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?

I grew up with Santa (North American) but say Father Christmas now I live in England.
(I like his outfit better, the long hooded coat.)

That isn’t WHY it’s sad, we don’t all hate Americans, it’s just we all have our Christmas traditions that we like and it feels weird when they change!

It’s not an ‘American thing’ is the point. The origins are European.

I always assumed FC was an English/ Welsh thing, and Santa Claus was a more global thing.

In Wales, or at least the Welshe speaking parts, it neither Father Christmas or Santa. It's Sion Corn.

I'm middle class English - I say Father Christmas.

That's Welsh not welshe...

I say Santa and also father Christmas, and I am very posh.

I say Father Christmas but I don’t think I’m posh, maybe I am then ??

We always used Father Christmas (or Farver niss-nuss as my little brother called him 😄) and I grew up on a run down council estate so definitely not posh.

I'm Irish and grew up saying Santa. When I moved here everyone said Father Christmas but I've noticed more and more saying Santa.

@LaurieMarlow if you read my post I clearly said that it’s not about the origins. Yes Santa has a Dutch origin but the reason English kids now say Santa is not because Dutch kids do, it’s because American kids do and they watch American tv etc.

I'm from the North East (England) and only ever heard him referred to as Santa Claus (or Santy!) growing up by everyone including grandparents and in school etc. I only heard people from down south (or 'posh' as I probably though of them at the time!) say FC.

I find it really infuriating when people say it's an Americanism or only used in Scotland or Ireland.

Santa is American (technically from Latin immigrants who call the time around Christmas 'Semana Santa') but has infiltrated over here. The older, more traditional name would be Father Christmas hence why it's perceived as posher.

I’m Scottish. I only ever hear English people say Father Christmas.

It's the ancient pagan name, related to The Green Man, and predates the associated with St Nicholas by centuries. It's the habitual form in swathes of England (not related to class) and I'd have expected it to see a bit of a resurgence, in the same way as the term Yule is doing, amongst those who don't want Christ in their mid-winter festivities.

From the midlands: My DC use FC and SC interchangeably, as I did 30 years ago, as my Dad did (just asked him) 60 years ago. This isn't a new thing.

Father Christmas when in UK, Sinterklaas for the past 13 years in Belgium.

YABVU. I don’t know anyone in the UK who says “Santa”. It’s very American.

Father Christmas is very much the norm.

It may be “the norm” where you are, but in Scotland, it’s Santa.

Santa Claus/Sinterklaas/Saint Nicholas is a more overtly religious version. Father Christmas is a more secular version, if you allow for the Mass of Christ part. Santo/santa just means "saint".

None of this sounds posh or poor to me. It just sounds religious.

Interesting responses! So is it a Southern England thing to say Father Christmas then?

I grew up in the 90s (not in the UK) so maybe I was influenced by American culture to say Santa.

The name Father Christmas has been used in England since the 1600's so wiki tells me.

I say Father Christmas and im faaaaaaaaaar from posh 😂

@longwayoff I just call him Dad.
Sorry, wait. What?!

Another Scot here chiming in to say Santa is Scottish and Father Christmas is English (and not just Southern English, Northern as well).

Im Southern England