Santa Claus is the name my children call good old Father Christmas, but when I was a little girl in Dublin, I called the red suited toy deliverer "Santy".
Or maybe that should be spelled "Santee", I'm not certain.
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Christmas Excitement in Ireland
For weeks before Christmas everyone in Dublin seemed to be interested in what good old St. Nicholas might be bringing in his sack on Christmas night. Everywhere we went, kind folks loved to talk about chimney deliveries on Christmas Eve.
The milk man! The post man! The butcher! Shop assistants! Irish people love to chat, especially with little ones, and at Christmas time their favorite question was:
"What's Santy bringin' ya' for Christmas?"
Another frequent question was:
"Have you been to see Santy yet?"
I have no idea why Father Christmas was usually called Santy when I was growing up in Ireland. On films and American television we heard the term Santa, but in our Irish family the white bearded giver was always Santy.
We seldom even added his last name "Claus". We were all on first name terms with our beloved Santy.
When I first came to America I remember asking a little girl - "What's Santy bringing you for Christmas?"
She looked at me strangely, then asked: "Who's that?"
Until then, I had never really thought about this difference in terminology. And so my American evolution continued when I had to rename Father Christmas and use the more globally accepted term of Santa Claus.
How Irish people name Santa Claus
Now that I have kids of my own, I sometimes slip up and say 'Santy". They just roll their eyes, and say: "I think you mean Santa, Mom."
I don't believe Irish children use the name "Santy" anymore. Popular culture and American influences have changed our naming of Good Old Saint Nick, but in my memories every Christmas Eve, I waited for "Santy".
Now in Irish or Gaelic the term we use is Daidí na Nollag, which is literally Daddy Christmas, or Father Christmas. But we were English speakers in my home, and therefore we called him "Santy".
I wonder does the name "Santy" bring back happy memories for any readers of my ramblings.
Truth be told, no matter the name we call him, Santa Claus, Santy, or Daidí na Nollag, he is the same generous guy, who makes his rounds each Christmas night, sharing his love all over the world.
An Irish Christmas
If you love Santa Claus or Santy or Santee, then you might enjoy these installments...
Fill Your Life With Merry DIY Santas
Irish Santa Claus Decorations and Ornaments for Christmas
Stirrings by Máire Malone - An Irish Poem for Christmas
How Irish Mothers Warned Us To Be Good For Goodness Sake
December 8th - Ireland's Equivalent To Black Friday
Thanks for following my recipes and ramblings.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Where to next on your Irish heritage journey of discovery? You might be interested in ....
Ray Brown, M.A. Bilingual RS
In terms of Santy, my parents never used it with me, but they used it with my sister who was married before I was born. By the time I came around here in the States, I guess they got the roll of my sister's eyes enough to use the American term , Santa Clause. Having gone to Catholic schools with all Americans, we all used Santa Clause.I loved Christmas so much that once, after putting milk and cookies out, I tried to stay up to see Santy. I always fell asleep.
Irish American Mom
Ray - I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who called Father Christmas by the name Santy, while living in America. Your Irish parents learned to rename the good saint by his more popular name Santa Clause.just like me. It's lovely to know you loved Christmas just as much as I did as a child. It was a very special time in our house.
Best wishes, and thanks so much for stopping by.
Mairéad
Brighid O'Sullivan
That's a cute story and I love this blog. When I was little my father dressed up as Santa in a very cheap Santa suit. I remember his dark brown eyebrows surrounded by fake white cotton batting. I think he loved playing that part more than we did to be honest. I wonder if years ago in Dublin people played Wren Boys or any of those Irish traditions or was it mostly traditional European celebrations?
Irish American Mom
Hi Brighid - Thanks for your kind words about my blog. It sounds like you have lovely memories of Christmas too. The Wren Boys were not part of my Dublin childhood. This celebration is more common in rural areas, especially in Cork and Kerry. My father went "On The Wren" when he was a little boy. They dressed up in straw and went from house to house performing for the neighbors. My Dublin Christmas was more in keeping with traditional European celebrations, I suppose.
Take care,
Mairéad
Brighid O'Sullivan
Oh, here's another question, Maread, did Irish schools put on Christmas pageants or plays like they do here in the U.S?
Irish American Mom
Brighid - When I was a little girl we always performed a school Christmas play for our parents, just like in the United States. I went to an all girls school. I think every girl dreamed of getting the part of Mary. But I was pretty tall, so I always ended up playing St. Joseph or a shepherd. Every year I kept my fingers crossed hoping I might even be an angel, but my height doomed me to a male role, no matter what.
Take care and best wishes for a lovely Christmas.
Mairéad
Chery Barker
Aww, I love the name Santy! I say go ahead and keep using it! 🙂
Irish American Mom
Thanks Cheryl - Santy will be here in two weeks. Excitement levels are rising by the day in our house.
All the best,
Mairéad
Jonathan
Thanks, Mairéad.
We said Santy, Santa, or Santa Claus, interchangeably. I don't remember anyone else being confused by it. I spent most of my childhood in Middletown, NJ and Kansas City, MO. Maybe the other kids were rolling their eyes, and I just never noticed. As an adult, I've come to realize I say things that I've only heard my ma and granddad say, and never really thought about it much.
Cheers!
Jonathan
Irish American Mom
Hi Jonathon - I'm glad to hear you too said "Santy" as a child. It's a very Irish name for Mr. Claus. It's amazing how many sayings and expressions we pick up from our parents and grandparents. I say many words that are actually from the Irish language - words I heard from my mother and grandmother. I have only come to realize that some of my vocabulary is not English at all. Since moving to America, blank expressions from some of my listeners helped me realize they have no clue what I am saying.
Best wishes and a very Happy New Year to you and yours,
Mairéad
Janice
We still use the name "santy" all the time here in Ireland. My kids call him santy and every other child I know uses the name... I think it's so cute. I don't think it will ever die out 🙂
John
Hi Mairèad, sadly it's not considered 'posh' enough in todays Ireland to use Santy! Just like Mammy and Mam are now the British Mummy and Mum and even our Main St. Is rapidly becoming 'High St.' Wonder how long before Dec. 26 changes from St. Stephen's Day to the British 'Boxing Day' ?
Irish American Mom
Hi John - I'm always sad when I realize some of our old Irish ways and expressions are disappearing because of globalization, Americanization and Anglicization (I don't know if these are real words, but I'm using them anyway). Here's hoping St. Stephen's Day hangs in there!
Best wishes,
Mairéad