To hate the now common usage of "santa"

[Creambun2]

Just this really. Santa is a vulgar Americanism.

What was wrong with father Christmas ffs.

The most “vulgar”, “common” words used by people of good taste are, at the very worst, considered idiosyncratic by others of their circle.

And, if my experience is any indication, often used deliberately to demonstrate that the speaker has no need of random conventions to underscore her place in the world.

The most “correct” words used by people who are blatantly trying to make a point about their “elegance” are, well, deeply telling re: the absence thereof.

In the final analysis: both Father Christmas or Santa Claus are names related to the celebration of the birth of a man explicitly against the idea that class or status matter. Do admit.

I'll just leave this here 😁

foraging

Oh my actual god

That's awesome!!

What festive sorcery is this?! Did you make that yourself foraging? I’m so impressed! I’m definitely calling him Captain Christmas from now on.

Where did you get that

Santa is in the neros in my nearest town on Saturdays in December

Fact

I'm a northerner living in the south, I always say Santa but have noticed that everyone down here says Father Christmas!

It's Santy in Ireland but I suppose us spud chompers should just shut our faces and do as we're told by the people on dat dere big oisland.

GTFO.

The most “correct” words used by people who are blatantly trying to make a point about their “elegance” are, well, deeply telling re: the absence thereof.

You’ve just described AIBU in a nutshell

wow. enough time on your hands OP?

Oh and Santy is recognised as Hiberno-English, as a valid term used by English speaking Irish people which probably explains why it’s in use in Scotland too.

That's really interesting about 'Santy' being a regional variation - I used to get quietly annoyed when people said it to me as a child, because I thought it was a babyish diminutive, like 'kitty' for kitten, but more patronising and twee. The magic present-delivering man was always Santa in my house.

So I learned something new in this thread, at least!

I am 45 and from the midlands. It has always been Santa to me. It’s hardly a new thing and not an ‘americanism’. I don’t know anyone who says Father Christmas. It sounds posh/old fashioned to me. Neither bother me though. Not sure why one or the other gets people all het up!

Marvellous. This reminds me of my aunt who called jeans 'denim trousers', because she thought jeans was a vulgar Americanism

Starlighter "I chastised my DH for saying Santa"

You chastise your husband! Good grief.

You chastise your husband!

He’s probably in the coal shed feeling very sorry for himself

No ChickenVindaloo2 we pronounce it san'acloz. We don't pronounce our t's in Scotland 😂

So Christmas Trees and Santa Claus both arrived in England from abroad in the 1850's? Yup definitely shouldn't have any of those blow-in traditions just mistletoe & holly for decorations and no presents for the kids.
And be careful not to use any of those modern or foreign carols😉

Father Christmas seems to be a south of England thing. I have only heard it being used by people from there. In Scotland it's Santa.

And Father Christmas is stupid

I hate these threads.

Santa is an American import
Halloween is an American import
Surnames as a first name is an American import

No. There are more parts of the UK than the south east of England. All of these were standard when I was growing up in Scotland fifty years ago.

I'm in Scotland it's always been Santa Claus!

I'm in N Ireland and it has always been Santa Claus here too. Have never in my life heard anyone refer to Father Christmas here.

Father Christmas for me - and always has been. Yet another boring comment from someone up post that it is 'posh' and 'old-fashioned' - what is wrong with either of these? It is a comforting, traditional, warm term for the being which is supposed to deliver 'free' presents!

OP, I don't generally like to speak on behalf of others without asking permission but I'll make an exception here and say that I, and the other Irish and Scottish mumsnetters, will happily accept your apology for calling us vulgar, any time you're ready.

Sorry, I suppose that should be 'for calling our speech vulgar'

Can I ask the people who say Father Christmas a question.

Do you participate in Secret Santa at work or is it called Secret Father Christmas?

Do you take the children to Father Christmas’ grotto or Santa’s grotto for a visit?

Do you sing ‘Father Christmas is coming to town or Santa Claus is coming to town?

Do you change the words in the book ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ from ‘in the hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there’ to ‘in the hopes that Father Christmas soon would be there’ ?

I can’t think of a single song / advert / book or movie (apart from that one short and very English cartoon called Father Christmas) that refers to Father Christmas. It’s all Santa / Santa clause / santy clause / Saint Nicholas / Old St. Nick. It appears the SE England are in the minority over this.