Father Christmas vs Santa Claus

[squeaver]

Me and dh are both Scottish, but now we live in London.

We ONLY ever refer to the big fat red one as Santa, as do all our families.

Dd's friends and their families seem to only ever call him Father Christmas.

Now she thinks there's 2 of them, both bringing her presents.

Is this a Scottish/English thing? Just curious.

Santa Claus in the US comes from the Dutch Sinterklaas and goes back as far as the late 1700s-early 1800s. I think it's possible that the Scottish and Irish use may actually be from American influence, especially in Scotland, which didn't really celebrate Christmas to any great extent until the mid-20th century (it was not a public holiday until 1958).

"Isn't Santa Claus American?"
It's also Irish. It is possible the term arrived in the UK with Irish immigrants

In the US, I believe SC replaced Kris Kringle, but I may be mistaken.

Santa- I;m in Scotland.

Excuse you, I'm from the Southside of Dublin and I'm not a yuppie! Santy is only used by northside yokes!

But interesting point about Daidí na Nollaig!

(If the thread really is so old, I probably answered it the first time around too - sorry - I only noticed the zombie warning after I'd posted - but you can never talk too much about Christmas!! )

I really hope the name Father Christmas doesn't die out

Me too. It seems when I was a child everyone called him Father Christmas but now all my DC's friends call him Santa .
I was a bit peeved that the American 'Santa' had taken over but pleased to hear that it was Scottish/Irish as well as American, so don't mind so much now

I think 'Daidí na Nollaig' was a sincere effort to put an Irish topcoat on well established English Victorian Christmas festivities. Daidí isn't really an accurate translation of 'Father'. It's not formal enough. I suspect it was coined in the early years of the Free State.

I don't think either Christmas or Santa Claus or any of his incarnations were that big in Ireland before the mid 19th century, which was when it was all taking off in England too under the influence of Prince Albert.

Santa clause/kris Kringle/jolly old saint nick

I admit Father Christmas sounds classier and less corny/commercial than Santa but maybe that's the American in me thinking anything British is automatically more classy and refined

Dh and I say Father Christmas. Dcs say Santa. Annoying.

Easy peasy.

“Santa Claus”is of US origin and is a corruption of an earlier Dutch phrase.

It has no ties to the British Isles, other than its usage has increased over the past decades, resulting from American influences.

The name Santa Claus has no links whatsoever to Ireland or Scotland. Those people who use it in Scotland and Ireland are using it because of the above - American cultural domination.

Merry Christmas. I hope Father Christmas visits you all

I’m NW England, and grew up calling him Father Christmas. I still do, but my dc all call him Santa despite my best efforts! I only live an hour away from where I grew up, so not sure it’s regional. I think it’s the influence of films and friends.

My Dad's parents both from North England always said Santa Claus, my Mums also North England always said Father Christmas.
My two younger children Santa Christmas.

Scottish Santa here.

I call him both depending on who I am talking to. I think Father Christmas sounds nicer and more Christmassy when talking to kids.

Kids know who he is and what he does so it's best not to get too hung up on it.

His name is and will always be Santa Scottish here too and my 56 year old mother says he has always been called that in her lifetime nothing new

When I was a child we said Santy Claus, as did my mother Grandmother and great grandmother. Irish, living in Scotland. (My great granny was born about 1884). So it's been arouns rather a long time. We did eventually say Sanra Claus. Obviously it's from St Nicholas. Nothing to do with Americanisms.

@ThePaladin do you have a source?

As many pp have said they have relatives going back many generations (often Irish, Scottish, Northern England) using Santa Claus.

The name Santa Claus has no links whatsoever to Ireland or Scotland. Those people who use it in Scotland and Ireland are using it because of the above - American cultural domination.

That's bollocks, he's never been Father Christmas in Ireland.

My family inc. dds have always said FC - Gdd (2.8) is now coming back from nursery with 'Santa'. We've explained that he has two names, some people use one, some use the other. I did add that I have 2 names too - Granny and my own name. She. accepted it without more questions than usual.
I recently had a Chr. card from some French friends - they call him FC (Pere Noel) too.