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?

The thread that keeps on giving just like Father Christmas [santa]

Haven't RTFT, but I refuse to say Santa, as it IS Father Christmas, but most people tend to think I'm posh (I'm not).

I’ve always known him as Father Christmas (we’re so close, we’re almost the same person, y’know). I’m not posh at all.

Americans have been called tacky by some of the delightful English contributors? The irony.

We Scots could start calling him Faither Christmas

The name Santa Claus evolved from Nick’s Dutch nickname, Sinter Klaas, a shortened form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas). The Dutch brought it over to the US in the 18th Century.

I swear some forget/ignore the fact that most of the holidays and traditions of the US were brought over by European immigrants so while some of you are being snobby about Americanisms, you’re also being snobby about the immigrants who came over for myriads of reasons bringing their traditions with them.

Always used Santa in Scotland,never Father Christmas .

@FrancisCrawford and a Welsh thing (overlooked as usual).

I always thought Santa was an American thing.
It's always been Father Christmas where I come from (North West England)

As a Geordie living in the NW I am a bit embarrassed now to hear that people might be cringing at my use of Santa, that I'm common or using an apparently tacky Americanism instead of Father Christmas. Never thought that much about it, just noticed we use different terms for him. Actually, come to think of it, the people I talk to about Santa probably wouldn't look down on me on account of the name I choose for him because they are all nice.

@CallmeAngelina maybe you SHOULD RTFT you might actually learn something!

@Windyone - I've been here 17 years, I do as I please

I prefer Father Christmas and we always said that when little. Definitely not posh - not now and certainly not when growing up.

Is it regional perhaps? Though not sure that applies for me tbh - live in South Yorkshire.

At the infants I work at there is a mix used. Doesn't appear to be related to poshness though and we are in a very mixed and diverse school community.

I don't think Santa is American. Lots of other countries use it, including Scotland and maybe Ireland.

I'm working class from the Black Country and have always said Father Christmas...
Santa is American

@Windyone, in fairness, most of it is pretty dull, with many people repeating the same points over and again.

READ THE FUCKING THREAD

Another Scottish and everyone says Santa here. If it has come from America it must have been 30 years + ago.

I think Santa is Norwegian (not specifically American) derived from St Nicholas, who was the original Father Christmas. Think they say it as Santa Klaus.
I could be wrong though.

MN needs to put a note on the thread title: 'Santa is NOT American. If you think it is, you're WRONG' That way, people who are posting without RTFT will realise they're talking out of their arses

Read the thread.

Santa/Santy/Sunty is common to:

• Scotland
• Wales
• Ireland
• NE England
• Northumberland

It is not the "British" name for him because not all of Britain uses it.

It is not even the English name as not all regions of England use it.

America might use it now but that's because all the Scottish/Irish/Welsh/Northern folk moving over there many many years ago took it with them.

Call the Big Red Guy whatever you want to call him but don't piss all over other people's traditions in the process, aye?

"I'm working class from the Black Country and have always said Father Christmas...
Santa is American"

People must be at the wind up now.

@mnhq can we have a banging your head off a brick wall emoji?

There are another 400 posts to go before this thread is full. Suggest that some of you should walk away for the sake of your blood pressure