Santa vs father Christmas

[Blinkingheckythump]

I know it's totally unimportant and hence iabu but it really irks me that everything seems to be santa these days and not father Christmas. It was always father Christmas when I was growing up. I miss it! Why has it changed over time? I say father Christmas to the kids but they hear santa everywhere else so usually say santa themselves. Am I being unreasonable in wishing it was still father Christmas?!

Incase it needs clarifying, this is very lighthearted. I'm aware it's not really an issue

Peak mumsnet

Santa is based on Saint Nicolas, surely? So both are traditional and correct based on your location/preference.

(PS I grew up poor and we said FC, not an indicator of class really!)

Imo Santa Claus is the name and Father Christmas is the job title.

The job title isn't going to go to any one else, because the fictional Santa Claus isn't likely to retire so therefore both are interchangeable for me.

Scottish as well, always been Santa. Don’t know anyone who says Father Christmas

@switswoo81

I'm Irish and it's Santa ( or often Santy) however it's funny because we use Daidi na Nollag in Irish which translates as Father (daddy) Christmas.

In NI it was always Santa but my grandparents and their generation/friends used to ask us what Daddy Christmas was bringing. He must be a less stuffy version of Father Christmas, who sounds a bit stern to me.

I always said Father Christmas but have bowed to the majority view and my dc say santa.

We always said Father Christmas growing up and I’m not a fan of Santa but as others say as it’s used so frequently my (very young) kids usually say Santa - though I do get a token FC every now and then!

DH is throwing a spanner in the works as he calls him Santy (he’s Irish)

@Stompythedinosaur

I always said Father Christmas but have bowed to the majority view and my dc say santa.

No no no. You have to correct them. Every. Single. Time

Father Christmas is much nicer. It's plain English, nostalgic and charming.

I agree, I also think this is why it stuck in the US, because of Catholic emigrees from Spain.

It's primary antecedent in the US is Dutch: Sinterklaas.

I grew up saying father christmas but I use santa with my children. I just prefer it, not quite sure why.

It was Father Christmas when I was growing up in northern England.

I live in Ireland now and everyone says Santa, including my DC when they were little. I don't mind Santa, but can't stand 'Santy'. So silly and twee.

We always said Father Christmas. I thought 'Santa' was the American name for Father Christmas and it has seeped into our lives from all the American Christmas films.

I wouldn't let it worry you. Just call him Father Christmas yourself, your children will probably chop and change depending on who they talk to but usually kids end up saying the same as their parents.

one Scot parent one English - always been Santa in this house from the word go

I feel like we need some data.

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2017/12/06/it-father-christmas-or-santa-claus

“ The younger Britons are the more likely they are to favour 'Santa Claus' over 'Father Christmas', with 18-24 year-olds tending to use the former name over the latter by 50% to 33%. By contrast, two thirds (66%) of Brits aged 65 and older tend to use 'Father Christmas'.”

@Lovinglifeand

We always said Father Christmas. I thought 'Santa' was the American name for Father Christmas and it has seeped into our lives from all the American Christmas films.

I wouldn't let it worry you. Just call him Father Christmas yourself, your children will probably chop and change depending on who they talk to but usually kids end up saying the same as their parents.

this a common misconception

Was Father Christmas in my youth (Londoner), but have lived overseas in Caribbean for 15 years and it’s Santa here and that’s how the kids refer to him.

But we’re not weird enough to attach class connotations to how we refer to the man in red, only seems to be those in UK that do.

@SenecaFallsRedux

I agree, I also think this is why it stuck in the US, because of Catholic emigrees from Spain.

It's primary antecedent in the US is Dutch: Sinterklaas.

precisely

Father Christmas here. And he’s always sounded friendly and cuddly to me, so there.

Father Christmas sounds ridiculously affected and Hyacinth Bucketesque to me, however I get that it is traditional in some parts of England so of course sounds quite natural to some.

Let me guess, OP. Do you also object to Halloween because it wasn't part of your childhood, and you are similarly unable to comprehend that there are legitimate traditions that don't originate in middle class home-counties homes?

I'm Irish and have always said Santa Claus.

Father Christmas always conjured up a vision of Enid Blyton's world in my head, complete with lashings of crumpets, piles of scones, clotted cream, etc.

@DroopyClematis, I think you're right that the English feeling of unease about Santa Claus stems from a deeply buried antipathy to Catholicism, and associated with that, the Irish.

However, you used British where you should have said English. It's Santa Claus in Scotland.

Father Christmas is a very English term.

It's always been Father Christmas for me too (and subsequently my children).

@DramaAlpaca, 'Santy' is the opposite of twee.