Santa bores

Father Xmas gender row

PARENTS fumed when they were told to say Santa Claus rather then Father Christmas to make the beloved figure “gender neutral”.

A mum mentioned the festive figure online, but was told off by snowflakes offended by the masculine name.

The woman, from Plymouth, raged: “I’ve just been shamed for using the name Father Christmas and [told] Santa is now seen as gender neutral.

“I was only referring to the book [Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs] but it’s left me a little confused about what we are allowed to say.

“I have a small child and don’t really want to raise him saying Father Christmas if it’s hurtful to some.”

Skinny

Another said: “Santa is so American, Father Christmas will always be Father Christmas. It’s always a man.”

It comes as a poll by logo creation firm GraphicSprings suggested 27% of people believe Father Christmas should be gender neutral.

The debate also enraged Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan.

The telly star said: “I knew this day would come. The day that Santa Claus would have to go.

“Who are these people? Literally 27% of these people no longer want Santa. Unbelievable.”

GraphicSprings also asked what image a 21st century Santa would have.

Respondents suggested he would be a tattooed hipster in red skinny jeans and bobble hat who owns a hoverboard and has gone on a diet.

Instead of a sleigh pulled by magical reindeer, he drives a flying car.

THE world we live in is full of problems.

Politics is dividing the population more than ever.

Terror continues to threaten our peace. And we’re told a climate crisis could destroy the planet within a couple of generations.

But one person who has never been a problem is Father Christmas.

At the end of a difficult year he never fails to bring joy to millions of people around the country.

Except right-on snowflakes, of course.

They now don’t like his name because it emphasises his gender.

They think Father is offensive because …. well, because they do.

Now they insist he is only referred to by his Americanised Santa Claus moniker.

That’s in case it upsets gender-neutral folk who can’t bear the idea of anyone being gender specific.

This is a new level of madness.

They deserve to go straight on the naughty list.