Nicholas," bishop of Asia Minor who became a patron saint for children. Now a worldwide phenomenon (e.g. Japanese santakurosu).

So if you believe the online etymology dictionary, 'Father Christmas' is an older term in English, and 'Santa Claus' is an Americanism, derived from the dutch Santa Klaas.

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 15/12/2011 03:57

Is I said 'father Christmas' to anyone else I know who is Scottish they would
look at me like this Xmas Hmm

FanjoForTheReindeerJumper · 15/12/2011 04:00

Lots of night wakers here this morning/night

TanteRose · 15/12/2011 05:56

in Japan, we call him Santa-san!

TroublesomeEx · 15/12/2011 07:27

Father Christmas. Father Christmas. Father Christmas.

HowToLookGoodGlaikit · 15/12/2011 07:33

Father Christmas sounds so odd. It has always been Santa! It sounds cute, round and jolly. Father Christmas sounds so stiff and un-jolly. :(

trixymalixy · 15/12/2011 07:50

I agree HTLGG. When I think of Father Christmas I think of it being said in an upper class English accent. Another Scot here, he's always been Santa to me.

vixsatis · 15/12/2011 08:26

Father Christmas here: can't stand "santa"

aldiwhore · 15/12/2011 08:38

Bit of both here. All of us in this house use either and we're all alright.

StealthPenguin · 15/12/2011 08:56

Always been Santa Claus for me, and in Welsh it's Sion Corn so it's probably been Santa Clause for a while!

StealthPenguin · 15/12/2011 08:56

Claus* Sorry! I watched the film yesterday...

ShowOfHands · 15/12/2011 09:06

See Father Christmas sounds, well fatherly to me. All soft and lovely and homely. Santa sounds nicknamey and half arsed. But that's just because I grew up calling him FC. Nowt wrong with Santa at all. Both terms are hundreds of years old and adopted regionally.

I went to High School btw. That's not an Americanism.

But couch is wrong. That much is fact.

JamInMyWellies · 15/12/2011 09:13

I am Scots and it was always Santa when growing up. Never heard Father Christmas until we moved down south.

JamInMyWellies · 15/12/2011 09:14

Oh and yes High School too. ONly became seniors when again we moved south.

Jux · 15/12/2011 09:16

St Nicholas, Santa Claus. They're one and the same, just a different language. We use Fr. Christmas in our house - mainly - as dh and I are old and that's what we grew up with. DD is growing up with all 3 and so has 3 times as many options as we did, wider horizons and all that. Wink

exoticfruits · 15/12/2011 09:22

I usually say 'Father Christmas' , I use Santa Claus' but I don't like it shortened.

Jux · 15/12/2011 09:22

look here the story of the butcher under Legends and Folklore there is the one I grew up with (Catholic school).

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 15/12/2011 09:42

this is interesting as well, 800 years ago well predates the coining of father christmas and may explain why santa/santy was taken up in ireland. blardy hell at the kiddie-brining story... Grin

"Ireland
The saint who inspired the legend of Santa Claus is believed to have been buried in Newtown Jerpoint in Kilkenny some 800 years ago. Originally buried in Myra in modern day Turkey, his body was moved from there to Italy in 1169, but said to have been taken afterwards to Ireland by Nicholas de Frainet, a distant relative. The church of Saint Nicholas was built by his family there and dedicated to the memory of the saint. A slab grave on the ground of this church claims to hold his remains. There is a yearly Mass in relation to the memory of Saint Nicholas, but otherwise the celebration is quite low key."