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 fact that people used it in childhood doesn't preclude it being an Americanism. While Santa Claus originated in Europe, the term came to the UK via America.

Always been FC to me & I'm not stuck up & poncey & neither were my parents!!

We're in Germany now so we have Nikolaus on 6th Dec & FC on 25th!

justhere if you are American then I don't think you can comment on cultural vulgarity

No, I’m not American.

I bet you’re a Brit though.

Father Christmas here - north east.

I bloody hate happy Christmas which seems to have become mega popular last few years. It is always merry Christmas for me.

Sinterklaas is not santa!!!!

Sinterklaas komt uit spanje met zijn stomboot aan!!!

Santa comes down a chimney.

35 years old and Irish I say Santa, my English children say Santa I don't really care what other people say or call him just that we are all on the nice list, OP I don't think you will be.....

Santa for me, also Scottish. Though I do rather like Captain Christmas too.

My family are American and say Father Christmas. Stick that in yer pipe and smoke it.

I say Santa Claus - brought up in Scotland.

Was always Father Christmas here as a child and remains now. Dislike Santa. And dislike even more my Irish side of the family’s ‘santy’

What AfterSchool said. Santy's always been great.

Yes, my late DM, who would be 75, moved from England to Scotland aged 10. Twas Santa, not Father Christmas here. At school, and in her vast extended family including Grandparents born in the 19th century.

And to annoy you further OP, Halloween is a thing here too, not an US import. Guising, and performing, not trick or treating. Suspect we, and the Irish took it there actually.

It also works better on songs
When Santa got stuck up the chimney
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa came to say Rudolph with your nose so bright...

It was always santy claws growing up (Scotland). Old ladies would always ask you 'so what's santa gonnae bring ya? Huv ye been a good wee girl?'

The fact that people used it in childhood doesn't preclude it being an Americanism. While Santa Claus originated in Europe, the term came to the UK via America.

How are you so sure of this? What about the millions of Irish emigrants who have settled in the UK over the years?

It's a definite class signifier

FC middle class, Santa less so

I always say Father Christmas but my 2-nearly-3 year old is saying Santa already :( I blame his dad.

Have the 'it's all nicked from paganism' crowd arrived yet?

Father Christmas here.

FC middle class, Santa less so

DH is steadfastly MC, he calls him Santa. Likewise his whole (MC) family.

I think it's probably more of a regional thing than a class thing.

What a charming OP and their follow up posts are so sweet, too!

It also works better on songs
When Santa got stuck up the chimney
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa came to say Rudolph with your nose so bright..

Oh dear, I think most of those songs fall into the 'vulgar' camp don't they? (ie not sung by blonde haired moppets in surplice's)

Halloween is Samhain and goes back to Paganism. Thomas Hardy believed that the bonfires lit for 5th November also went back to paganism - Dorset people traditionally lit fires on the ancient barrows.

I say Santa but I'm saying that whilst sat on the 'sofa' in the 'living room', which tells you all you need to know about my level of common, apparently.

I am highly amused by the number of small and insignificant ways that some mumsnetters attempt to leverage superiority over others.

I know what you mean, OP. The name Santa Claus comes from Europe, but was transported to the US, and has now come back to us via them. In much the same way as many words that were originally "old English".

Uh oh, it's European but passed through America and came back. Although it sounds the same don't be fooled, it's now soaked in vulgarity and stinking of crassness. Because America.