It's Father Christmas not Santa!

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/881123/christmas-father-christmas-santa-national-trust-christmas-advert-holiday-british

The National Trust has insisted that ‘Santa Claus’ should be known as ‘Father Christmas’ in its stately homes and historic estates because it is traditionally British. The news came after viewers complained about the Marks & Spencer Christmas advert. In the advert, Paddington Bear said "Thank You Santa" when he met someone who he thought was Father Christmas.

The National Trust declared its ruling as it prepares to welcome millions of visitors to its 1,400 properties across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust said it was expecting around one million visitors to its properties over the Christmas period.

‘Santa Claus’, which comes from Dutch settlers in the US, has increasingly been preferred to the traditional ‘Father Christmas’ during the festive season. Etiquette experts have backed the National Trust decision after they declared the term ‘Santa Claus’ was an Americanism and that the middle classes preferred ‘Father Christmas’. William Hanson, a leading etiquette expert, backed the Trust’s decision. He said: “If you’re British or have Anglo-Saxon aspirations then it’s Father Christmas and never Santa or Santa Claus. “I am buoyed to see that the National Trust is speaking out and correcting this irritating and increasing Americanisation of Christmas and inviting that the proper moniker is used for the big red man . . .

Mr Hanson went on to say that using the term ‘Father Christmas’ was considered middle class. He added: “Those from a middle to upper middle and beyond background will usually all invariably be visited by Father Christmas.” . . .

The National Trust has not banned using ‘Santa Claus’ but insists that all of its shops and literature refer to him as Father Christmas. A National Trust spokesman said: “Contrary to any speculation, the National Trust is not looking to ban Santa, Saint Nick or Santa Claus. "We recognise the gift-giving, jolly man with the beard goes by many names all over the world, but we try to stick to one, and for many years that has been Father Christmas.”

Another source explained that the Trust wanted to use the term Father Christmas because he was “perceived as the more traditional British name, certainly in England and Wales". They added: “Father Christmas dates back as far as 16th century in England during the reign of Henry VIII. Santa seems widely used in Scotland."

http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/A-Victorian-Christmas/

Normally associated with the bringer of the above gifts, is Father Christmas or Santa Claus. The two are in fact two entirely separate stories. Father Christmas was originally part of an old English midwinter festival, normally dressed in green, a sign of the returning spring. The stories of St. Nicholas (Sinter Klaas in Holland) came via Dutch settlers to America in the 17th Century. From the 1870’s Sinter Klass became known in Britain as Santa Claus and with him came his unique gift and toy distribution system – reindeer and sleigh.

I can tell you it's not especially a middle class thing to say Father Christmas. But I didn't know they used Santa in Scotland. That's strange. Maybe this partly expalins it:

The Scots have always preferred to postpone the celebrations for a few days to welcome in the New Year, in the style that is Hogmanay. Christmas Day itself did not become a holiday in Scotland until many years after Victoria’s reign and it has only been within the last 20-30 years that this has been extended to include Boxing Day.

As French, we always call him «  Père Noël «  ( Father Christmas ).
Thank’s to you now I know why he is called Santa Claus in USA

Stop culturally appropriating American culture. :p

My direct paternal family married into the Dutch families in the early New York colonial days. Perhaps they called him Santa Claus themselves?


Father Christmas has more swagger in that green suit. Way more swag.

Who is Father Christmas?    

When I was little we had an open fire and I used to send a letter to Father Christmas by putting it up the chimney.