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People Say Santa Should Now Be Female Or Gender Neutral

People Say Santa Should Now Be Female Or Gender Neutral

Many on social media said the whole thing was ‘ridiculous’

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Remember recently when everyone was kicking off about the prospect of a female Father Christmas?

The furore started when news dropped that two women had volunteered to play Santa as part of a festive tour in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. I know, the HORROR.

Labour Councillor Arun Chandran wasn't in favour of having a jolly St Nicola, saying: "There is no shortage of male volunteers to act as Santa Claus, so we should not permit a female volunteer to perform the role.

"My understanding is that Santa Claus, otherwise called Father Christmas, is a male role."

Even Piers Morgan lashed out - because he always does - saying exasperatedly on Good Morning Britain: "Father Christmas, as his name suggests, is male. Father Christmas, for all of time, has been Father Christmas.

"He's called Father Christmas!" he exclaimed before screwing up the paper. "The world's gone nuts."

via GIPHY

Well, the debate has now stepped up a gear - as there are some people who believe Santa shouldn't have any gender at all.

Logo creation company GraphicSprings polled 400 people from the US and UK about potential ways that Santa could be modernised, before using the top suggestions to poll another 4,000 people.

And, according to 6 ABC, 27 percent of those asked believe he should be rebranded as female or gender neutral.

It didn't take long before people started piping up on social media, where many said the whole thing was 'ridiculous'.

One person tweeted: "Santx; the gender neutral Santa."

Tim Allen in The Santa Clause.
Buena Vista Pictures

Someone else said: "Santa isn't real. Thinking Santa should be female or gender neutral is no more moronic than thinking he should be male."

A third wrote: "I'm all for equality but the idea that we should make Santa gender neutral or female is ridiculous! You cannot change history - St Nicholas, the guy who started the whole stocking hanging thing was a man!! #Christmas."

Another added: "Absolutely not, it's a fat guy in a red suit with a red hat and white beard, carrying a massive sack full of toys and a guy who gets stuck up chimneys. End of discussion!"

Others couldn't see the point in arguing over a made-up character, with one asking: "Are people seriously questioning if Santa should be gender neutral?'

Welcome to 2018, folks.

Featured Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Topics: Christmas, World News, News