Where are our British Christmas traditions going?

[RabbitsNBears]

I can’t help but feel ever so sad about the wonderful Christmas traditions we grew up with are disappearing. It's like we are raising our young ones in the USA. Who is “Santa”? In my day he was called Father Christmas. What is this elf on the shelf nonsense, as far as I can tell he teaches our grandchildren that misbehaving is amusing, not the old fashioned lessons of behaving as Father Christmas knows if you’ve been good or bad. And don’t even get me started on how my DIL had the grandchildren leaving “Santa” cookies and milk. What’s wrong with a glass of brandy and a mince pie?

Elf on the Shelf and Christmas Eve boxes and glitter in the garden can get in the bin though

Actually in Scotland at least, Santa is likely derived from Sinterklaas, as historically Scotland and the Netherlands had a close trading link. Same way as Dutch-American heritage brought ‘Santa Claus’ over there. In Scotland though he’s rarely referred to by his full name unless it’s in songs, it’s just Santa (or Suntie in some places!).

I’m 63 and it was always Santa Claus - I’m with you on elf and the shelf and Halloween though and matching PJsand all that stuff- still it’s harmless and plenty do enjoy it so season of goodwill and all that -don’t sweat the small stuff

Father Christmas as we know him got to be a big thing in the Victorian era. Most British Christmas traditions are from that time, so relatively recent.

The word and idea of Santa is from Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Christian saint who is still celebrated at Christmas in various European countries. And indeed, also in the US, since immigrants took him with them in their suitcase ;)

I don't really get the issue at all. Whoever he is and whatever we call him, surely the spirit of the holiday is all much the same?

Santa is easier for toddlers to say than Father's Christmas. I suspect that's what driven that move. My daughter would know who you're talking about if you said Santa, Father's Christmas or St Nick.

Not everyone has brandy at home - most parents of young children have milk in some form.

The Naughty list Is definitely still a thing.

Times change, thank god elf on a shelf wasn't around when mine were young.

I’m in my sixties and he’s always been Santa to me. And if traditions change with new generations that’s the way things are. And I always left out shortbread and milk. Who buys brandy these days?

Born late 80s always called santa and what we left out changed year to year of what we had sometimes it was milk sometimes it was beer. Sometimes it was a mince pie sometimes it was biscuits. The carrot never changed always a carrot for the reindeer

I assume you drink brandy OP? My FC used to drink sherry. Our current FC drinks beer. See how it works?

Its always been santa for me growing up and im in my 50s. Santa claus is from saint Nicholas isnt it?

Also, I really don't think children should be encouraging santa to drink and drive.

Why on earth do we need to.keep any traditions?
Pure brainwashing.
Just because the Victorians came up with all this malarkey and then shops jumped on the bandwagon fosent mean we have too.

Make your own traditions or dont bother.

Things change, though. I'm happy to report that the Father Christmas living with me prefers a large single malt whisky and TWO mince pies. He's not changing anything.

Oh, and OP, do you know the story of St Nicholas? Happy ending, but it's the stuff of nightmares.

The entire point of a tradition is to repeat it. That's how it becomes a tradition.

When I was growing up (late 80s/early 90s) we left out a brandy and mince pie for Father Christmas, but only because my dad would eat and drink them after we went to bed! The only spirits we have in our house is gin, which I'm not sure seems appropriate?

So Santa/Father Christmas in our house gets milk, a mince pie or biscuits (whatever we have), bowl of oats and a carrot for the reindeer and a bowl of water (in case they are thirsty)

I'm sure in 'your day' there were plenty of people who didn't leave any alcohol out for Santa- just because you did it doesn't mean everyone did

Must say I loathe the ‘milk and cookies’ for 🎅 thing - and in our house he’s still Father Christmas. Who on earth wants cold milk on a freezing midwinter night anyway? Of course he wants a tot of something warming, and a mince pie or two.
My milk delivery service is again this year offering a ‘keepsake’ little bottle for ‘Santa’s milk!’ 🤬

I think several European countries have Santa Klaus?

But on the whole I agree with you and it breaks my heart that we no longer have a boar’s head brought in as the centre of the feast on Christmas Day. Indeed, I’m really sorry that we no longer celebrate Christmas Day on its proper, traditional historic day, which is of course now 6 January, since those appalling calendar reforms in

This is particularly significant as, traditionally, it was not Christmas Day that was observed but epiphany, 6 January: who any longer celebrates Epiphany and who indeed even knows what Epiphany is?

Who even understands what Advent is? Most people now eat meat during advent and nobody fasts or has any form of waiting for the birth of Christ. Even Christians ignore it, really.

I’m Welsh. Santa and Father Christmas were used interchangeably here and we’re doing the same with LO.

Not a fan of the ‘he’s watching to see if you’re good or bad and will adjust your presents accordingly. We didn’t do that as kids - Santa/FC was just a benevolent old man who wanted to make sure all children received presents.

We also leave out shortbread and whiskey on Christmas Eve (and a carrot for Rudolph) as that’s what we like to eat/drink. Brandy and mince pies would be wasted.

I do agree about elf on the shelf though. Creepy looking thing.

St Nicholas isn’t the same as Father Christmas, though - Father Christmas comes from a different tradition. Synonymous with Santa now, but not originally connected at all.

Always been Santa here in NE Scotland, my parents always left him a glass of milk and a mince pie, we weren’t a family who drank much at all.

My XH and I always did the same, I’ve been a single parent for over 20 years now, and I always did the same, just added carrots for Rudolph.

People can do whatever they want, what does it matter?

Going to blow your mind here OP - it’s Santy. Always was, always will be. And Santy likes a bottle of Guinness and a mince pie.

I’m 42 and it’s always been Santa, and cookies and milk were left and a carrot for the reindeers.

Perhaps that is different house to house, much like where you hang your stockings, thank you for educating me.

But you clearly have learned nothing from the thread @RabbitsNBears as you persist in your thinking that Santa is an Americanism. Which it is not.

😂

first post nails it

I saw a thing on tv that Iceland have "yule lads" 13 of them apparently and they leave presents or potatoes depending how good the children were, it sounds a bit like Elf on the shelf.