Father Christmas has been dragged into the culture wars after a museum declared the festive icon is ‘too white’ and should stop sitting in judgment over children’s behaviour.
In a startling intervention ahead of Christmas, Brighton and Hove Museums argued Father Christmas must be ‘decolonised’ in the name of diversity, claiming his traditional role reinforces damaging ideas about power, authority and Western superiority.
The claims appeared in a blog post published on the museum’s website, which suggested Santa’s familiar naughty-and-nice routine promotes a ‘Western binary’ and casts the bearded gift-giver as a global moral judge.
‘For many children, the story of Santa Claus is as much a part of Christmas as gifts and Christmas dinner,’ the post said.
‘But the tale of a white, Western Santa who judges all children’s behaviour has problems.’
Museum chiefs went further, questioning Santa’s right to assess children across different cultures and traditions.
‘As he visits each nation he determines if the children deserve presents based on being ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’,’ the blog added.
‘But who decided Santa should be the judge of children’s behaviour in every community? How can he assess, for example, Indigenous children practising their own cultural traditions?
A blog from Brighton and Hove Museums suggested that Santa should become ‘Mother Christmas’
‘Told like this, the story presents Santa as the ultimate authority of all societies. This asks us to accept colonial assumptions of cultural superiority.’
Parents, the museum urged, should actively ‘challenge the colonial gaze’ by abandoning the idea of Father Christmas ‘rewarding children based on a Western binary of ‘naughty/nice’.’
‘Focus on bringing joy to kids of all backgrounds rather than judging them,’ the post advised.
Instead, families were encouraged to reinvent Santa as a symbol of ‘cultural exchange’, rather than discipline.
‘Have Santa learn about different cultures rather than judge them,’ it recommended.
‘Stories could show him experiencing their traditions. Emphasise cultural exchange rather than assessment.’
Even Santa’s workshop was not spared scrutiny, with the museum suggesting the man in red should abandon his traditional leadership role.
‘Include people from around the world in Santa’s workshop. This acknowledges global input. Put Santa to work in the factory alongside the elves. This shows him and the elves as equal.’
And in a further twist, the blog floated the idea of replacing Father Christmas altogether.
Alternatively, Santa could become ‘Mother Christmas’.
‘An inclusive adaptation could include many Santas from different regions,’ the document said.
‘Include some Mother Christmases. Patriarchy and colonialism went hand in hand. Show the next generation that men don’t have to be in charge.’
The post concluded: ‘The goal is moving away from a colonial narrative of dominance. Instead, tell a story that emphasises cultural diversity, exchange and respect.’
The suggestions wee met with derision, with critics branding the document ‘laughable’ and accusing the museum of competing for the title of ‘Grinch of the year’.
Lord Young, founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph the museum had adopted a joyless tone.
Even Santa’s workshop was not spared scrutiny, with the museum suggesting the man in red should abandon his traditional leadership role
He said: ‘I don’t think children in non-Christian countries are going to object when Santa pops down their chimney to give them a present.
‘Is this museum suggesting they should leave a note saying ‘sorry, but this is a decolonised fireplace and white supremacists dressed in red aren’t welcome’? If so, it should rename itself the Right On and Po-Faced Museum.’
Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of Don’t Divide Us, was equally scathing.
‘The idea that Santa Claus needs to be decolonised is laughable. It also shows that there are no limits to what ideologues in cultural institutions… will go to in seeking to rupture our sense of belonging to a common past and culture.
‘This playing at faux radical, anti-West politics by museums is boring, tedious and intellectually vacuous. This isn’t culture, it’s playpen politics which should not be getting public funding or official endorsement from witless museums. The museum could get Grinch of the Year award, though.’
A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Museums sought to downplay the row, insisting the public was ‘free to agree or disagree’.
They said: ‘This blog post was written in 2023 as part of our Culture Change work.
‘As museum educators, our role is not to tell people what is right or wrong, but to help audiences look at history and culture from more than one point of view and to create opportunities for discussion and debate, just as we do when interpreting art, objects and historic places’.
The Daily Mail has approached Brighton and Hove Museums for comment.
