HUNDREDS of Santa’s grottos have dropped Father Christmas in place of a female equivalent in a woke battle of the sexes.
National Trust properties, museums, garden centres and national parks are among those opting for a Mother Christmas this year.
Even high street chemist Boots has jumped on the bandwagon with a Christmas ad suggesting a glamorous Mrs Claus, played by Bridgerton’s Adjoa Andoh, is behind all festive operations.
At the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Mother Christmas will write and post your letter to Santa.
At Chepstow Castle in Wales, children can listen to a festive tale told by Mother Christmas. She is so busy she will also be at Ascot’s Christmas Weekend on Saturday.
British Garden Centres have also jumped on the sleigh with a breakfast event with Mrs Claus.
Lacock Abbey, near Chippenham, Wilts, has had a Mother Christmas for several years now.
One worker said: “Mother Christmas isn’t confusing — the kids believe she is either Santa’s wife, or his mum.”
But English teacher Sam Issa, 46, from Wigan, Lancs, said: “For hundreds of years kids have got their presents from Santa. Why ruin a perfectly good tradition? The world’s gone mad.”
Donald Gomel, 42, from Glasgow said: “From the Victorian age we’ve had Father Christmas and now we want to want to introduce Mother Christmas. It’s just mad.”
But mum-of-two Holly Dove, 34, from Bath, said some male Santas were “creepy”.
She said: “There’s just something gentler about a woman. I’d prefer my girls to be sitting on a woman’s lap definitely.”
