Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think everyone knows that Santa leaves you a lump of coal in your stocking if you are naughty?

35 replies

DrSeuss · 31/10/2019 16:09

DH, (Southerner, has lived in the Glorious North for thirty years), has never heard of this! No idea what I was referencing when I said it! But he does, he left some for my uncle in the late 1940s, although that was Gateshead, so properly Northern. Do naughty Southerners not get anything or are their crippling house prices considered punishment enough?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 31/10/2019 16:11

Southerner here and yes it's always been a thing.

I've never known a parent cruel enough to actually do it though.

Camomila · 31/10/2019 16:12

I knew this and was a DC in a different country (Italy)

So did my parents as one year DBro can candy coal along with his normal presents.

lazylinguist · 31/10/2019 16:14

I've always known this was in theory something that happened, but I've never met anyone who would actually do it, or had it happen to them.

Rosehip10 · 31/10/2019 16:15

Anyone who uses the term "santa" rather than "Father Christmas" should get a piece of coal.

FrancisCrawford · 31/10/2019 16:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 31/10/2019 16:17

I am English but was brought up in Wales. I never heard anyone say it, but I know of it from living in Germany and I tease DD about it sometimes. I would never do it though!

TheQueef · 31/10/2019 16:17

Father Christmas is global.
All naughty children get coal.

WorraLiberty · 31/10/2019 16:17

I think Rosehip's post has just sent a Mexican wave of eye rolls around the internet.

DontBuyANewMumCashmere · 31/10/2019 16:19

Anyone who uses the term "santa" rather than "Father Christmas" should get a piece of coal.

Santa is just a contraction of Sant Niklaus (St Nick) so it's not Americanised if that's why you think that?

Original poster
DrSeuss · 31/10/2019 16:19

My uncle got coal, so I was told, for being very rude to my grandmother. He did receive presents shortly after, though.

OP posts:
TheQueef · 31/10/2019 16:19

Grin Worra bob on that, mine have only just rolled back.

Theyhaveallbeenused2 · 31/10/2019 16:20

Scottish and was threatened with a lump of coal every year

WorraLiberty · 31/10/2019 16:20

We'll have to start all over again because TheQueef was out of time Grin

There's always one!

AliceLittle · 31/10/2019 16:21

Coal was the nice present for when you were good. It meant you could have heat on Christmas day.

SmileCheese · 31/10/2019 16:21

What rock has your DH been hiding under surely this comes under general useless knowledge that even people not born or raised in this country know.

TheQueef · 31/10/2019 16:23

I had two pieces one year. I think I was six.
Did get a Sindy swimming pool, Three new Sindys, and a new coat later in the day.
I'd been a right little fucker at school in the run up to Christmas and Mam was strict.
bawled my eyes out

TotHappy · 31/10/2019 16:23

Yes, or a switch. And I'm in the south west. We wouldn't actually do it though. Even southerners love their kids.

But I think it is a northern thing to bring in a piece of coal first thing on New year's Day? Can someone explain why? I only did it the once with family in the Lakes.

Areyoufree · 31/10/2019 16:26

I remember someone telling me that their kids had been so naughty one year, that Father Christmas didn't come on Christmas Day. They got up, ran downstairs and ... nothing. I just tried to keep my face neutral and nodded, but inside I was pretty shocked. Apparently he did visit the next day though, but still. That's some seriously tough parenting!

HiGunny · 31/10/2019 16:27

Lumps of coal threatened in Ireland too. And we say Santa here...or Santy Grin

marmiteloversunite · 31/10/2019 16:28

I had an au pair when my kids were little who put sweets under the tree for one of my children and a potato and parsnip for the other. Apparently the three year old had been too naughty!

She didn't last past January!!

Katinski · 31/10/2019 16:29

In Italy, years ago, sweet coal was quite the thingSmile
New Years Day in N.England - is this part of First Footing?

Original poster
DrSeuss · 31/10/2019 16:31

We First Foot on the first of the year, the First Footer being male, dark haired (so definitely not a Viking at your door, come to pillage or worse.) He must bring some drink, silver for luck and a piece of coal to symbolise warmth for the house throughout the year. If he belongs to the house, he must leave the house by the back door shortly before 12, taking with him the old year and anything bad that happened, then enter by the front door in the New Year. That's how it's done on Tyneside, anyway, I think the Scots do something slightly different.

OP posts:
cwg1 · 31/10/2019 16:34

A coal for first footing at New Year means that you'll have a warm house throughout the year.

TotHappy · 31/10/2019 16:35

A friend of mine has a new year tradition which involves finding pieces of money hidden around the garden. She spent New year's at ours once and was like 'right, I've hidden the 20ps, are you coming out now?' we were all Confused and she thought it was a 'thing'. I think it's maybe just her family thing but perhaps that's also northern? Her mum is from Grimsby and apparently always did it when they were little. Anyone want to explain?

doginthemanger · 31/10/2019 16:35

Santa's the name in Scotland and no-one would say Father Christmas.

A lump of coal was a traditionally brought by the first foot at New Year, along with whisky, presumably to ensure heat for your house.

I've never heard of a lump of coal in your stocking if you were naughty!