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?

My mother and her family are American and say santa. My adult English family say father Christmas. The kids say Santa because I guess they see it on tv now all the time as well as American family saying it.

So after all that arguing and frothing, turns out Santa is an Americanism after al, but way of the people of New York (New Amsterdam).
That’s pretty funny actually 😂

Captain Christmas is still my favourite!

@footchewer brilliant post, so interesting! Thanks!

People are acting like America was invented in 1950, so any British people saying 'Santa' before then couldn't possibly have got it from the US

Have none of you ever heard of the Jazz Age?

I say Father Christmas and I'm from Grimsby.

Ermm.. yeah except my DM is a New Yorker. Father Christmas all the way.

I did not put that incorrect apostrophe there that's what they all say.

NottonightJosepheen
You've obviously not met the West Brit / Anglo Irish people so.

Or the ones pretending to be.

I knew someone who went to Trinity and developed a very posh accent. She never told anyone her granny was a trader in Moore Street.

It’s always been Father Christmas here and we are not and never have been posh.

This thread is quite eye opening.
Father Christmas is English, quite telling that Santa is seen as crass and tacky.
Scottish it’s Santa or Santa Claus.
Not crass or tacky or American, just not English.

For the people claiming Santa Claus is originally Scots/Irish it can't originate there as the phrase is neither Gaelic nor English in origin.

I didn't see anyone say that it originates in Scotland or Ireland? Though I may have missed those posts. My objection is to those saying 'oh Santa is definitely an Americanism' etc.

www.scottishfield.co.uk/travel/scotland-travel/scotland-has-been-going-dutch-since-1066/
I have Flemish roots as do many Scots.

So after all that arguing and frothing, turns out Santa is an Americanism after al, but way of the people of New York (New Amsterdam). You're wrong. Read my post above.

I don't think it has much to do with how posh you are. Maybe regional: people in Scotland or Northern Ireland are more likely to say 'Santa'. But, like many Americanisms, 'Santa' seems to be taking over in many areas now.

Is it really that difficult to believe that Americans have different accents due to different regions or are some people really that obtuse?

There are large regional variations in American English, both in accent and word use. One such term that visitors from the UK should be aware of is Yank. I'm from the north, so I'm fine with it. In the American south, it's short for Yankee, as in the enemy during the Civil War (or "the war of northern aggression" depending on who you ask). It's considered not a nice thing to call someone, so calling someone from the American south a Yank would provoke an unpleasant reaction.

My gran was born in 1911 and said Santa

Maybe she picked it up from all those American TV shows she would have been watching as a child?

Father Christmas is English, quite telling that Santa is seen as crass and tacky. Scottish it’s Santa or Santa Claus. Not crass or tacky or American, just not English.

Except in some parts of England too, Santa is the norm and has been for years and years.

me too, @derxa, Roots on my father's side in the Scottish borders with a surname which can be traced back to Holland. I bet my 17th century ancestors were talking about Santa too.

No I say Father Christmas and I wouldn’t say I was posh. Sinterklaas (Dutch character based on St. Nicholas) was Americanized into "Santa Claus" I guess I just prefer Father Christmas to Santa.

Flemish people came to Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots had a lady in waiting called Mary Fleming for example
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Fleming
My granny's name was Fleming. I assume the Flemish people brought the idea of Siinterklaas to Scotland and the USA. It's not too hard to understand.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

@Prevegen4U 'At least 45 years ago NO British person said Santa, it was always Father Christmas NEVER Santa. Santa was American/European. Britain is losing (lost) its traditions.'

I'm 53. Did I imagine it when ALL my family, and everyone I grew up with said Santa (well, actually it was Santy)?

You're talking a load of shite, maybe RTFT and learn something.

Uk, England, Yorkshire, huddersfield, Father Christmas.

Ps working class upbringing.

I like Santa Claus

I think Santa Claus was popularised by American movies, so it's become pop culture, though it is of course the original Saint Nicholas. Father Christmas is far more British and traditional.