To think that only posh people say Father Christmas?!

[charliesp]

And everyone else says Santa?

I say Santa but my posh DH and all his family and posh friends say Father Christmas.

Anyone else noticed this? Or AIBU?

Maybe it's an age thing rather than a rich/poor thing. It was never Santa when I was a kid in the sixties and seventies. That was an American thing for us.

There always so much ignorance around Irish & Scottish customs & traditions on MNs.

For the love of god here we go again.

I thought Krampus was the bad one?

I say Father Christmas and I'm not posh. It's just what I was brought up to call him. I don't think it's a class thing at all.

"Santa is so American/non-english"

If you had cared to read. even for a minute, you would have discovered that no, it is not.

Do people actually judge & look down on those who say Santa or Santa?

We say a mix of Santa/father christmas. We live in London but unfortunately not posh. I'm of Irish parents but born and bred in London. The kids grew up saying both.

In NZ he is sometimes called Hana Koko.

I'm working class I say Father Christmas

I say Father Christmas and I’m dead posh*. I think you’re right.

*common as muck really.

Irish here, we say Santa. My husband is English, says Father Christmas. We are both middle class if that helps. I have never thought of the distinction as being “posh vs not posh”, but do think Fr Christmas is an English thing, irrespective of class.

No judging here, some people are brought up to say Father Christmas as a tradition and some Santa as a tradition.

Santa is so American/non-english

Santa to me is an American term.

Still people not reading the fucking thread! I'm not English or American and its Santa to me and has been for as long as I can remember (plus family before me)

cukooboo

Exactly! I totally agree, if something on here is not "English" then it must be American

I'm 52, Scottish and it was always Santa to me and every other person I knowfL

Not tonight

Santa is satan. They changed the letters round.
father Christmas is green and the real thing, not a red character dreamed up by coca cola.
Some people enjoy worshiping the devil

@superfandango

Me saying 'Father Christmas' in the States is usually met with 'who the he'll is that?' but actually now loss of people here have adopted it instead of Santa.

Maybe there'll be someone in Pittsburgh shaking their fist at Peppa Pig

When Peppa Pig first came out and I was yelling at ds across a crowded library (the kids playroom before anyone thinks I've become a nasty, common American ) a group of kids head's snapped around and one of them sidled up to me and said you sound just like Peppa Pig'. They all took turns to make me say phrases. I absolutely floored them with my Miss Rabbit. DS was so proud.

Oh I wish MNHQ would delete this thread. Can any one who is saying Santa Claus is a new Americanism please explain their thinking once they’ve read this thread.

It makes me sad as in 8 years of living in the States I've never heard one negative comment about Britain or British people.

There always so much ignorance around Irish & Scottish customs & traditions on MN

The thing is, you don’t know know what you don’t know. You can’t expect everyone to know everything about everyone else’s customs. Even if we have the same passports lol.

Imho though, this boils down to English people wanting to appear as far away from English nationalism as possible. English people are trained to say British, whereas for Irish and Scottish people it’s acceptable to just say Irish and Scottish. So people say ‘this is a British thing’ when they mean English. Or sometimes even just a south east, or West Country thing, or whatever.

I think if it’s genuinely due to not knowing you can’t be angry, but I agree it’s a bit sneery. I don’t like that at all, there’s just no need for it.

I also don’t understand the problem with ‘americanisms’ or anything else isms, as long as we all know what we’re talking about.

Except maybe the way Americans write down the dates, month day then year. That’s just illogical.

Thanks for the answer re Northern Ireland Laurie.

tee hee - I say Father Christmas ( and am English ) I do not give two hoots what anyone else says - just what we do in our house. It was what he was called with my parents and Granny - Santa is fine by me but just in our house he is Father Christmas - is that snobbish or just how we did it since I was young ( and I am now quite old) I don't think it matters a jot as long as you have a nice day

gingergittable

I used the phrase “talk proper yer scrubber” to show that I’m not particularly articulate myself, and that I was trying to make a joke (poorly as it happens). I’m not sure anyone would be particularly impressed with my accent either.

It’s ok to be annoyed by stuff sometimes isn’t it? Doesn’t mean I hate anyone. “Bugs the shit out of me” was a bit much, you’re right, so apologies for coming across like a dick.

The last thing I’d want is for anyone (or by extension their kid) to feel rubbish because I said something flippant. So I’ll try to think a bit before I post next time.

Mildly amusingly, I once had an American teenager say to me, “oh my God, you have an accent; what language do they speak in England?”