Father Christmas or Santa

[LetterFromLorah]

A random question!

Since I started watching CBeebies and other children's programmes a few years ago with my son, I've noticed there seems to be a preference for 'Father Christmas' rather than 'Santa'.

I would have been aware of the phrase Father Christmas as a child but we would never, ever have actually referred to Santa as anything other than 'Santa'. It sounds really strange to me to hear children on TV talk about 'Father Christmas'.

I'm from Northern Ireland so I'm wondering if this is a regional thing?

I'm curious as to what other people think?

It’s regional I think, Irish and Scottish say Santa, English say Father Christmas (and then try to say Santa is an American thing).

Father Christmas here.. Grew up in the SE. Now living in Yorkshire. Santa is more prevelant here.

@BlueThistles

Ive never heard anyone refer to Santa as... Father Christmas 🤔

Where are you from, Blue?

It’s regional I think, Irish and Scottish say Santa, English say Father Christmas (and then try to say Santa is an American thing).

🤣 yip

It really is just TV programmes (mostly English) where I've heard it, which made me think it was just a regional preference. Looks to be the case.

Where are you from, Blue?

Western Iskes

isles even lol

I'm in the East Midlands and it's Santa to me. Though dp family are 70 miles away south and still East Midlands and they would say Father Christmas.

I think if I said Father Christmas to the kids at school rather than Santa, they wouldn't know who I was talking about! I know I had to for my dd when visiting dp family and them asking her what's Father Christmas bringing you.

@Bedroomdilemma

It’s regional I think, Irish and Scottish say Santa, English say Father Christmas (and then try to say Santa is an American thing).

This exactly.

We say Father Christmas (from the Midlands but grew up in EA).

Much like Halloween, people like to blame "Santa" on the Americans when it has different roots in reality and fails to recognise there's a UK outside of the English borders.

Father Christmas for us. DH from Devon and I'm from Norfolk.

I think if I said Father Christmas to the kids at school rather than Santa, they wouldn't know who I was talking about!

Yep, same!!

I’m from south England and used Father Christmas growing up but the kids use both .

I grew up in NE England and it was always Santa there. Now I'm in the NW it seems to be mostly Father Christmas. Not sure what we'll do with DS. He can decide for himself when he's older

Always Father Christmas. My in laws say Santa and my DC tend to say Santa too. I have no idea why but it irks me!
I always respond to the DC with my preferred Father Christmas

We've always said Santa, Santa Claus occasionally but always understood that he was the same person as Father Christmas. I can't abide "Santy" though - I know that's definitely a regional thing. North East England here.

I'm in Scotland and it was always Santa. Dh is from England and his family say Father Christmas which I always find strange to hear as its not what I grew up with.

Actually, my 2 year old calls him Farmer Couscous!

Irish - I would never say Father Christmas - but familiar with it from all the English TV/books etc growing up. I think we would use 'Santy' even more than Santa or Santa Claus?

@CoisFarraige

Irish - I would never say Father Christmas - but familiar with it from all the English TV/books etc growing up. I think we would use 'Santy' even more than Santa or Santa Claus?

Same here.

Always Father Christmas for me (East of England) but my children switch between FC and Santa.

NE here, we used to say father Christmas as kids but now we use a mix of both. My DD called him Farmer Christmas when she was really little 😂

I've always said Father Christmas but I've noticed my teens say Santa.

Always Santa, never hear Father Christmas up here...North Scotland

Much like Halloween, people like to blame "Santa" on the Americans when it has different roots in reality and fails to recognise there's a UK outside of the English borders.

This seems very harsh 😂 is there ‘blame’ in another name for Father Christmas/Santa? I just have family/friends in various states in America and they’re solely Santa so that’s the link my mind makes 🤷🏼‍♀️

Have we had any Welsh contributions yet? 🤔